Leeton Fire and Rescue station commander Graham Parks was the marquee winner at the weekend’s Rotary NSW Emergency Services Community Awards in Sydney.

The 34-year firefighting veteran was joint winner of the overall officer of the year award, alongside Batlow Volunteer Rescue Association’s David Cotsios.

As part of the Critical Incident Support Team, Mr Parks helps with the emotional “clean up” after fatal car accidents and other tragedies.

He counselled dozens of Leeton High students after last year’s murder of popular teacher Stephanie Scott and has reached out to hundreds of firefighters battling depression or post traumatic stress.

So passionate is he about mental health, he does most of the counselling in his own time.

“It’s really about convincing people that what they’re feeling is normal; it’s a normal reaction to an abnormal situation,” Mr Parks said.

“After doing this for so many years, you can see when someone needs help.

“People can have such different reactions. 

“Often with firefighters, they might see six of seven serious incidents and it seems to have no affect, but then they go to a smaller incident and it suddenly hits them. It can be a cumulative thing.”

He said winning it as a country firefighter made the award even sweeter.

Mr Cotsios, deputy captain with the Batlow’s VRA, was honoured for his 23 years in the service and most notably, his work during the 1997 Thredbo landslide disaster.

“He’s the consummate professional, mentoring members of our squad, providing an anchor of knowledge and expertise,” one of his colleagues said in the nomination.

“When members of the community see him, they are reassured by his aura of compassion, competence and a high standard of ethical behaviour and integrity.”

Mr Cotsios is an ambulance officer by day.