NSW STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE CADETS HONOURED

Minister for Emergency Services David Elliott today congratulated the winners of the 2014 NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) and NSW State Emergency Service (NSW SES) Cadet of the Year awards.

NSW RFS cadet Timothy Pedley and NSW SES cadet Kodie Hardy were honoured for their leadership skills and promoting the values of volunteering and community service at a ceremony at NSW Parliament House.

“It is clear both Timothy and Kodie are young leaders who recognise the value of community participation, hard work and camaraderie and I thank them for their commitment to our volunteer emergency services,” Mr Elliott said.

Timothy, from Colo High School in Sydney’s north-west, was named 2014 NSW RFS Cadet of the Year for being the ‘backbone’ of the school cadet program and an enthusiastic role model who organised extra training sessions and helped other cadets.

Kodie, from Warialda High School in northern NSW, was named 2014 NSW SES Cadet of the Year for showing leadership, maturity and support of other cadets as well as completing several courses, including NSW SES basic training and a Road Crash Rescue Course.

The awards were presented to the cadets by Parliamentary Secretary for Veterans and the Centenary of the ANZAC Daryl Maguire.

“These programs provide great skills, knowledge and practical experience that greatly assist young people transition into the workforce and we thank the teachers, cadet coordinators and emergency services volunteers who have dedicated a significant amount of time to training young people,’ Mr Maguire said.

More than 6500 students have completed the NSW RFS Secondary Schools Cadet Program since it began in 2005 and more than 2400 students have completed the NSW SES Secondary Schools Cadet Program since 2008.

**CAPTION: Minister for Emergency Services David Elliott with NSW State Emergency Service Cadet of the Year Kodie Hardy and NSW Rural Fire Service Cadet of the Year Timothy Pedley.