RFSA Conference wins National Award
The NSW Rural Fire Service Association (RFSA) Conference was awarded the highly prized ‘Meeting of the Year‘ at the annual Meeting and Events Australia (MEA) National Awards Dinner.
The Association has been honoured to win the State MEA Meeting of the Year twice previously so to win the National award is highly valued.
“A successful 2015 conference was imperative for the Association as we wanted to further enhance our event reputation after being awarded the MEA (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, who are predominantly the volunteer fire fighters who do so much to protect the community” said Bernard Cox, the RFSA’s Chief Executive Officer.
“Our team focus was on once again providing a professional event with some ‘wow’ that provided major educational and motivational benefits for our delegates. The conference is also a way in which the RFSA demonstrates thanks and support for what our members do.
“From an organisational performance perspective, it was important to us to acknowledge and address any challenges that were experienced during our 2013 conference.”
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.
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.
Other features of the Conference were an indoor exhibition staged in a purpose built marquee, and an outdoor exhibition space with fire appliances, live water bombing exercises, prototype demonstrations and a helicopter made possible with the assistance of the NSW RFS.