Celebrations In Harden And Yannawah For South West Slopes Firefighters

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Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke celebrates with members of the Yannawah RFB at the official opening of their brigade and receipt of their new Category 1 fire truck.

Two medal presentation events took place to honour the unwavering commitment of the Rural Fire Services Brigade volunteer members and their families from across the South West Slopes Zone.

Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke joined NSW RFS Superintendent Trevor Reeves to present 97 Long Service Medals at the presentation events held at Harden and Yannawah.

Marking a significant milestone in the history of the Yannawah Brigade, the day commenced with the official opening of the Yannawah Fire Station and handing over the keys to a new $420,000 Category 1 fire truck to Brigade Captain, Ralph Donaldson.

“For the first time in the Brigade’s history, thanks to an investment of over $340,000, the Yannawah Brigade now has a state-ofthe-art fire station, complete with two appliance bays, a training room, kitchen and amenities,” Ms Cooke said.

“This much-needed facility will greatly benefit the Brigade members and the community, which now has a modern meeting place.”

“Combined with the addition of the new $420,000 Category 1 Fire Truck, the Yannawah Brigade is now ideally placed to respond to local and regional emergencies for decades to come.”

The day’s celebrations continued at the South West Slopes Fire Control Centre in Harden where volunteers were recognised for their remarkable years of service, ranging from 10 to over 70 years.

Ms Cooke said our regional communities owed great gratitude to our volunteers, particularly those with over 60 years of service.

“Their dedication to community safety is truly outstanding,” Ms Cooke said.

She also acknowledged the posthumous presentation of the Long Service Medal 5th clasp to Morris Hunter, who, with 74 years of service in the Bribbaree brigade, was the longest-serving volunteer in the South West Slopes region.

“Many of our RFS members are farmers who selflessly give their time to help those in need,” Ms Cooke said.

“Recognising their commitment and providing them with the necessary facilities and equipment is crucial.

“I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all our volunteers for their tireless efforts, especially during emergencies across our state.

“These men and women are on-call 24/7, and we are immensely proud and grateful for their contribution.”