Emergency services personnel have been recognised for their vital role in the community at the seventh annual Brian Prince Awards.
The awards recognise those local heroes who go above and beyond the call of duty, whether it be a police officer, a life saver, firefighter or volunteer.
Bundaberg Central Rotarian Brant Duff said the awards honoured the work of frontline workers and personnel from the local Queensland Police Service, Queensland Ambulance Service, Queensland Fire and Emergency Service, and Queensland Health – in particular the Emergency Department at the Bundaberg Hospital, and volunteers from Queensland Surf Life Saving, SES, Rural Fire Service and Volunteer Marine Rescue.
“Started by the Rotary Club of Bundaberg East and now continued the newly merged Rotary Club of Bundaberg Central we say thank you with the special Brian Prince Awards evening, although this year the awards were postpone because of COVID-19 restriction, the awards were still well-attended,” Brant said.
Brant said each of these vital emergency services nominated a person they believed deserves recognition for the work they do in the Bundaberg community.
“Each of the volunteer groups submitted a finalist and then Volunteer of the year was selected by the club,” he said.
“A new award was also started with the involvement of ABC Wide Bay.
“Scott Lamond wanted to acknowledge the strong support from members who help keep them updated during emergencies.
“The Rotary Club continues to acknowledge and thank our emergency personnel in honour of former member Brian Prince who also spent his life in the service of others in the ambulance.
“We love the stories that are told by the recipients of these awards.
“We listen in awe sometimes, and they are so humble.”
This year’s Brian Prince Awards winners:
Queensland Police Service: Sergeant Marty Arnold
Queensland Health: CNC Emma Nugent
Queensland Ambulance Service: Advanced Care Paramedic 2 Nicola Grundy
Queensland Fire Emergency Service: Auxiliary Firefighter John Ratcliffe
Volunteer Finalists
Queensland Rural Fire Service: Neil Much
State Emergency Service: Luke Harding
Volunteer Marine Rescue: Dr Graham Kingston
Queensland Surf Life Saving: John Davis
Volunteer of the Year:
Queensland Rural Fire Service: Neil Much
ABC Wide Bay Media Award: Peter Hollier
- Last year’s Brian Prince Awards: Awards recognise hard work of emergency services
