A host of firefighters and staff attached to the Mid Murray Rural Fire Service have been honoured at the annual St Florian’s Day award ceremony for the NSW RFS.
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They were among more than 50 volunteers, staff and teams from across the state who were rewarded for their courage and exceptional service while protecting communities at the Dubbo ceremony on May 4.
The award ceremony marks the Feast Day of the Patron Saint of Firefighters, St Florian, and International Firefighters Day.
Commissioner Rob Rogers presented awards, including seven Commissioner’s Commendations for Bravery for firefighters in other regions.
Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib, who also helped present awards, praised all the recipients for their outstanding efforts.
“I am incredibly proud of our RFS volunteers and staff who answer the call, day after day, to serve and protect communities,” Mr Dib said.
“They do their work quietly and without want of praise but it is important they are recognised for going above and beyond in their duties.
“This day is especially poignant for families of firefighters who have lost their lives over the past 12 months.”
Local award recipients are as follows.
Superintendent Tony Whitehorn, Commissioner’s Commendation for Service:
Supt Whitehorn was recognised for his leadership and support to the NSW State Emergency Service and the community throughout the protracted and challenging flood events of 2022/23 across the Mid Murray District.
Over many months, he demonstrated exceptional leadership and excellent rapport with the community and Local Emergency Management Committee. This enabled timely and appropriate responses through the establishing of the Emergency Operations Centre at the Deniliquin Fire Control Centre.
Assuming a leadership role, Supt Whitehorn coordinated RFS efforts and supported SES efforts across the Mid Murray District. He liaised and supported the Emergency Operations Centre and the SES Incident Management Team in Wagga Wagga, cross-border agencies and other government and non-government supporting agencies to ensure all aspects of response and recovery were being supported and addressed.
He also worked tirelessly to ensure that communities across Mid Murray were adequately briefed, warned and assisted during this protracted event.
This included sourcing RFS assistance by combining local RFS crews with out-of-area and mitigation crews and Incident Management Team personnel.
Mid Murray District brigades and staff, Commissioner’s Certificate of Commendation:
The Mid Murray District is recognised for exceptional service and support to the NSW State Emergency Service and their communities throughout the protracted and challenging flood events of 2022/23 across south-west NSW.
Over many months members demonstrated a strong community focus, service and support to the SES and excellent rapport with the community and the Local Emergency Management Committee. This enabled timely and appropriate responses.
Under the direction of Supt Whitehorn, the team was responsible for the coordination of RFS efforts and support to the SES and local emergency management committee's efforts across the Mid Murray District with flooding from the Murray and Edward rivers, Billabong Creek and other tributaries.
Support was provided to the Mid Murray Emergency Operations Centre and the SES Incident Management Team in Wagga Wagga and liaison with cross-border, other government and non-government supporting agencies, to ensure all aspects of response and recovery were being supported and addressed.
The Mid Murray District worked tirelessly to ensure that their communities were supported, briefed, warned and assisted during this protracted event.
They were committed to the highest level of support to assist extremely isolated communities like Moulamein.
Where they could, they assisted their own members who were isolated or inundated.
Womboota Rural Fire Brigade, Commissioner’s Unit Citation for Service:
The Womboota Rural Fire Brigade is recognised for its efforts supporting a medical incident and the compassion and empathy of its members following the tragedy.
On December 12, 2023, Group Captain Dale Bowles was responding to a car fire in the Moama area when he suffered a fatal medical episode.
Captain Malcolm Starritt and Deputy Captain Stephen Hazell arrived shortly after in Womboota 9.
Capt Starritt worked with Dep Capt Hazell to manage the scene and notified and supported Group Capt Bowles’ family following the incident.
As RFS appliances were stood down, Dep Capt Hazel volunteered to stay with Group Captain Bowles until he was removed from the scene, and stayed with him while police forensics conducted their investigation. He then assisted the coroner's contractors, and eventually left the scene at 3.30am on December 13.
After the incident, Captain Starritt provided continued support to his brigade and the district, and delivered a heartfelt eulogy at the funeral service.
Operational Officer Gerard James, Commissioner’s Certificate of Commendation:
Op Officer James is recognised for his compassion, care and action in responding to the loss of Group Captain Dale Bowles.
Op Officer James was the on-call officer for the Mid Murray Zone and was deployed at 5.30pm when the district was made aware of Group Captain Bowles' condition to support the Moama and Womboota Captains and their crews.
Op Officer James provided situation reports and the required information to State Operations and operated as a liaison between RFS and other agencies on the scene.
He provided a calming influence, managing the incident and reassuring those around him.
As RFS crews were stood down, he volunteered to stay with Group Captain Bowles until all agencies had concluded their on site tasks and he could be removed, standing down at 3.30am on December 13.
Moama Rural Fire Brigade Bravo 1, Commissioner’s Unit Citation for Service:
The crew of Moama Rural Fire Brigade 1 Bravo are recognised for their efforts to save the life of Group Capt Dale Bowles after his medical episode on December 12.
Moama 1 Bravo was first on the scene and confronted by a fully involved car fire, while members of the public were providing CPR to Group Captain Bowles within metres of the fire in the middle of a major road.
Firefighter Chloe Judd took immediate control of the emergency and medical situation.
Deputy Captain Heyen assisted with use of the defibrillator, and the pair continued CPR until an ambulance arrived.
At the same time, firefighter Aiden Mackenzie single-handedly operated the pump to extinguish the car fire, before assisting with the medical emergency.
The full list of recipients of the 2024 St Florian’s Day Awards and a playback of the ceremony is available at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/news-and-media/st-florians-day-2024.
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