AWARDS: Members of the NSW RFS Shoalhaven district gathered at West Nowra Rural Fire Brigade station over the weekend, where more than 300 members received the National Emergency Medal (NEM).
More than 300 NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) have been awarded for their service during the devastating 2019/2020 Black Summer bushfire season.
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Members of the NSW RFS Shoalhaven district gathered at West Nowra Rural Fire Brigade station over the weekend, where members were awarded with the National Emergency Medal (NEM) for their efforts during the bushfire season.
Members of the Shoalhaven District played an integral part in the firefighting response during that season, with the majority of the local area being part of the Currowan Fire that burnt approximately 500,000 hectares in the Shoalhaven and surrounding areas.
The fire burnt for 74 days, destroyed hundreds of homes and resulted in three deaths.
The NEM is awarded to those whose service must be in the protection of lives and property or in the service of interests that are not their own and who supported the emergency response for a minimum of five days between September 2019 and February 2020.
Personnel were dispatched to assist with the firefighting efforts across the state, including Southern Highlands, Hawkesbury, Mid Coast, Northern Tablelands, New England, Far South Coast, Lake George, Monaro and Riverina Districts.
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NSW RFS deputy commissioner Kyle Stewart praised the firefighters for their courage and dedication.
"This weekend we recognise brigade members from across the region and thank them for their incredible contribution over the 2019-20 season," Deputy Commissioner Stewart said.
"Every single one of these members should be proud of themselves and their dedication to protecting communities across the state.
"They performed admirably during an incredibly difficult fire season and went above and beyond when deployed to other regions to help local brigades battle devastating blazes."
Deputy commissioner Stewart presented the medals to 325 volunteers and staff who provided sustained or significant during the fire season.
He was assisted by South Coast MP Shelley Hancock, HMAS Albatross commanding officer Captain Robyn Phillips, Shoalhaven Mayor Amanda Findley, Gilmore MP Fiona Phillips, Kiama MP Gareth Ward, Shoalhaven councillor Serena Copley and South Eastern area commander chief superintendent Paul Simakoff-Ellims in presenting the medals.
NEM recipients:
- Andrew Fielding, Shoalhaven Fire Control
- Jennifer Lawther AFSM, Shoalhaven Fire Control
- Victor Walker AFSM, Shoalhaven Fire Control
- Thomas Tait, Shoalhaven Fire Control
- Dennis Stannard AFSM, Shoalhaven Fire Control
- Geoff Phillips, Shoalhaven Fire Control
- Ronald Ashton AFSM, Shoalhaven Fire Control
- Steve Heggie, Shoalhaven Fire Control
- Casey Addison, Shoalhaven Fire Control
- Velma Walker AFSM, Shoalhaven Fire Control
- William Bean AFSM, Basin View Brigade
- John Smith, Basin View Brigade
- Gary Creer, Basin View Brigade
- Blair Campbell, Basin View Brigade
- Daniel Brown, Basin View Brigade
- Trent Brown, Basin View Brigade
- Andrew Deans, Basin View Brigade
- Denise Fabreschi, Basin View Brigade
- Danielle Fabreschi, Basin View Brigade
- Flavio Fabreschi, Basin View Brigade
- Matthew Fabreschi, Basin View Brigade
- Lauren Field, Basin View Brigade
- Carolyn Goodland, Basin View Brigade
- Chad Moffett, Basin View Brigade
- Corey Primmer, Basin View Brigade
