The volunteers of both The Maroochy Shire State Emergency Service and Sunshine Coast community radio station, 104.9 Sunshine FM, were honoured recently in winning the Queensland volunteers stream of The 2004 Australian Safer Communities Awards.

At a presentation ceremony at Parliament House Brisbane, Maroochy Shire Local Controller Fred Reuter accepted the Award from The Honourable Chris Cummins MP Minister for Emergency Services on behalf of both volunteer organisations. The Awards are designed to recognise and encourage best practice and innovation across Australia’s emergency management sector, business, Local Government and community organisations.

The Maroochy Shire SES and radio station 104.9 Sunshine FM have developed a pre- disaster broadcast education programme for seniors within our community and a post-disaster radio broadcasting system that enables SES staff to broadcast messages direct from SES UHQ or in the field if required during an activation.

The Queensland winners now go on to National level with winners announced early November 2004 followed by a presentation in Canberra.