Group Captain Thomas John Sturgeon - Australia Day AFSMs

Summary

Thomas John Sturgeon has been awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal on Australia Day 2015.

John Sturgeon AFSM

Group Captain Thomas John Sturgeon (known as John) was born and grew up on a property at Lidster near Orange. He has been a dedicated member of the NSW Rural Fire Service since joining the Lidster Brigade as a teenager under the supervision and guidance of his father, Thomas. John has remained in the Lidster District and today is a well known and respected cattle producer.

John has attended many local fires during his 50 years plus service. He was elected a Deputy Captain with the brigade in 1977 and stepped up to the role of Captain in 1982, a role he has held for many years. John's most memorable fire was the emergency declared fire at Mt Canobolas in 1986 when he was integral in establishing containment lines which assisted greatly in the fire containment. John was also instrumental in the formation of the joint Bushfire Management Committee comprising the Orange, Blayney and Cabonne Local Government areas in 1999.

As the equipment officer for the Lidster Brigade, John has direct input ensuring the brigade's tankers and all fire fighting equipment is well maintained. He also assists with all training sessions where approximately 5 years ago he was instrumental in creating the Nashdale, Canobolas and Lidster Brigades training cooperative to enable those brigade volunteers to work formally together. He is a great mentor to the three brigades' younger members and willingly imparts his extensive skills and knowledge to all members.

John's leadership is held in very high regard by all brigades in the Canobolas Zone. As such, he was elected as a Group Captain for the newly formed NSW Rural Fire Service Canobolas Zone in 2001. John has taken this role very seriously and has been a long time representative member for the Canobolas Zone volunteers on the local Bushfire Management Committee, the Liaison Committee, the Senior Management Team and the Canobolas Zone Awards Committee.

Group Captain Thomas John Sturgeon is a worthy nomination for the Australian Fire Service Medal.