- Janice Rollinson, Basin View Brigade
- Ronald Rollinson, Basin View Brigade
- Iain Scott, Basin View Brigade
- David Shepherd, Basin View Brigade
- Ian Timewell, Basin View Brigade
- Daniel White, Basin View Brigade
- Allan Brewer, Basin View Brigade
- Tayla Andersen-Phillips Bawley Point Brigade
- Noel Meades, Bawley Point Brigade
- Kyle Sharpe, Bawley Point Brigade
- James McKinlay, Beaumont Brigade
- Maurice Bloom, Beaumont Brigade
- Stewart Briggs, Beaumont Brigade
- Edward Allen, Beaumont Brigade
- Ned Baker, Beaumont Brigade
- Colin Gifford, Beaumont Brigade
- Ian Goss, Beaumont Brigade
- Dave Macquart, Beaumont Brigade
- Anthony Martijn, Beaumont Brigade
- Loo Taylor, Beaumont Brigade
- John Trinder, Broughton Vale Brigade
- David Southam, Broughton Vale Brigade
- Brian Coulthart, Broughton Vale Brigade
- Gregory Sales, Broughton Vale Brigade
- Glen Agar, Broughton Vale Brigade
- Allen Armstrong, Broughton Vale Brigade
- Keith Brodie, Broughton Vale Brigade
- Keith Shreeve, Broughton Vale Brigade
- Gregory Tedder, Broughton Vale Brigade
- Patrick Waaka, Callala Bay Brigade
- Suzanne Borrowdale, Callala Bay Brigade
- William Field, Callala Bay Brigade
- Fae Folkes, Callala Bay Brigade
- Allan Gerke, Callala Bay Brigade
- Michael Huxtable, Callala Bay Brigade
- Lachlan Murray, Callala Bay Brigade
- Gordon Plunkett, Callala Bay Brigade
- Brett Thomas, Callala Bay Brigade
- Jacqueline Cox, Callala Beach Brigade
- Donovan Davies, Callala Beach Brigade
- Bryan Green, Callala Beach Brigade
- Michael Johnson, Callala Beach Brigade
- Robert Smith, Callala Beach Brigade
- Luke Marshall, Cambewarra Brigade
- Nathan Johnston, Cambewarra Brigade
- Justin Hedayati, Cambewarra Brigade
- Shannon Marshall, Cambewarra Brigade
- Phillip Milligan, Cambewarra Brigade
- Angus Lowbridge, Cambewarra Brigade
- Amanda Saxton, Cambewarra Brigade
- Joel Grimston, Cambewarra Brigade
- Christopher Thaler, Cambewarra Brigade
- Donna Webb, Conjola Brigade
- Alan Cooke, Conjola Brigade
- Te-Neale Brown, Conjola Brigade
- Clive Turner, Conjola Brigade
- Jurgen Szutowicz, Conjola Brigade
- Peter Dunnett, Cudmirrah Brigade
- Robert Byrnes, Cudmirrah Brigade
- Sharon Matthews, Cudmirrah Brigade
- Eileen Lynas, Cudmirrah Brigade
- Daniel Noordermeer, Cudmirrah Brigade
- Martin Newbery, Cudmirrah Brigade
- Anthony Seymour, Cudmirrah Brigade
- Warren Seymour, Cudmirrah Brigade
- Charles Vella, Cudmirrah Brigade
- Annette Vella, Cudmirrah Brigade
- Stephen Whatmough, Cudmirrah Brigade
- Darren Waters, Cudmirrah Brigade
- Matthew Piccini, Culburra Brigade
- Kenneth Baker, Culburra Brigade
- Denise Burton, Culburra Brigade
- Robert Burton, Culburra Brigade
- Jarrod Evans, Culburra Brigade
- Warwick Freeman, Culburra Brigade
- David Izard, Culburra Brigade
- Darryn Jose, Culburra Brigade
- Tony King, Culburra Brigade
- Gregory O'Regan, Culburra Brigade
- Mitchell Pakes, Culburra Brigade
- Joshua Pakes, Culburra Brigade
- John Slattery, Culburra Brigade
- Elise Townsend, Culburra Brigade
- Andrew Townsend, Culburra Brigade
- Stephen Townsend, Culburra Brigade
- Peter Wright-Smith, Culburra Brigade
- Raymond Hannett, Currarong Brigade
- James Hefferan, Currarong Brigade
- Gina Thornton, Currarong Brigade
- Sean Torpy, Currarong Brigade
- Ronald Lynch Currarong Brigade
- Trisha Booth, Falls Creek Brigade
- John Meadors, Falls Creek Brigade
- James Bricklebank, Shoalhaven Fire Control
- Anthony Ciccaldo, Shoalhaven Fire Control
- Craig Harrison, Shoalhaven Fire Control
- Lyndal White, Shoalhaven Fire Control
- John Gill, Shoalhaven Fire Control
