Australian Red Cross Distinguished Team Award for Nambucca Valley Emergency Services Team Nambucca Valley Nambucca Valley by News Of The Area - Modern Media - May 26, 2021May 26, 2021 Back Row (L to R) Helen Bruce, Lesley Smith, Carol Templeton, Helen Mower, Chris Waller, Lee Gilliland, Kathy Redman, Lew Louden. Front Row (L to R) Mary Ball, Joanne Waller, Michele Gerard, Adele McCollomMissing Kirsty Bush, Sue LeMaistre, John Reynolds, Heather McPhee. THE Nambucca Valley Emergency Services Team has been awarded the Australian Red Cross Distinguished Team Award. The Award was presented by Mr John Maclennan, Chairman of NSW Red Cross, in Sydney at World Red Cross Day celebrations, on 7 May. The Award was accepted by team members Carol Templeton and Lesley Smith. This prestigious award recognises the team’s participation, dedication and commitment to working with people and communities so that Red Cross can achieve its purpose, to support and empower people and communities in times of vulnerability by mobilizing the power of humanity. “During the 2019-2020 bushfires the team provided support across multiple sites in the Nambucca Valley Shire and supported other bushfire impacted communities through making Outreach calls,” said Mary Ball, Team Leader, Nambucca Valley Red Cross Emergency Services. “When COVID restrictions limited movement and personal contact, the Nambucca Team called returned Australians in hotel quarantine, assisting them to access services and support. “At the peak of the Pandemic in 2020 the Team sent handwritten thank you cards to our local frontline workers during lockdown to show our support.” Team members have continued to support the community in the aftermath of the black summer fires, conducting Preparedness Sessions, attending Community Recovery and Wellbeing events. Over the past eight weeks, team members have been volunteering in the Macksville Recovery Centre, providing support and Psychological First Aid to those impacted by the recent devastating floods in the Nambucca Valley.
