Reaching 65 years can often mean retirement for a lot of people.
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But for one local lad, that’s how many years he’s been volunteering with the Rural Fire Service (RFS).
Bruce Cooper was just one of around 30 or so local rural firefighters who were honoured this weekend for their years on the fire ground.
Together the local men and women have clocked up 825 years of service.
RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons made the trip to Tamworth for the special event on Friday night.
Brian Tomalin from the Hanging Rock brigade, Keith Thompson from the Kootingal/Moonbi brigade and Charles May from Nundle were each awarded the National Medal Clasps.
Tamworth Superintendent Allyn Purkiss said the three men have put in a big effort over many, many years.
“Those three guys are getting the national medals because they’ve gone above and beyond, it’s for diligent service,” Superintendent Purkiss said.
“They’re constantly called out, going to multiple incidents and they show great leadership. We can’t say thank you enough, absolutely.
“Charles every week, without fail, does a maintenance run with the truck, and he’s done that for as long as I can remember
“It’s that constant effort that these guys put in.”
Volunteers from Woolbrook, Watsons Creek, Gowrie, Somerton, Mount Lindsay, Moore Creek, Bendemeer, Kootingal/Moonbi, Nundle and Hanging Rock were recognised on the night.
Commissioner Fitzsimmons said the RFS wouldn’t exist without the volunteers.
“We wouldn’t have the positive, prosperous communities we have across NSW and Australia,” Commissioner Fitzsimmons said.
“We have this extraordinary volunteer army that come together for nothing more than making a difference to the community.
“These volunteers never signed up all those decades ago, for the one day we’d be having a ceremony in Tamworth to say thank you.
“They did it for the Aussie spirit to help others.”
The service also honoured all the men and women who clocked up long service, just by volunteering.
Bruce Cooper led the field with 65 years of service, Paul Streeter has had 53 years as a volunteer, while Colin Noon and Alan Thirwell each notched up 40 years.
Another six men clocked 30 or more years in the service, while 16 men and women were recognised for their service to the RFS which spanned from 10 through to 29 years.
Commissioner Fitzsimmons said the volunteers commit themselves year round.
“It’s about saying thank you to the families, to their loved ones,” he said.
“They leave family functions and their homes to go to motor vehicle accidents, house fires ... the disastrous bushfires.”
Superintendent Purkiss said the RFS needed every single volunteer to manage.
“We have 1200 or so volunteers on our books locally,” he said.
“Besides us thanking you, the community is thanking you.
“The residents call us and say thanks. They say thank you for everything these volunteers do.”
Superintendent Purkiss said Friday night’s ceremony was just a small recognition of the time, service and efforts the volunteers put in.
AWARDEES
* Brian Tomalin, Hanging Rock RFB, 32 years service
* Keith Thompson, Kootingal/Moonbi RFB, 56 years service
* Charles May, Nundle RFB, 47 years service
* Paul Streeter, Mt Lindesay, 53 years
* Bruce Cooper, Somerton, 65 years
* Neville Henry, Woolbrook, 30 years
* Garry White, Watsons Creek, 34 years
* Graeme Whitten, Gowrie, 38 years
* Colin Noon, Woolbrook/Somerton, 40 years
* Alan Thirlwell, Watsons Creek, 40 years
* Roger Bomford, Mt Lindsay, 30 years
* Peter Clinch, Mt Lindsay, 30 years
* Wilfred Harris, Mt Lindsay, 30 years
* Robyn Perry, Moore Creek, 28 years
* Noel Cook, Gowrie, 29 years
* Denny Summers, Nundle, 24 years
* Simon Blake, Woolbrook, 24 years
* Michelle Zimmerman, Woolbrook, 22 years
* Carolyn Noon, Gowrie, 22 years
* Daryl Reading, Gowrie, 21 years
* Robert McCulloch, Gowrie, 21 years,
* Gary Heggs, Nundle, 21 years
* Kathleen Edwards, Moore Creek, 16 years
* Andrew Zimmerman, Woolbrook, 14 years
* Robert Gill, Moore Creek, 14 years
* Ken Hawes, Kootingal, 12 years
* Stephen Walters, Gowrie, 12 years
* Chris McGoldrick, Bendemeer, 10 years
* Colin Axhorn, Somerton, 10 years.