Lawrence RFS captain Scott Campbell elected as president

Lawrence RFS captain Scott Campbell said he always wanted to be part of an organisation that was there for members, especially when things get tough.

Lawrence RFS captain Scott Campbell

A local hero has become the first in the region to be elected president of the NSW Rural Fire Service Association.

Lawrence RFS captain, and Clarence Valley Council Australia Day Local Hero award recipient, Scott Campbell said he was honoured to be elected to the role.

“It’s very humbling,” he said.

“To be voted in by your peers.. it’s pretty cool to know they have that kind of respect for you.”

Mr Campbell has been on the RFSA Board of Directors since 2017, serving as the Association’s vice president for the past two years.

“We do all sorts of things, like grants funding for brigades, providing a chaplaincy fund, putting on workshops, Volunteers’ Family Days, and bringing the voice of volunteers to the Service,” he said.

“The Association is all about being there for them, especially when things get tough, and it’s something I wanted to be a part of,” he said.

It’s also a philosophy that Mr Campbell lives by.

Through his work as director of Kokoda Campaign Tours, he’s helped countless people navigate the physical and mental challenges involved in completing the Kokoda Track and has assisted his team in Kokoda to establish a cacao export business. He’s also delivered vital medical equipment to community hospitals in Popondetta and Kokoda.

Scott Campbell and Stuart Jonklaas of Kokoda Campaign Tours providing medical equipment to Popondetta Hospital in Papua New Guinea.

Earlier this year, Mr Campbell was awarded a NSW RFS St Florian’s Day Awards Commissioner’s Commendation for Bravery for his actions during the 2019-20 bushfires when he chose to stay with a resident and help save their home from the flames before evacuating them to safety.

Listen: Scott describes his experience on the fireground at Nymboida in 2019:

Mr Campbell said that the RFSA provides valuable support to volunteer firefighters both on and off the fire ground.

“During those fires, the RFSA provided (RFS volunteers and staff) with additional meals from McDonald’s and local coffee carts, which might not seem like much, but it meant a lot for many people,” he said.

With the statewide Covid lockdown scheduled to end in the coming days, Mr Campbell said he was eager to see the Association’s in-person support programs resume.

“Before these lockdowns, we held seven Volunteers’ Family fun Days across the state, with one event drawing over 1,000 members and their families to the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour,” he said.

“That was actually the first time a lot of people had come together since the 2019 fires so it was good to see everyone reconnect again.”