A role model to generations: NSW’s oldest firefighter Bill King retires after 53 years
Half a century ago, Bill King turned up for his first day as a rookie firefighter. On Boxing Day, at the age of 75, he will hang up his hat for the last time.
North Shore
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AT 8am on Boxing Day, the state’s oldest and longest serving firefighter Bill King will finish his last shift at Mosman Fire Station.
“I’ll be sorry to leave,” the 75-year-old said. “You’ve got to retire sometime.
It’s been 53 years since Mr King turned up for his first day as a rookie firefighter in Drummoyne.
He remembers lining up for roll call before asking the station officer what to do if there was a fire. The response was simple: “Stay out of the way”.
His first big job was the Mobil Oil terminal fire at Pulpit Point, Woolwich, in 1964, where firemen struggled among 46,000,000 gallons of stored fuel to put out what would be Sydney’s biggest oil blaze. With great courage and skill they succeeded.
He fought major bushfires in 1968, 1979 and 1994, and more recently, was the first arriving fire officer at the petrol tanker crash and explosion at Mona Vale.
This year he received the Australian Fire Service Medal, one of the highest honours an Australian firefighter can receive.
At the time, he was described by FRNSW Commissioner Greg Mullins as “the epitome of why firefighters are the most trusted profession”.
He also proudly watched his son Stuart graduate from Fire and Rescue NSW’s training college in May.
“He’s been trying to join for many years. He had quite a few attempts and he got there,” he said.
The Mosman Fire Station commander said would not retire until his son became a firefighter and he is now honouring his word, but not before passing on some of his knowledge.
BILL KING ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT
HEROES WHO RISKED LIVES IN MONA VALE TRAGEDY HONOURED
Ahead of his retirement on 26 December, the father and son duo were determined to work together for one shift and today, they are doing just that.
Mr King’s own father Ben King retired from the police force the year he joined in 1961. Bill King wasn’t tall enough to join the police so he signed up the fire brigade instead.
“My ambition was to join the police force as my father was a policeman and wanted me to follow in his footsteps,” he said. “But you had to be six-foot tall.”
MOSMAN COMMUNITY SUPPORTS JUSTINE AFTER FIRE
A role model for generations of firefighters, his team at Mosman have nothing but respect for their Station Officer and his guidance as a leader and mentor.
At 75, Station Officer King’s fitness is legendary and he has been around the world to complete in indoor rowing and other sporting events.
“It’s better to go when you can still do the job and are 100 per cent operational.
“It’s not a light duty job ... I’ve got to do the same as a 21-year-old.”
He will miss the comradeship at the station but wants to stay involved. He will continue competing in the Police and Fire Games where he has won several gold medals for indoor rowing.
The father of three and grandfather of six plans to stay happy and fit in retirement and enjoy a bit more travel.
“I feel like I’m just starting,” he said.
BILL KING’S CAREER YEAR BY YEAR
● Joined August 4, 1961
● Served in Drummoyne from October 1961 to August 1966
● Joined Crows Nest in 1966
● Joined Manly in 1971
● Returned to Crows Nest in 1975 and promoted to Station Officer in 1976
● Joined Neutral Bay in 1981
● Joined Mosman in 1993
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