Firefighter Ken Hall among south coast’s Queen’s Birthday recipients
Long Beach RFS member Ken Hall has been honoured for his service as a firefighter to the state of NSW over the past 32 years. SEE THE FULL LIST OF SOUTH COAST RECIPIENTS
The South Coast News
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Long Beach RFS member Kenneth James Hall has been honoured for his service as a firefighter to the state of NSW over the past 32 years.
Mr Hall received the Australian Fire Service Medal as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours for 2020. He paid tribute to his mentor and father-in-law Keith Willis, colleagues and family members.
“I have a special mention for my father-in-law Keith Willis. He taught me so much in my early days. This will be a special thing and it goes back towards that,” he said.
“I haven’t done this on my own, it has come from some wonderful people I have worked with over 30 years. I have had a really supportive, strong family that has allowed me to do this.”
He joined the NSW Fire Brigade in 1988 as a retained member with the Condobolin Fire Brigade and was a volunteer with the bush fire brigade, later known as the Rural Fire Service (NSWRFS) around the same time.
He became the Part Time Fire Control Officer (FCO) for the Lachlan Shire in 1995 and in 1998 was appointed a full time FCO for the South West Slopes Zone.
“I came from a farming background myself and married into the local fire brigade, I married the deputy captain’s daughter and got into the fire brigade that way. I just got a love for the job,” he said.
In 2002 he moved to Batemans Bay on the south coast where he commenced in the position of Regional Operations Manager before being promoted to Regional Manager South in 2010.
“As district officer I was involved in fires on the north coast and Sydney basin, like the Blue Mountains and so forth and did various roles as operations in planning,” he said.
“When I started at the regional office it was the start the 2002, 2003 fire season and walked into fires all along the south coast, the Canberra fires and Snowy Mountain fires that year so that was a major learning curve. Going from incident management to theatre command role.”
Mr Hall points out incidents such as the Tathra fire in March 2018 and Mt Kingiman fire, west of Ulladulla, in August 2018 as the start of the black summer.
“We were scratching our heads at that fire behaviour and I think what this black summer has shown us is that fire behaviour went to another level again. We often talk about things called memory slides. To make rapid decisions you often refer back to experiences that you have had. I think we’ve all thrown our memory slides out after this black summer. The behaviour of that fire was unbelievable.”
During the 2019/2020 summer he volunteered with the Long Beach brigade after taking a step back from paid roles with the RFS. It allowed him to become a mentor with the brigade, but the experiences his fellow members picked up over the summer will stay with them for many years, he said.”
“I got to get on the back of the fire truck, which was good and it grounds you back to your roots.”
Other south coast Queen’s Birthday Honorees:
OAM
Malua Bay’s Bernard John Basevi
For service to the community of the Eurobodalla. Mr Basevi is a life member of Apex, has been heavily involved in the Malua Bay Bowling Club, Malua Bay Fishing Club and St Bernard’s parish. He is the current board director for Muddy Puddles.
Moruya’s Gregory Raymond Malavey
For service to people with a disability, and to the community of the Eurobodalla. Mr Malavey is the current chair of Yumaro Inc which provides employment assistance services to people with a disability. He has an extensive background in Moruya with involvement in Southern Phone, Moruya Hospital Board, Moruya Golf Club and Moruya Surf Life Saving Club.
Berry’s Christine Dunstan
For service to the performing arts as a producer and mentor. Ms Dunstan has worked in theatre production since the 1970s with roles in Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney and across NSW.
North Nowra’s Bevan Hardy
For service to the community of Bomaderry, and to youth through Scouts. Mr Hardy has been a member of the Lions Club of Bomaderry since 1977 and received a 30-year award for his service to Scouts in 2014.
Bomaderry’s Bruce John Murphy
For service to the community of the Shoalhaven. Mr Murphy is the current chair of the Shoalhaven Suicide and Prevention Awareness Network and is a life member of the Bomaderry Lions Club.
AM
Pambula’s Andrew Robert de Fegely from Pambula.
For significant service to the forestry industry through business and advisory roles. Mr de Fegely has been involved in sustainable timber harvesting industry and in government roles across Victoria, Tasmania, NSW and internationally.
Emergency Service Medal:
Dalmeny’s Ross Constable is a member of the Marine Rescue in Narooma and has served the community for over 20 years.
East Lynne’s Glenn Sullivan is the Marine Rescue's Monaro Regional Operations Manager and has served the community for more than a decade.
Australian Police Medal:
Superintendent Stephen Hegarty has provided dedicated service to the NSW Police Force for more than 30 years.
In 2013 he was promoted to Superintendent as Commander of Radio Operations and in 2016 he took up the role of Commander of Shoalhaven LAC which is now known as the south coast Police District. He was transferred in 2019 to his current role as Commander, Marine Area Command.
In March 2018 he led the response to the Tathra bush fires which saw over 100 houses damaged by fire. He successfully co-ordinated the emergency response and recovery phases associated with the fire.