Memorial service to honour people who lost lives in NSW bushfires

The widows of the two firefighters who died when a tree fell on their fire truck late last year said they will be “each other’s rock” at the special memorial being held to honour the memories of the 25 people who died in the state’s devastating bushfires.

• Cherished son steps up as RFS honours fallen firey dad
• ‘Charlotte, your dad only left us because he was a hero’

As the state mourns lives lost in the bushfire season at tomorrow’s special memorial, the partners of two fallen fireys will beam with pride.

The state memorial on Sunday will honour the memories of 25 people who perished in the recent bushfires, including Horsley Park firefighters Andrew O’Dwyer and Geoff Keaton who paid the ultimate sacrifice when their fire truck was hit by a tree while they were battling the large Green Wattle Creek blaze near the town of Buxton in December.

Geoff Keaton died when a tree fell on their fire truck on December 19.

Andrew O’Dwyer was with Keaton and they both died instantly.

Andrew’s wife Melissa and Geoff’s partner, Jess Hayes, whose toddlers Charlotte and Harvey were born just four days apart in May 2018, will be “each other’s rock” in the crowd.

“I’m so glad the boys will be remembered for the heroes they were,” Mrs O’Dwyer said.

“They put their lives on the line.

“I’m honoured the boys are being remembered at the memorial but it’s going to be hard because we haven’t had a good chance to sit and reflect yet.”

Widows of fallen RFS volunteers killed in the 2019 bushfires, Mel O'Dwyer (left) and Jess Hayes will attend the memorial together. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Both women concede the sombre reality of the twin tragedies hasn’t fully dawned on them, but they are becoming increasingly distressed and “pissed off” that their 22-month-old children will never know their fathers.

“I’m devastated Geoff’s not going to see Harvey grow up,” Ms Hayes said.

“Harvey and Charlotte will know who their dads are, but it’s not the same, they need to physically be there.”

The Horsley Park Rural Fire Service (RFS) brigade came together for a race day at Rosehill Gardens yesterday, where the young mothers were presented $460,000 by the Forever Giving Foundation charity, which will go towards financing Charlotte and Harvey’s futures.

“The money means whatever the kids want to do in life, they can do it.

“Both boys (Andrew and Geoff) just wanted their kids to have the best in life.

“They were real family men.”