The NSW Government has announced the introduction of the Premier’s Flood Emergency Citation to recognise the efforts of volunteers during flood events in New South Wales between 2021 and 2023.  

 

The citation will honour those who assisted with evacuations and rescues during prolonged and widespread flood emergencies, including members of the NSW State Emergency Service (SES), other emergency agencies, defence personnel, and community response volunteer groups like the 'Tinny Army'. 

---

---

The Premier’s Flood Emergency Citation will be administered by the NSW SES and includes the following events: 

 

• Southern and Western NSW floods: 9 November 2021 – 21 February 2022 
• Northern NSW and Hawkesbury Nepean Valley floods: 22 February 2022 – 8 April 2022 
• Greater Sydney and Hunter Valley floods: 27 June 2022 – 17 July 2022 
• Southern and Western NSW floods: 2 August 2022 – 8 March 2023. 

Recipients will receive a certificate and letter co-signed by the NSW Premier, NSW Minister for Emergency Services and the NSW SES Commissioner, plus a citation pin.  

 

The NSW SES will directly contact eligible organisations to submit nominations on behalf of their members, while informal volunteers who weren't part of an established organisation can self-nominate online at nsw.gov.au. 

 

Minister for Recovery, Janelle Saffin, was happy that volunteers within the community were receiving recognition.  

 

“I am pleased that Premier Chris Minns made the decision to formally honour our personnel and volunteers in uniform and our ‘Tinny Army’ who saved so many lives in the Northern Rivers three years ago. 

 

“I want to urge everyone who played their part in that community effort to self-nominate to make sure they receive their due recognition for the things they did in that difficult time. There is no cut-off date for this process."  

---

---

The NSW SES already honoured the brave efforts of its members and supporting organisations during the floods that struck Eugowra and surrounding areas in November 2022 at the NSW SES Canobolas Cluster Awards Ceremony, which was held last year in Orange.  

NSW SES Commissioner Michael Wassing AFSM said the 2022-23 season was the longest flooding campaign in the state’s history, and that recognition was well-deserved.  

 

“Our volunteers and the community members who helped their neighbours alongside NSW SES members, who gave more than two million hours during these floods, deserve this recognition.”