Mackay Whitsunday firefighters receive Australia Day honours
Paramedic Gabby Refalo held her four-month-old baby in her arms as she watched her mum receive two medals for service to the community through the Mackay Fire Station.
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Paramedic Gabby Refalo stood with four-month-old baby Charlie in her arms and watched proudly as her mum Leanne Tickle received two medals at the Mackay Fire Station.
Mrs Tickle has been a firefighter for 22 years and was one of dozens to receive recognition during a special Australia Day ceremony.
“It is great,” Gabby said.
“I am a very proud daughter from a very proud family.
“She has worked so hard for it.”
Mrs Tickle received the diligent and ethical service medal and the national medal.
Tears welled in Mrs Tickle’s eyes as Gabby spoke of her pride.
Mrs Tickle said she loved the job because there was always something different to do and she got to work with people who held similar values to her own.
The ceremony recognised eight people with Australia Day achievement awards, an Australia Day certificate of appreciation, seven national medals, a 1st clasp to the national medal, five 1st clasps to the diligent and ethical service medal, five 2nd clasps to the diligent and ethical service medal, 12 Queensland Fire and Emergency Service medals, a national emergency medal and eight ACT emergency medals.
Firefighter of 15 years Matt Mooney received a QFES medal and an Australia Day achievement award.
Mr Mooney’s father was captain of the Sarina Fire Station, and he said working as a firefighter was something he always wanted to do.
His wife, Renee stood proudly by him.
“He has worked hard for it,” she said.
Tom Brown, a rural fire officer at Midge Point, received the ACT emergency medal for his deployment to the 2020 bushfires.
“It is good (to receive the medal),” he said.
“I received one for the Townsville floods and now this one.”
Mr Brown said “giving back to the community” was his source of inspiration.
Here is the full list of QFES personnel and support workers who have been recognised this year:
Australia Day Achievement Awards
Simon Barlow - Lieutenant, North Mackay Fire and Rescue
Justin Buhagiar - Lieutenant, Airlie Beach Fire and Rescue
John Harriot - Lieutenant, Mackay Fire and Rescue
Brendon Hope - Station Officer, Mackay Fire and Rescue
Michael Livingston - Captain, Dysart Mackay Fire and Rescue
Kyle McCormack - Firefighter, Mackay Fire and Rescue
Breanna Mills - Executive Support Officer to Assistant Commissioner
Matthew Mooney - Senior Firefighter, Mackay Fire and Rescue
Justin Dent - Technology Support, Technology Support, Queensland Police Service
National Medal
Mark Ashford - Station Officer, Mackay Fire and Rescue
Terry Barron - Auxiliary Firefighter, Walkerston Fire and Rescue
Simon Barlow - Lieutenant, Mackay Fire and Rescue
Scott Campbell - Station Officer, Mackay Fire and Rescue
Shane Clarke - Senior Firefighter, Mackay Fire and Rescue
Ian Kelly - Station Officer, Mackay Fire and Rescue
Leanne Tickle - Auxiliary Firefighter
1st Clasp National Medal
Darryl Youngberry - Building Approval Officer, Mackay Fire and Rescue
Diligent and Ethical Service Medal, 1st Clasp
Leith Allan - Rural Fire Support Member, Seaforth Rural Fire Brigade
Ross Daley - First Officer, Seaforth Rural Fire Brigade
Graham Harmsworth - Second Officer, Seaforth Rural Fire Brigade
Mario Leotta - Rural Firefighter, Seaforth Rural Fire Brigade
Leanne Tickle - Auxiliary Firefighter, Walkerston Fire and Rescue
Diligent and Ethical Service Medal, 2nd Clasp
Mat McFarlane - Station Officer, Mackay Fire and Rescue
Patrick McGuire - Station Officer, Mackay Fire and Rescue
Anthony Schofield - Building Approval Officer, Mackay Fire and Rescue
David Sharpe - Station Officer, Mackay Fire and Rescue
Ros Stiller - Auxiliary Firefighter, Walkerston Fire and Rescue
QFES Medal
Anthony Attard - Rural Firefighter, Habana Rural Fire Brigade
Jamie Adams - Auxiliary Firefighter, Sarina Fire and Rescue
Arno Arebeithuber - Auxiliary Firefighter, North Mackay Fire and Rescue
Shane Birkett - Auxiliary Firefighter, Walkerston Fire and Rescue
Peter Carrol - Station Officer, Mackay Fire and Rescue
Geoffrey Dimond - Station Officer, Mackay Fire and Rescue
Darryl Dhu - Auxiliary Firefighter, Walkerston Fire and Rescue
Kurt Hardin - Auxiliary Firefighter, Walkerston Fire and Rescue
Brian Kynaston - Senior Firefighter, Mackay Fire and Rescue
Matthew Mooney - Senior Firefighter, Mackay Fire and Rescue
Dean Ross - Auxiliary Firefighter, Walkerston Fire and Rescue
Craig Wicks - Senior Firefighter, Mackay Fire and Rescue
National Emergency Medal
Scott Campbell - Station Officer, Mackay Fire and Rescue
Tim Caris - Firefighter, Mackay Fire and Rescue
Geoffrey Dimond - Station Officer, Mackay Fire and Rescue
Michael Perry - Station Officer, Mackay Fire and Rescue
Anthony Schofield - Building Approval Officer, Mackay Fire and Rescue
Luke Stevenson - Rural Firefighter, Victoria Plains Rural Fire Brigade
ACT Emergency Service Medal
Ricky Barnes - First Officer, Dumbleton Rural Fire Brigade
Anthony Brieffies - Fire Officer, Blue Mountain Rural Fire Brigade
Thomas Brown - First Officer, Midge Point Rural Fire Brigade
Ross Daley - First Officer, Seaforth Town Rural Fire Brigade
Kari Galea - Auxiliary Firefighter, Walkerston Fire and Rescue
Nathan Gelhaar - Rural Firefighter, Gargett Rural Fire Brigade
Todd Marshall - Auxiliary Firefighter, Proserpine Fire and Rescue
Kimberley Robertson - Auxiliary Firefighter, Walkerston Fire and Rescue
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