SES volunteer awarded Emergency Services Medal in King’s Birthday Honours List

The King's Birthday long weekend started with a crisis and ended with a celebration for the NSW State Emergency Service (SES).

On Friday, the SES reported that 391 volunteers had responded to more than 470 storm and flood-related incidents around the state, with 39 flood rescues in the previous 24 hours. Most of those were people driving across flooded roads and the SES was pleading for people to make "safe and sensible decisions".

By Monday, not only had sunshine brought relief to residents, but the dedication of SES volunteers had been officially recognised, with Albion Park local Terrie-Ann Hurt awarded an Emergency Services Medal in the 2024 King's Birthday Honours List.

Terrie-Ann Hurt was 23 when she joined the Shellharbour Unit in 2003. Over the past two decades, her stellar SES career has included leading local units in response to events such as the 2013 Kiama tornado and Shellharbour windstorm. Terrie-Ann has also received three Commissioner’s Unit Citations and volunteered during emergencies including Cyclone Yasi in 2011, Cyclone Debbie in 2017 and the Black Summer Bushfires in 2019-20, after which she received the National Emergency Medal (and clasps).

In a media release yesterday, Terrie-Anne said: “I just love the people that I get to work with and the impact we are all able to make. We have access to great training practices where we learn useful skills and then get to put them into practice alongside amazing people."

NSW SES Acting Commissioner, Debbie Platz APM, thanked Terrie-Ann for her service.

"Terrie-Anne serves as an inspiration to her fellow members in orange, and we commend her for the invaluable service and expertise she brings to NSW SES volunteers," Acting Commissioner Platz said.

“This accolade awarded to Terrie-Ann celebrates and epitomises the dedication, selflessness and determination of our wider volunteer membership who tirelessly aid communities during times of crisis.”

On June 9, the Governor-General announced Honours and Awards for 737 Australians, including awards in the Order of Australia (General and Military Divisions), meritorious awards and recognition for conspicuous service.

Other local residents who received Meritorious Awards included:

• Balgownie's Sonia Marshall – Public Service Medal (PSM). The chief executive of the South Western Sydney Local Health District, Sonia was recognised for exceptional leadership during her 30-year career in nursing and particularly in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Towradgi's Paul James Dorin – Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM). Now the captain of Corrimal Fire Station, Paul began his career with Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) in 1993 and has consistently displayed and demonstrated FRNSW’s values of respect, integrity, service and courage.