More than 61 of the region’s firefighters were acknowledged at Rural Fire Service Central Coast’s annual Volunteer Appreciation Day and Blessing of the District Fleet recently.
Firefighters and their families gathered at Mingara Recreation Club to see National Emergency Medals, National Medals and Long Service Medals awarded in recognition of firefighting efforts over the 2019-2020 bushfire event.
Between them, the recipients have given some 847 of service.
Superintendent Viki Campbell said the day was a fitting end to National Volunteer Week.
“During the medal presentation component of this day, there were 42 recipients presented with 49 service medals and/or clasps representing a combined 847 years of service, 20 recipients presented with the National Emergency Medal and three recipients presented with the Commissioner’s Commendation for Service,” she said.
“Our Senior Chaplain Major Ian Spall led a service of remembrance for those members who have died over the past year and concluded the day with a blessing of the fleet.”
The longest-serving volunteer recognised on the day was Ian Bartholomew, who initially joined the NSW Rural Fire Service in January 1966 as part of the Pearl Beach brigade.
After holding the positions of Captain, Deputy Group Captain and Group Captain for what was known at the time as the Gosford District, he entered a salaried position, initially as a Council staff member before the implementation of the Rural Fires Act in 1997 and the commencement of the NSW RFS as a State Government entity.
Throughout his 33 years as a staff member, he worked extensively in the fields of operational management and specialised in fleet management.
During his 55 years’ service to the NSW RFS, he has been involved in numerous fire and other emergency events in the Gosford area.
Jennifer Farrell received the St Florian’s Day Award, Commissioner’s Commendation for Service, as a member of the Matcham/ Holgate brigade.
Senior Deputy Captain Farrell commenced in bush fire management with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in 1973.
During her career with NPWS, she was actively involved in bush fire management from both a land management and incident management perspective.
After retiring from NPWS in 2012, Jenny joined the Matcham/ Holgate brigade and has continued to share her knowledge and expertise in fire incident management at Brigade, District and State level.
“Jenny’s expertise and commitment during the 2019/20 fire season was outstanding,” Campbell said.
“She assisted with IMTs as the Planning Officer at Northern Tablelands, Clarence Valley, Central Coast and ACT.”
She also contributed to out-of-area strike teams assisting in Singleton, Cooma and Eurobodalla, participating in IMTs and strike teams for more than 60 days.
She was the primary Planning Officer for the duration of the Central Coast, part Hawkesbury Section 44 event declared from December 3, 2019, through to January 6, 2020.
This declaration included the Three Mile fire and Arizona Rd, Charmhaven fire.
Also receiving the St Florian’s Day Award was Glen Howe, who joined the Kariong Brigade in 1978 and has held the positions of Deputy Captain, Senior Deputy Captain and Captain.
He was elected to Group Captain in 1993, a position he still holds today.
“During his 42 years of service, Group Captain Howe has shown exceptional leadership skills in operations, brigade management, training and mentoring,” Campbell said.
Retired Group Captain Warwick Teasdale, the third recipient of the St Florian’s Day Award, joined the Killcare Wagstaff Brigade in 1976 and has held the positions of Permit Officer, Secretary, Deputy Captain (current) and Captain within the Brigade until he was elected as a Group Captain in the Gosford District in 1999
He has attended the majority of significant fires in the Gosford area as well as attending larger fire, flood and storm damage incidents and hazard reductions in surrounding Districts.
NSW Rural Fire Service Superintendent, Kam Baker, was in attendance, along with Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch, Central Coast Council Administrator, Rik Hart, and other dignitaries.
Crouch said RFS volunteers often head into danger when others are going the other way.
“Thank you to all RFS Volunteers for their amazing service and their wonderful families who support them,” he said.
Terry Collins
