The dedication and bravery of 18 volunteers from the Burrawang Rural Fire Brigade in the 2019/20 bushfires, have been recognised in a special award ceremony.
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Volunteers were given a National Emergency Medal at the Burrawang School of Arts on May 18.
The medal is carried out by the Australian Honours and Awards Secretariat at Government House, who offers secretariat support to the National Emergency Medal Committee.
The prestigious award can also be approved by the Governor General.
About 60 people came together after many pandemic delays to celebrate including Whitlam candidate Stephen Jones and WSC interim administrator Viv May.
Medal recipient Phillipa Drewett said there was a great turnout and it was "good to celebrate".
"I think it's a great thing for the community," the President and training officer said.
"I feel very proud and it is such an honour to be given such an amazing medal."
Members of the brigade fought fires across the Highlands in areas like Bundanoon and Fitzroy Falls from September, 2019, and assisted across NSW.
"I am enormously proud of these skilled and dedicated women and men who freely gave of themselves during that terrible time, to protect and serve the community," said medal recipient and Burrawang Rural Fire Brigade Captain Colin Munro.
"The service they gave is repeated time and time again every year, be it fires, floods, storms, motor vehicle accidents and so on.
"These National Emergency Medals are recognition by community at the highest level, from the Governor General of Australia, to say 'thank you for your service; thank you for your courage'."
Medals were awarded to firefighters Neville Davies, Christopher Dobrzynski, Nicholas Gray, David Hetherington, Robert Macdonald, Peter Marshall, David Morton, Sarah Sims, Chris Trotter, Bruce Waters and Michelle Waters.
Group captain Phil Moore, deputy captain Elizabeth Ellis and senior deputy captain Mark Compton were also awarded.
"It's all about teamwork," Mrs Drewett said, and has trained 15 additional volunteers since the fires.
"It's great we have more volunteers.
"During an emergency, you can't have too many involved."
She extended her congratulations to other RFS brigades for the medals they received for their efforts during the fires.
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