Governor thanks hero fireys for their bravery

THE Queensland Governor visited staff and volunteers who fought fires in Deepwater last year to thank them for their bravery and hard work.

EXPRESSING GRATITUDE: Governor of Queensland Paul de Jersey and his wife Kaye visited the Bundaberg Fire Station to thank the staff and volunteers of the QFES, SES and RFS. Picture: Geordi Offord

FIREFIGHTERS, the State Emergency Service and Rural Fire Service have been thanked for their bravery during the blazes that tore through Deepwater last year.

Queensland Governor Paul de Jersey and his wife, Kaye, visited the Bundaberg Fire Station yesterday, where they got to meet and greet staff and volunteers.

RFS volunteer Richard Gorter was one of many volunteers who fought to save homes in the Deepwater area.

He said it was moving to have the Governor thank them for their work.

"We were very busy during those two weeks and weren't sure if anyone was actually noticing what we were doing so it's nice to get that recognition," he said.

"It's nice he's come out and spoken to us.

"It's not something we really expect, most of the thanks we get is from people when you arrive at their houses and there's flames coming up the hill."

Before addressing the many staff and volunteers, the Governor was given a tour of the new fire station, where he was shown the room that served as headquarters during last year's natural disaster.

"These are often thankless tasks that are undertaken, they're undertaken by people out of a great sense of community spirit," he said.

"Many of them are volunteers and don't do it for any particular reward, fortunately from time-to-time they are recognised in our Australian honour system with bravery awards.

"But these people really do what they do out of dedication for their fellow human beings and they're wonderful people and are to be congratulated and applauded."

Governor de Jersey said the state couldn't survive without the volunteers.

"It's terribly important," he said.

"We Queenslanders tend to help each other out in times of difficulty and do so with great spirit.

"The natural disasters never cease in this state."