- Chris Palmer, Shoalhaven Fire Control
- Layna Garrick-Stuckey, Greenwell Point Brigade
- Samuel Thompson, Greenwell Point Brigade
- Callum Wirth, Greenwell Point Brigade
- Gary Butler, Greenwell Point Brigade
- Joseph Revesz, Huskisson Brigade
- Nathan Patroni, Huskisson Brigade
- Bradly Simpson, Huskisson Brigade
- Sanna Reeves, Huskisson Brigade
- Ross Gates, Jervis Bay Brigade
- Greg Campbell, Jervis Bay Brigade
- John Smart, Kangaroo Valley Brigade
- Neil Breeze, Kangaroo Valley Brigade
- David Smart, Kangaroo Valley Brigade
- Harold Sharman, Kangaroo Valley Brigade
- David Alexander, Kangaroo Valley Brigade
- Lorraine Mairinger, Kangaroo Valley Brigade
- Michael Quirk, Kangaroo Valley Brigade
- James Salkeld, Kangaroo Valley Brigade
- Gary Thomas, Kangaroo Valley Brigade
- Mark Bourke, Kangaroo Valley Brigade
- Raymond Davies, Kioloa Brigade
- Nina Bass, Kioloa Brigade
- Christopher Montgomery, Kioloa Brigade
- Peter Kelly, Kioloa Brigade
- Adrian Montgomery, Kioloa Brigade
- Colin Beszant, Manyana Brigade
- Barry Deadman, Manyana Brigade
- Keith Hartnett, Manyana Brigade
- Shane Bullock, Manyana Brigade
- Debbie McBride, Manyana Brigade
- Carol McBride, Manyana Brigade
- Keith McBride, Manyana Brigade
- John McBride, Manyana Brigade
- Melody Lovelace, Manyana Brigade
- Robert Watt, Manyana Brigade Joyce Moran, Milton Brigade
- Stuart Baker, Milton Brigade
- Mark Wilden, Milton Brigade
- Brendan Cerff, Milton Brigade
- Graham Bennett, Milton Brigade
- Bradley Ginn, Milton Brigade
- Janet Coward, Milton Brigade
- John Sandland, Milton Brigade
- Chase Organ, Milton Brigade
- Ian Stevens, Milton Brigade
- Annette Stevens, Milton Brigade
- Beverly Groenintwoud, Shoalhaven Catering Brigade
- Ingrid Noordermeer, Shoalhaven Catering Brigade
- Leah McPherson, Shoalhaven Catering Brigade
- Michaela Anderson, Shoalhaven Communications Brigade
- Elizabeth Campbell, Shoalhaven Communications Brigade
- Nicole Beaumont, Shoalhaven Communications Brigade
- Debra Parker, Shoalhaven Communications Brigade
- Richard Findsen, Shoalhaven Communications Brigade
- Sandra Zigra, Shoalhaven Communications Brigade
- Lisa Thompson, Shoalhaven Communications Brigade
- John Ferguson, Shoalhaven Community Engagement Brigade
- Joan Bean, Shoalhaven Operational Support Brigade
- Robyn Bolton, Shoalhaven Operational Support Brigade
- Glenda Callaghan, Shoalhaven Operational Support Brigade
- Brian Castle, Shoalhaven Operational Support Brigade
- Ronald Clarke, Shoalhaven Operational Support Brigade
- Emmanuel Devet, Shoalhaven Operational Support Brigade
- Robert Gelok, Shoalhaven Operational Support Brigade
- John Hackelton, Shoalhaven Operational Support Brigade
- Marina Harris, Shoalhaven Operational Support Brigade
- Deborah Johnston, Shoalhaven Operational Support Brigade
- Peter Johnston, Shoalhaven Operational Support Brigade
- Raymond Joyce, Shoalhaven Operational Support Brigade
- Anthony North, Shoalhaven Operational Support Brigade
- Christina Rainford, Shoalhaven Operational Support Brigade
- John Weenink, Shoalhaven Operational Support Brigade
- Ron Witz, Shoalhaven Operational Support Brigade
- Lachlan Duggan, Shoalhaven Heads Brigade
- Christopher Allen, Shoalhaven Heads Brigade
- Koby Cannon, Shoalhaven Heads Brigade
- Rachel Chadwick, Shoalhaven Heads Brigade
- Timothy Fielding, Shoalhaven Heads Brigade
- Shannon Judge, Shoalhaven Heads Brigade
- Stephanie Thomson, Shoalhaven Heads Brigade
- Stephen Thomson, Shoalhaven Heads Brigade
- Geoff Parker, Shoalhaven Heads Brigade
- Charles Wynne, Shoalhaven Heads Brigade
