RFSA Conference 2015
The NSW Rural Fire Service Association (RFSA) Conference was awarded the highly prized ‘Meeting of the Year’ Award at the annual MEA NSW Awards Dinner held recently at Doltone House Hyde Park in Sydney. The award submission was submitted by RFSA’s professional conference organiser, Arinex Pty Ltd.
The biennial three-day RFSA Conference 2015 held at the Parklands Resort and Conference Centre in Mudgee, NSW, from 19 – 21 June 2015, attracted over 500 participants including Association Members (volunteers and staff of the NSW RFS), interstate volunteer rural fire fighters, sponsors, exhibitors and speakers. During the Conference participants attended three social events along with a quality program and exhibition.
The Conference MC was well known former rugby star and journalist Peter FitzSimons. Program speakers included Dr. Brian Spain from Royal Darwin Hospital and the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre and Turia Pitt, motivational and inspirational speaker. NSW RFS Commissioner, Shane Fitzsimmons AFSM and the Hon. David Elliott MP, Minister for Emergency Services both attended and spoke, and affirmed their high level support for the Association.
The RFSA Exhibition had an indoor exhibition staged in a purpose built marquee, and was complemented by an outdoor exhibition space with fire appliances, live water bombing exercises, prototype demonstrations and a helicopter.
“A successful 2015 conference was imperative for the Association as we wanted to further enhance our conference reputation after being awarded the Meeting & Events Australia (NSW) Meeting of the Year Award for our conference in 2013. It was important to us to maintain the momentum and quality of the event for our delegates,” said Bernard Cox, the RFSA’s Chief Executive Officer.
“Our focus was on once again providing a professional event with some ‘wow’ that provided major educational and motivational benefits for our delegates. It was also important to us to address any challenges that were experienced during our 2013 conference.
“The attention to detail from Arinex and their priority on the client and delegate experience as their end priority at every stage resulted in excellent delegate feedback and an event that met the Association’s goals and our delegate’s anticipation.”
Arinex Managing Director, Roslyn McLeod said “We are humbled to contribute to the volunteer ‘firies’ of NSW and gain much pleasure in giving back to them by making their event outstanding. This is a well-deserved win that will echo around the rural fire brigades of NSW so thank you MEA for acknowledging these true blue Australians who do so much to protect the community of NSW.”
*MEA is a national, independent not for profit organisation dedicated to servicing the needs of the meetings & events industry and promoting professionalism and excellence in all aspects of meetings and event management.