Firefighters receive NSW citation after 2019/2020 bushfire season

Dozens of Rural Fire Brigade volunteers and firefighters have been recognised after their deployment to the NSW bushfires in 2020.

(left to right) Nathan Greer, Sarah Barford, Scott Woodhouse, Ron Fiechtner

In the summer of 2019, brave volunteers of the Cambooya Rural Fire Brigade battled blazes in Pechey and Stanthorpe before lending a hand in NSW, where more bushfires raged.

Last month, 57 local Rural Fire Brigade volunteers were recognised for their service during the NSW bushfires, receiving a citation from the NSW premier.

Among them were four Cambooya Rural Fire Brigade volunteers; Nathan Greer, Sarah Barford, Robald Fiechtner and Scott Woodhouse.

Stationed in Tumut for five days at the start of 2020, the team travelled out to Tumbarumba, one of the epicentres of the NSW bushfires.

“There are different stages to fires, with Stanthorpe it was happening right then and there, while in NSW the fire had already been through – so we saw the aftermath,” Cambooya Rural Fire Brigade’s Sarah Barford said.

“We helped to relieve the Tumbarumba Fire Brigade firefighters, who had been actively fighting the fires for months.

“At the end of the day we are all Australians, and everyone in the fire service is keen to help each other out whenever we need it.”

“It was great to be recognised for the effort you put in, especially during that 2019/2020 fire season, it was pretty gruelling,” Cambooya Rural Fire Brigade second officer Nathan Greer said.

“It makes you proud that you’re out there, lending your time to help the community.”

Rural Fire Brigade Citations

Glenn Richards

Natasha Bamberry

Peter Curr

James Day

Anthony Nelson

Gregory Olsson

Harley Olsson

Bruce Smith

Justin Clem

Samual Phillips

Scott Mann

Sally Rowen

Aaron Tomkins

Phillip McCabe

Sarah Barford

Robald Fiechtner

Nathan Greer

Scott Woodhouse

Kristofer Patteron

Sandra Browne

Arthur Brennan

Shane Minchington

Graeme Thomas

Kirk Dorries

Aaron Harth

Brian McCulkin

Jason Bosworth

Alan Richards

Stephen Popple

Peter Campbell

James Hollist Jnr

Rachael Jacobsen

Donald Cooper

Allan Bates

Robert Chatfield

Gary Clark

Kristopher Duncan

Nathan Leverett

Anthony McDonald

Shaun Mitchell

Rhyce O’Doherty

Neill Wilkinson

Vicki Wilkinson

Olivia Wright

Marshall Hanson

Alan Root

Mark Vonhoff

Andrew Somervaille

James Pratt

Stephen Oliver

Geoffrey Burton

Allan Petersen

Janice Pittaway

Sam Buchholz

Warren Hearn

Ross Nowlan

John Ruddiman

Fire and Rescue Service Auxiliary firefighters citations

Peter Lukes – Anzac Avenue

Sean Flanagan – Chinchilla

Mitchell Schull – Chinchilla

Andrew Rayner – Highfields

Jeremy Liebert – Jandowae

Fire and Rescue firefighters citations

Kent Barron – Anzac Avenue

Eddie Lacko – Darling Downs

Rural Fire Service firefighters citations

Tim Chittenden – Darling Downs

Katie Mann – Darling Downs

Phillip Young – Roma

Craig Clifford – Darling Downs

Michael Welsh – Darling Downs