‘Jack-of-all-trades’ Tom Maye celebrates a whopping 70 years with the NSW Rural Fire Service

“His first fire was fought barefoot with the use of farmers’ tractors... a world away from the state-of-the-art personal protective equipment and fire appliances of today.”

Superintendent David Cook with Cudgen brigade member Tom Maye and his wife Carmel Maye. Photo: Contributed

Cudgen RFS Brigade member Tom Maye has celebrated more than 70 years of service to the NSW Rural Fire Service.

A small number of RFS members joined Mr Maye, his wife Carmel and their family to celebrate the enormous milestone.

Superintendent David Cook presented him with a 70-Year Long Service Clasp and thanked Mr Maye for his dedication, friendship and commitment to the NSW RFS.

Supt Cook said that achieving 70 years of service was so rare, Mr Maye’s clasp had to be requested as a special order.

“Tom started his service with the NSW RFS when he joined the Duranbah Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade in 1950 at the age of 11,” he said.

“His first fire was fought barefoot with the use of farmers’ tractors to create fire breaks and eventually contain the fire, a world away from the state-of-the-art personal protective equipment and specifically-engineered fire appliances of today”.

Mr Maye held numerous positions within the Duranbah and Cudgen Brigades, including that of captain for more than 17 years.

Cudgen Brigade member Tom Maye AFSM was recognised for over 70 years of Service to the NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS). Photo: Contributed

In 1988, he accepted a paid position as Deputy Fire Control Officer (DFCO) of the Tweed District.

In his role as DFCO, he became a ‘jack-of-all-trades’ sourcing and fixing equipment, training firefighters, managing fires and generally improving the level of fire protection for the people of the Tweed.

After his retirement in 2001, Mr Maye continued serving the local community as a member of the Cudgen Brigade, where he put his experience and exceptional leadership qualities to work, mentoring younger brigade members and maintaining equipment, Supt Cook said.

“Tom is greatly admired and respected by his peers in the NSW RFS due to his good nature, integrity and honest principals,” he said.

“Due to his selfless volunteering, he has received the Australian Fire Service Medal, National Medal Clasp 1-4, Long Service Medals 10 – 70 years and Life Membership of the Cudgen Brigade.

“Tom continues to be an inspiration to the next generation of firefighters in our local area. His professional expertise, local knowledge and history of the local area is invaluable,” he said.