Our staff

Chris Favelle

Superintendent Chris Favelle is the Manager of the Far West Team based at Cobar.

Chris started as an RFS volunteer with Kentlyn Bush Fir e Brigade when he was 17 years of age. After an interesting career in heavy transport followed by 10 years as a police officer, Chris returned to the Rural Fire Service in 1996 as the Deputy Fire Control Officer for Wentworth/Balranald. In 2000, he accepted the position of Fire Control Officer for Cobar, before also taking on responsibility for Central Darling & the Unincorporated Area in 2003.

He is now also the Zone Manager for Barwon Darling Zone (Bourke & Brewarrina Shires). He manages a staff of nine, covering an area of over 25 million hectares.  

Ian Maidens

Ian Maidens is the community safety officer for the Far West Team.

Ian also joined Sandy Creek Brigade in 1974, actively participating in the fires of the 1970's and 1980's. He is currently a member of Nymagee Rural Fire Brigade, in the southern part of Cobar Shire. As a mechanical tradesman, Ian worked in a number of fields, including mining and the gas pipeline industry. In 2007 Ian commenced duties with the RFS Far West Team as Operations Support Officer, before being appointed Community Safety Officer in 2008.

As Community Safety Officer, Ian looks after all fire trails and hazard reduction works as well as community education and public events. The Far West Team has over 1200 km of fire trails to inspect and maintain as well as asset protection zones around towns and villages. 

Kate Wharton

Kate Wharton is the Community Safety Officer for the Far West Team.

Kate commenced duties with the Far West Team (late August 2011), transferring from a position in RFS Headquarters where she has been employed for the past 8 years in the Aviation and Operations section. Kate is working with Ian in the field of hazard management and community education. 

Robyn Favelle

Robyn Favelle is the Operations Officer for the Far West Team.

Robyn joined Sandy Creek Brigade in 1974 and is still a member of the brigade. She was involved in the large fires of 1974/75 and 1984/85, working with the brigade on the fire ground and in the Incident Management Team as a volunteer. She commenced her employment as a salaried officer in 1997 as the administration Officer in the Cobar Fire Control Centre, before taking on the role of Community Safety Officer in 2003. In 2006, Robyn was appointed Operations Officer for the Far West Team, the first female Operations Officer in NSW.

Robyn is responsible for the tanker fleet, operational planning, emergency response capability, & incident management ; and  completing her degree in Emergency Management with Charles Stuart University. 

Craig Warwick

Craig Warwick is the Community Safety Officer for the Barwon Darling Zone.

Craig joined Dubbo HQ Brigade in 2001, where he rose through the ranks to Captain. Craig worked in a number of fields, including the fire safety industry, before commencing duties in 2008 with the RFS as Operations Support Officer for Far West Team & Barwon Darling Zone.

Craig is currently the Acting Community Safety Officer for Barwon Darling Zone, responsible for hazard reduction and mitigation works as well as community education and public events. He is also an active volunteer with Bourke HQ Brigade. 

David Hagarty

David Hagarty is the Operations/ Learning & Development  Officer for the Barwon Darling Zone.

David joined the RFS as a volunteer in 1981 and is still a current member of the Brewarrina brigade. He commenced his employment as a salaried officer in 1995, when he was appointed Fire Control Officer for Brewarrina District. Prior to this, he was employed by Brewarrina Shire.

When the Barwon Darling Zone was formed in 2003, David took on the role of Operations/Learning & Development Officer. David is responsible for the tanker fleet, operational planning, emergency response capabilities & incident management, as well as managing the training needs of the volunteers within the Zone. 

Harriet Mort

Harriet Mort is the Administration Officer for the Barwon Darling Zone.

Harriet started with the Barwon Darling Zone as Administration Officer in May 2011. She brings to the position a wealth of knowledge in the administration field, having worked previously for a number of various organisations. Her duties with the RFS are many and varied, including counter and telephone inquiries, organising meetings, staff travel, correspondence and maintenance of the RFS store.