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AUSTRALIAN FIRE SERVICE MEDAL (AFSM) - Jennifer Gail BUTT

Published Date: 26 Jan 2014

Summary

Mrs Butt joined the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) in 1969 as a member of the Monteagle Rural Fire Brigade and has always been directly involved with the RFS combating many local campaigns.

In the early days Mrs Butt provided communications support to the brigade and her husband (who was then the Brigade Captain) and, in more recent years, her attention and focus have turned to the establishment and management of the 'Monteagle Catering Trailer'.

The welcome that Mrs Butt and this trailer receive on many fire grounds throughout the South West Slopes Zone and neighbouring areas is priceless.

Mrs Butt is a diligent, capable and caring member. She is a logistics manager, change manager, active participant, mentor and committee member, and has served as the Brigade's Permit Officer since 1996.

She has a selfless attitude to the RFS, often forgoing her own pursuits to undertake RFS activities.

She is available at any time to assist at emergency incidents In the District and to also provide catering support at any hour of the day or night.

Mrs Butt is highly respected by both volunteers and staff within the District, and her outstanding contribution as a volunteer over many years has been of significant benefit to the RFS and her local community.

Awards/recognition include:

Lions 'Citizen of the Year', Young Lions Club, 2013.

Identified as a 'Hidden Treasure', NSW Department of Primary Industries, 2011.

The Daily Advertiser

Jan. 26, 2014, 12:30 a.m.

"Volunteering is volunteering, it's not for medals," Gail Butt of Young said.

The Monteagle Rural Fire Brigade member is modest about her more than 40 years of volunteer work - so much so, it took organisers about an hour to talk her into accepting an Australian Honour.

Volunteer for the love of it

Otherwise known as "mother duck" - a title given to her by NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell last fire season – Mrs Butt said she didn't accept medals because the satisfaction of the job was her reward.

"She doesn't like blow her own trumpet," husband Keith Butt said.

But her long list of roles with community organisations - particularly the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) - and a very persuasive voice on the other end of the phone, found the 67-year-old accepting the Australian Fire Service Medal.

Gail joined the RFS in 1969 as a member of the Monteagle Brigade and has always been directly involved with the service, helping with many local campaigns.

In the early days, Mrs Butt provided communications support to the brigade.

But, in recent years, her attention and focus has turned to the establishment and management of the 'Monteagle Catering Trailer' used at bushfire sites.

This undertaking had humble beginnings with an offering of just sandwiches and scones in a basket with recipes on standby to whip up at a moment's notice.

But 15-years-ago, after the fire at Young Abattoir, that was when her operation really moved up a notch with the construction of a purpose-built trailer, capable of cooking three course meals.

The welcome Mrs Butt and the trailer receives on the fire grounds throughout the South West Slopes zone is priceless.

So much so she made national headlines last season for her efforts during the devastating Jugiong fire in January.

Armed with cool drinks, slices of watermelon and a hug, Gail was feeding between 345 and 350 people a day and sometimes cooking until 3.30am.

"It's just something you do."

She told The Young Witness last year after helping out in Bookham, where the Jugiong fire had spread to, "when they (firefighters) come in, they're hot, they're dirty but you rush out and give them a hug – that's my job".

Mrs Butt has also been a logistics manager, change manager, active participant, mentor and committee member with the RFS, and has served as the brigade's permit officer since 1996.

Her other duties and accolades in the community include being named the Young Lions Club 2013 Citizen of the Year, NSW Department of Primary Industries 'Hidden Treasure' in 2011, and volunteering for the Riding for Disabled Association, Monteagle Red Cross for 22 years and the Young Show Society for 47 years.

"People choose what they want to do and I chose volunteering," Mrs Butt said.