Volunteers, staff and teams from the Mid Murray Rural Fire Service were among 80 rewarded for their “bravery and exceptional service” at recent St Florian’s Day celebrations.
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The ceremony was held in Dubbo, and those in attendance were honoured for their service across a wide and varied array of emergencies, including bushfires, floods and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The awards were presented by RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers and Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib.
Firefighters and teams from Moama, Barham, Goodnight, Moulamein and Deniliquin were recognised at the May 4 event.
All were commended for their “committed service to its local community throughout the protracted and challenging flood events of 2022”.
The citations for the local recipients were as follows:
Mid Murray Support Rural Fire Brigade - Commissioner’s Certificate of Commendation (Unit).
Brigade members: Captain Barbara Goudie, Wayne Fitzpatrick, Kevin Barnes, Donna McFeeters, Nissa Henwood, Dan Salmon, Kerrie Godfrey, Don Ward, Julian Bassett, George Selleck, Sammy Rourke, Fred Darazs, John Pocklington and Andrew Atley.
As a result of significant rainfall in the catchment, the Mid Murray District suffered prolonged flooding along the Murray River, Edward River, Wakool River and Billabong Creek systems from September through to December.
The Support Brigade was the first who responded to assist with sandbagging on September 7, working resolutely to support the community until its last commitment was completed on December 8.
Brigade members were active for 47 days, contributing more than 170 individual workdays.
More attuned to supporting the district with activities such as communications, air base operations, bulk water and logistical support, the brigade found itself in flood operations filling and laying sandbags and assisting with levee works.
Members also assisted with deliveries, moving vehicles and equipment and supporting the Emergency Operations Centre. Whatever the task, whatever the time, the support brigade turned out to assist.
Moulamein Rural Fire Brigade - Commissioner’s Certificate of Commendation (Unit).
Brigade members: Captain Alesha Buckley, Sam Tink, Jason Buckley, Sue Kingston, Ian Beezy, Alan Fielding, Gary Russell, Andrew Sutton, Reece Smith, Brendon Main, Ian Gibson, Rosie Friend, Ian Tully.
Significant rainfall in the catchment caused prolonged flooding along the Murray River, Edward River and Billabong Creek systems from September through to December. Moulamein, located at the junction of the Edward River and Billabong Creek, experienced a record flood exceeding the 1956 level.
The Moulamein brigade’s relatively small number of volunteers provided essential support to the township and large surrounding farming community throughout the emergency.
The brigade provided personnel required to manage flood operations every day, filling, delivering and laying sandbags and checking and maintaining levy banks and equipment, as well as assisting with the evacuation of the town.
Staying on to support the community, the brigade welcomed and worked effectively with other agencies and out of area strike teams.
Members actively supported their community in numerous ways, whether lending a sympathetic ear in stressful situations or facilitating access to the services and support needed when flood water was impacting homes and businesses.
They ferried essential goods through flood water to keep the town functioning and regularly checked on vulnerable community members.
The Brigade, trained in fire operations, demonstrated its determination to protect its community by successfully applying its skill and experience to the management of the flood emergency.
Captain Alesha Buckley - Commissioner’s Commendation for Service.
Assuming the role of Moulamein Sector Commander throughout the three-month response operation, Captain Buckley demonstrated exceptional leadership not only to the emergency response agencies but also her community, which experienced a record flood above the 1956 level.
She skilfully managed local and out of area strike teams, interstate crews and mitigation crew and council personnel, all working to prepare Moulamein for rising waters and the continued battle to maintain levees and sandbag properties to hold back the floodwater.
Captain Buckley briefed and tasked crews, coordinated work to defend the town, rallied the community to fill sandbags and became a community focal point for information and assistance.
Group Captain Dale Bowles - Commissioner’s Commendation for Service.
Over three months, Group Captain Dale Bowles assumed a number of sector command positions at Moama, Tooleybuc, Goodnight and Moulamein.
Initially working at Moama, he demonstrated strong leadership and management ability. Establishing a sector base at the Moama RFS Station, he controlled a multi-agency response involving the RFS, NSW State Emergency Service, Fire and Rescue NSW, NSW Police, Council and assisting agencies in a high intensity, complex and dynamic environment.
He briefed, tasked and coordinated all attached crews, determined resource requirements and managed logistical support for the sector.
Once the threat to Moama had eased, Group Captain Bowles relieved other sector commanders further west at Moulamein, Tooleybuc and Goodnight.
Group Officer David Lang - Commissioner’s Commendation for Service.
Over three months, Group Captain Lang assumed the role of sector commander for both the Barham and Moulamein Sectors, demonstrating exceptional leadership.
As the risk of severe flooding at Barham became apparent, Group Captain Lang controlled a multi-agency response including local and out of area RFS crews and interstate, SES, council and forestry personnel.
Enlisting local sports and social clubs to help with mitigation works, he conducted reconnaissance, liaised with cross border agencies, coordinated and tasked crews in all aspects of flood mitigation, including levee protection, and managed emergency pumping operations after internal flooding of the levee.
With Barham's defence organised, he then relieved the Moulamein sector commander at Moulamein.
Firefighter Daniel Andrews - Commissioner’s Commendation for Service.
Over three months, Firefighter Andrews assumed the role of sector commander for the Tooleybuc/Goodnight Sector, demonstrating exceptional leadership not only to the emergency response agencies but also the community.
His pre-emptive planning, including seeking out those with experience of the area’s record 1956 flood to gain intelligence and understanding of likely flood behaviour, helped save many properties from inundation and prevented damage to infrastructure.
Leading a sector of local, out of area, interstate, mitigation and council crews, Mr Andrews conducted reconnaissance, organised resources, briefed and tasked crews and coordinated works with locals and council, while keeping the community informed.
Captain Todd McCallum - Commissioner’s Commendation for Service.
When Moama flooded in October, Captain McCallum was on the front line, leading his brigade in responding to multiple requests for help from impacted residents for more than a fortnight before the Moama sector was established.
He then provided essential support to the sector commander, helping establish a control room in the brigade station, working tirelessly and providing critical local knowledge. He assisted in tasking arriving strike teams and continued assisting not only the Moama sector but also other responding agencies, while still operating his own brigade.
Demonstrating the utmost professionalism, Captain McCallum was well organised and provided clear direction. His resilience and leadership were notable every day throughout the two-month flood emergency.
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