Fire service honours stalwart
Published Date: 02 Apr 2013
Summary
Forbes Advocate
Stalwart of the Rural Fire Service Stan Armitage was recognised for dedicating 55 years to the Quandialla brigade.
During a special presentation yesterday morning, Operations Officer for the Mid Lachlan Valley Team Inspector Troy Porter, and Group Captain for the Weddin Shire and Captain of the Quandialla brigade Bevan McAlister, presented Mr Armitage with his 50 years' Service Medal.
Stan Armitage (centre) with his certificate
and medal recognising 50 years of volunteering with the Rural Fire Service
following the presentation by Group Captain for the Weddin Shire and Captain of
the Quandialla Brigade Bevan McAlister and Operations Officer for the Mid
Lachlan Valley Team Inspector Troy Porter.
Mr Armitage first started volunteering with the service in 1958 while living in Wirrinya.
Ten years later he moved and joined the Quandialla brigade.
The move also saw Mr Armitage take on the position of Deputy Captain, a position which he held until last year when he moved from the area to live in Forbes.
Mr Porter described Mr Armitage's length of service as a "huge amount" of time and one which was gratefully appreciated by the Rural Fire Service.
Mr McAlister is also captain of the Quandialla brigade and has clocked up 38 years of volunteer service alongside Mr Armitage.
He described Mr Armitage as a "quiet achiever" who covered the south side of the fire district without any complaints.
"He was always good to work with. He understood what we needed. [Stan] is one of those people that you can always rely on.
You wouldn't hear from him unless you need him.
"[Stan] did just what was required of a volunteer – without question.
"Perfect he was. There was no hesitation, he was always happy to get involved."
Mr Armitage joked that he liked being the deputy to Mr McAlister, because if anything went wrong, it was the other man's fault.
He also said it was one way to keep volunteers, which was to give them a job they liked.
Mr Armitage described receiving the medal as a "great thing".
"I didn't expect it. You don't expect anything when you are out in the dust and the smoke and getting covered in everything," he said.
Over the years Mr Armitage has seen some changes in both equipment and procedures.
Mr Armitage recalled times when volunteers dived for the hose to avoid having to work the pump, and other times when the pumps were so powerful the hoses were blown off.
"In that time [I] picked up a lot of knick knacks with rules and regulations. If you stick to it, the system works and if you don't, it doesn't work," he said.
Mr McAlister said Mr Armitage will be hard to replace.
"We'll miss Stan… he just covered his area nicely." Mr McAlister said.
The Quandialla brigade is located in the Weddin Shire.
