The Hon. Annabelle Cleeland, Nationals Member for Euroa (Vic), Media Release, 14 December 2023

Staff from Mangalore-based business, Kestrel Aviation, were recently recognised with The National Emergency Medal for their services during recent fire events across the country.

The National Emergency Medal is awarded to persons who rendered sustained or significant service during nationally significant emergencies in Australia.

Nationals Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland was on hand to present the awards to Kestrel employees at an event in Mangalore recently.

“Having met with Kestrel Aviation earlier in the year, I was incredibly proud to meet with them again and present these well-deserved awards,” Ms Cleeland said.

“Their positive impact across our communities was made clear during their flood support last summer, and through their long-standing involvement supporting fire agencies around Australia with their innovative aerial firefighting capabilities.

“It is fantastic to see local, regionally based, businesses thrive, and provide support to their local communities.”

Across air crew, engineering, refuellers, and administrative support, 121 Kestrel team members were recognised with the medal.

The National Emergency Medal Committee determined the following criteria for the award:

• Service must be in the protection of lives and property; or in the service of interests, that are not their own; in direct response to the emergency (including support that enables or facilitates the emergency response).
• The minimum duration of service that a person is required to have completed to qualify for sustained service is five days (whether consecutive or not) each involving service in direct response to the declared emergency relating to a Schedule 1 local government area in an eligible emergency period for the area.