Gongs for public servant, firefighters
Published Date: 10 Jun 2013
Summary
Central Western Daily By CLARE COLLEY
FORMER Ageing, Disability and Homecare western region director and Department of Family and Community Services regional executive director Scott Griffiths has been awarded a Public Service Medal (PSM) for his 40-plus year career in the state government.
Mr Griffiths joins two other men awarded medals as part of the Queen's Birthday Honours List, Canobolas Zone Rural Fire Service (RFS) Superintendent Arthur Sharp and NSW Fire and Rescue Canowindra Captain Bill Paul who both received Australian Fire Service Medals (AFSM).
Before recently retiring, Mr Griffiths worked in several government departments including health, juvenile justice, and family and community services.
Although he was based in Dubbo for much of his career, he managed offices all over the western region and now lives in Orange.
Mr Sharp has clocked up more than 36 years with the RFS as a volunteer and salaried officer.
He was appointed to his current role of community safety officer for the Canobolas RFS in 2003 and has worked to protect the Orange, Blayney, Cabonne and Cowra areas from fire.
Mr Paul has been captain of the Canowindra fire brigade since 1979 and has been a vital member of the emergency response team responding to fires, road accidents, chemical spills and other emergencies.
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Cowra Guardian
Arthur Sharp has provided over 36 years' service to the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) as both a volunteer and salaried officer, initially joining the Doonside Brigade before transferring to the Wallacia Brigade in 1981 where he held the positions of Deputy Captain, Senior Deputy Captain, Captain and Brigade President.
He was integral in the Brigade's development and in the training of new volunteers, ensuring that the Brigade was one of the best in the region.
In 1995 he was appointed Fire Control Officer for the Cowra Rural Fire District.
He was highly respected by Council, Brigades, volunteers and the community at a time of significant change in the RFS.
He was instrumental in improvements to both the district's mobile and fixed assets through tanker replacement and construction of new brigade stations, and the role out of specialist training across the district.
He was involved in numerous Incident Management Teams at significant fires and major incidents in New South Wales, his fire expertise and people management skills often proving invaluable.
In 2003 he was appointed Community Safety Officer for the Canobolas Zone and commenced an extensive Hazard Reduction, Fire Trail Rehabilitation and Construction Program which, at the time, was a first for New South Wales and greatly enhanced and improved the protection of the community in the Blayney, Cowra, Cabonne and Orange City Local Government Areas from fire.
Throughout his distinguished career Mr Sharp has been heavily involved in both regional and state Firefighting Championships, organising and running innovative and challenging firefighting events that have not only tested firefighters skills but also required thinking, initiative and ingenuity.
Mr Sharp has served the community of New South Wales with distinction over many years.
