Firefighting all part of farm life for volunteers
Published Date: 10 Jun 2018
Summary
SIXTY-eight years as a volunteer firefighter might sound like a lot to most, but according to Toogong’s Uel Balcomb, it’s all part of farm life.
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About 20 Rural Fire Service (RFS) volunteers across the Canobolas zone were awarded medals for their years of service during its annual conference on Thursday.
Canobolas Zone manager Superintendent David Hoadley with Uel Balcomb and his medal for 68 years' service.
Mr Balcomb, a founding member of the Toogong brigade when it received its first Chev Blitz fire engine, started when he was 17.
RFS assistant commissioner Jason Heffernan awards Michael Wright his medal for 26 years' service.
“It’s just the thing you do,” he said.
Lewis Ponds deputy captain Michael Wright, who followed his father into the RFS 26 years ago, said he had similar motivations.
“I would like to think that if there was a fire at my place and I wasn’t about, someone would help out,” he said.
Mr Wright fought the Belerada Creek fire in February.
“We were there from start to finish – it was pretty difficult terrain,” he said.
Both men agreed water-bombing aircraft made a crucial difference to firefighting and Mr Balcomb recalled the days when Max Hazelton assisted from his aircraft.
“The first person we would call in the event of a fire was Max because he could get there with an aeroplane full of water before the trucks got there,” he said.
Canobolas Zone manager Superintendent David Hoadley with Uel Balcomb and his medal for 68 years' service.
