Nat. Emergency Medal awarded to West Pittwater RFS members

On Saturday 25 June, Andrew Cutler, Greg Hurst, David Lambert, Wayne Lazarides, Justin Mills, Geoff Nimmo, and Declan Springthorpe were officially recognised for their sustained and extraordinary service in response to the 2019-20 nationally-significant bushfire emergency.

L to R: Scott Crossweller, Pat Warne, Wayne Lazarides, Greg Hurst, Andrew Cutler, Guy Baddock – Image: Sean McLoughlin

As many of us clearly recall, the 2019-20 bushfire season was the most widespread and extreme that Australia had ever experienced.

Thirty-three people perished – nine of whom were firefighters.

In NSW alone, almost 2500 homes were destroyed and 5.3 million hectares were burned (data as of 28 January 2020). The unprecedented cost in terms of wildlife and domestic animal deaths and injuries remains unknown, but conservative estimates for NSW and Vic place the number of mammal, bird, and reptile deaths at over one billion. Insect deaths were reported to be in the hundreds of billions (https://www.aph.gov.au).

Nowra New Years Day 2019 – Image W Lazarides

It was a large-scale, months-long, and terrifying event into which stepped our West Pittwater RFS crews – early, often, and with remarkable stamina and courage. Some were highly experienced firefighters while others had very little or no experience beyond that gained while training and volunteering in the Bays. Whatever the level of experience, the Black Summer bushfire season did not find our crews wanting in any way.

Exhausted Crews after fighting Bendalong fire Jan 2020 (Crews from Northern Beaches managed to save every home ) Image W. Lazarides

So, while the medal ceremony at the Elvina Fireshed was typically low-key (despite the presence of distinguished senior RFS leaders, such as Guy Baddock, Scott Crosweller, George Sheppard, Sean McLoughlin and Keith Davies), the respect and regard in which the seven recipients are held within and without the Bays’ community is of the highest order.

Congratulations Cuts, Greg, David, Wayne, Justin, Geoff, and Declan, and thank you. And because none of you are likely to parade your medals for us, here is a picture and explanation:

National Emergency Medal

The medal depicts a stylised representation of Australia’s national floral emblem, the wattle, , representing the accomplishments and sacrifices made by Australians in the service of others in times of crisis.
The medal ribbon colours match the colours of the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal ribbon. The colours of the ribbon are gold and eucalyptus green. Gold symbolises the Australian sun, optimism, and hope. Eucalyptus green complements the symbolism and the seven gold-coloured bands represent Australia’s six states, with the seventh representing the territories.

Suzanne Plater.

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