Hundreds honour fallen CFS volunteer Louise Hincks at a funeral service

The CFS volunteer who lost her life in a blaze at Lucindale has been awarded a national medal, as her mother sang one final lullaby to lay her “darling” girl to rest.

When Louise Hincks was a baby, her mother would soothe her to sleep with the lullaby You Are My Sunshine.

On Tuesday, Sue Brown, surrounded by her family, sung the song one last time as she laid her “darling” girl and much loved CFS volunteer to rest.

“Sadly my sunshine has gone away, but you’ll never be gone as your spirit will live through Alice and Addie (Mrs Hincks’ children) forever,” she said.

“Goodbye our darling girl, we were so blessed to be your parents for 45 years, we will miss you every moment of every day for the rest of our lives.”

Ms Hincks, a member of the Happy Valley CFS, was fighting a blaze near Lucindale last month when she was hit by a falling, burning branch, causing fatal injuries.

Her years of dedication to the CFS and ultimate sacrifice were the theme of her farewell, symbolised by chief officer Mark Jones presenting a National Services Medal to Mrs Hincks’ daughters for her service.

About 650 people gathered at the Entertainment Centre to honour the fallen firefighter and devoted mother at a funeral service on Tuesday.

Mourners and colleagues line Port Road outside of the Adelaide entertainment centre for the funeral of fallen CFS firefighter Louise Hincks. Picture: Greg Adams/CFS

Louise Hincks is taken from the funeral at Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Tuesday. Picture: Greg Adams/CFS

The Adelaide Entertainment Centre service for for fallen CFS firefighter Louise Hincks. Picture: Greg Adams/CFS

Firefighter;s salute as the coffin of Louise Hincks passes. Picture: Greg Adams/CFS

Mrs Brown said her daughter was “much more than a CFS fighter”.

“She was our treasured daughter, sister, mother, wife, aunty, niece, cousin, sister-in-law and, most of all, our friend,” she said.

Family and friends, volunteers from her Happy Valley and Eden Hills brigades, CFS volunteers from across the state, heads of all SA emergency services and various dignitaries paid tribute to the mother of two.

Louise Hincks, pictured with new puppy Maxi, was killed in the Lucindale blaze. Picture: Supplied by family

Mrs Hincks’s daughter, Addie Fleming, recalled how much her mother meant to so many.

“We aspire to be like you, you helped and saved so many people,” she said.

“They’re even calling you a hero, but more importantly you’re my hero.

“Our mother gave us life and never asked for anything in return.

“The only thing she did not teach us is how to live without her.

“Rest easy ‘til we meet you again.”

Husband Lindsay Hincks met his wife while working together at SAFECOM in the early 2000s.

Speaking at the service, he said she had shown him “what love was all about”.

“You made me laugh and every day was a good day,” he said.

“I will miss you immensely.”

Mrs Hincks’s brother, Jonathan Brown, recalled a moment growing up with his sister.

“We remember that bloody CFS pager going off at 2am in the morning and our sister rushing out the door and, though it woke us up, her passion for helping others was infectious and we forgave her the next morning,” he said.

“We will remember your love, we will remember your laugh, we will remember everything you taught us, we will live life to the fullest from here on out because we know that’s what you want us to do.”

CFS volunteers formed a guard of honour to pay their respects to the CFS convoy. Picture: 7NEWS

CFS chief officer Mr Jones said the whole organisation was grieving with Mrs Hincks’s family.

“Remember how respected and loved Louise was and is and always will be by everyone in our emergency services,” he said.

“I truly pray that being wrapped in that love will sustain you over the dark days which follow as the healing commences.”

He then read out a poem in Mrs Hincks’s honour.

SAFECOM welfare coordinator Jane Abdilla said Mrs Hincks was “a firey at heart”.

“We came to know her as a professional colleague, a workmate and a close friend,” she said.

“Even at such a young age, she showed huge compassion for others, high energy and care for her fellow volunteers and a commitment to the CFS life.”

Mrs Hincks first joined the Eden Hills CFS in 1994 and served in many roles for the organisation over the past 28 years, plus a stint of employment with SAFECOM.

A qualified psychologist, she had previously worked in the stress prevention section and provided mental health support to dozens of CFS volunteers.

She had travelled hundreds of kilometres to help fight the Lucindale blaze.

Dozens gathered to form a guard of honour as a CFS convoy brought her body back to Adelaide late last month.