- Oliver Wynne, Shoalhaven Heads Brigade
- Michelle Thornley AFSM, St Georges Basin Brigade
- Matthew Gates, St Georges Basin Brigade
- Michael Sharpe, St Georges Basin Brigade
- Liam Anderson, St Georges Basin Brigade
- Jaimee Bebernitz, St Georges Basin Brigade
- Emma-Mai Bentley, St Georges Basin Brigade
- Issaiah Boyes, St Georges Basin Brigade
- Blake Calderon, St Georges Basin Brigade
- Tyson Chivers, St Georges Basin Brigade
- Jake Hampton, St Georges Basin Brigade
- Samuel Jones, St Georges Basin Brigade
- Alexander Limn, St Georges Basin Brigade
- Corey Morrison, St Georges Basin Brigade
- Christopher Preece, St Georges Basin Brigade
- Alex Ross, St Georges Basin Brigade
- Justin Ruffle, St Georges Basin Brigade
- Bailey Walker, St Georges Basin Brigade
- Benjamin Wetherell, St Georges Basin Brigade
- Janet Wheeler, St Georges Basin Brigade
- Jacob Williams, Sussex Inlet Brigade
- Adam Harris, Sussex Inlet Brigade
- Graham Williams AFSM, Sussex Inlet Brigade
- Manfred Simson, Sussex Inlet Brigade
- Jessica Allen, Sussex Inlet Brigade
- David Brown, Sussex Inlet Brigade
- Brian Caldwell, Sussex Inlet Brigade
- Walter Cook, Sussex Inlet Brigade
- Terry Davies, Sussex Inlet Brigade
- James Densham, Sussex Inlet Brigade
- Rachel Hessenberger, Sussex Inlet Brigade
- Noel Kennedy, Sussex Inlet Brigade
- Clayton Keywood, Sussex Inlet Brigade
- Tony Madgwick, Sussex Inlet Brigade
- Piotr Majewski, Sussex Inlet Brigade
- Michael Mumberson, Sussex Inlet Brigade
- Melanie Smalle, Sussex Inlet Brigade
- Jason Smalle, Sussex Inlet Brigade
- Matthew Moon, Tabourie Brigade
- Diane Heggie, Tabourie Brigade
- Luke Dower, Tabourie Brigade
- William Eden, Tabourie Brigade
- Dale Willoughby, Tomerong Brigade
- Matthew Askew, Tomerong Brigade
- Colleen Brittain, Tomerong Brigade
- Garry Brumfield, Tomerong Brigade
- Peter Cato, Tomerong Brigade
- Tessa-Lea Clark, Tomerong Brigade
- Dennis Lane, Tomerong Brigade
- Edward Leng, Tomerong Brigade
- Tammy Mackintosh, Tomerong Brigade
- Jennifer Murphy, Tomerong Brigade
- Stephen O'Brien, Tomerong Brigade
- Ronald Okonski, Tomerong Brigade
- Cody Rodriguez, Tomerong Brigade
- Connor Rodriguez, Tomerong Brigade
- Douglas Schutz, Tomerong Brigade
- Jake Schutz, Tomerong Brigade
- Kenneth Stutchbury, Tomerong Brigade
- Tameika Swan, Tomerong Brigade
- David Walsh, Vincentia Brigade
- Andrew Catt, Vincentia Brigade
- Martin Gaffey, Vincentia Brigade
- Jennifer Barrett, Vincentia Brigade
- Timothy Barrett, Vincentia Brigade
- Keith Coulton, Vincentia Brigade
- Rachael Edwards, Vincentia Brigade
- Wayne Goodman, Vincentia Brigade
- Jamie Kelly, Vincentia Brigade
- Robert Walker, Vincentia Brigade
- Hayley Wilkinson, Vincentia Brigade
- Owen Browne, Wandandian Brigade
- Walter Stannard, Wandandian Brigade
- Jayne Stannard, Wandandian Brigade
- Scott Hughes, Wandandian Brigade
- Joshua Stannard, Wandandian Brigade
- Joshua Ward, West Nowra Brigade
- Dale Norris, West Nowra Brigade
- Robert Ward, West Nowra Brigade
- Adam D'Arcy, West Nowra Brigade
- Amanda Green, West Nowra Brigade
- Miriam Hansford, West Nowra Brigade
- Gregory Judson, West Nowra Brigade
- Glen Griffiths, West Nowra Brigade
- Nicholas Kilminster, West Nowra Brigade
- Alexander Parker-Newlyn, West Nowra Brigade
- Justin Ryan, West Nowra Brigade
- John Shadlow, West Nowra Brigade
- Kyle Shadlow, West Nowra Brigade
- Karen Suitor, West Nowra Brigade
- James Walker, West Nowra Brigade
Grace Crivellaro
Journalist
Court reporter for the Illawarra Mercury.
Court reporter for the Illawarra Mercury.
