Councillor Rick Firman, Steph Cooke MP, RFS volunteer Chris West and RFS Chief Superintendent Tim Butcher. Photo: Bland Temora RFS.
Rural Fire Service (RFS) volunteers from the Bland Temora district have been recognised for their efforts during the 2019/20 bush fire season.
RFS Chief Superintendent Tim Butcher, Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience Steph Cooke and Mayor Rick Firman attended Temora and West Wyalong ceremonies to award 28 volunteers their National Emergency Medals.
Councilor Firman said it was an honour to be involved.
“It was a heartwarming occasion and just great to see how much these medals meant to these very humble recipients and their families as well,” he said.
“It was one of those pleasant occasions that just reminds you of how blessed we are to have such generous and brave caring souls in our community.”
The crews served in some of the hardest hit areas during the Black Summer fires including Kempsey, the Moonbi Range, Dunns Road, Mt Kaputar, Bees Nest, Clyde Mountain, Good Good and Gospers Mountain fires.
Minister Cooke praised the volunteers for their courage and service.
“Some of NSW’s most active and experienced firefighters are from the Bland Temora District and I am so proud of their efforts in protecting not just our own communities, but many others across the state,” Ms Cooke said.
“These were some of the fiercest blazes faced during the 2019/20 bush fire season and these medals are just a small way we can honour our heroes for their service.”
The National Emergency Medal is awarded to individuals who served to protect lives and property or interests that were not their own and who supported the emergency response for a minimum of five days between September 2019 and February 2020.
Chief Superintendent Butcher said it was great to see the local volunteers recognised.
“Every single member receiving this honour should be proud of their efforts and everything they did to protect communities across the state,” he said.
Bland Temora zone RFS volunteers were awarded the National Emergency Medal. From left to right – Mayor Rick Firman, Steph Cook MP, Brett Green, Donald Coddington, Cheryl Noble, Gavin Axtell, Terry Edis, Chris West, Robert Davey, Kevin Mowbray, Brian Croft, Chris Golder, Dean Walsh, Joanne Croft, Trevor Penfold, Glen Reichstein, Inspector Tom McDevitt and Chief Superintendent Tim Butcher Photo: Bland Temora RFS.
The Bland Temora Zone RFS now has six full-time staff and over 1300 volunteers.
The Mayor praised those who gave up their time to serve the community.
“We’re very proud of those that contribute something in terms of voluntary service,” Cr Firman said.
“Everyone has an important role to play to help keep this place ticking and I think we’ve all got an obligation to do what we can to support these sorts of organisations to help keep them functioning.
“I think that the old saying that there’s nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer certainly rings true.”
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