Eight RFS members recognised on Australia Day 2026

Group Captain Mardi Cook, Kentucky Brigade (New England District)

Since joining the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) in 1998, Group Captain Mardi Cook has served with unwavering commitment and exceptional skill across the Harnham, Devils Pinch and Kentucky brigades, excelling in both operational and administrative capacities. Currently a group officer, she has also been secretary, deputy captain, senior deputy captain and deputy group officer.

A qualified RFS fire investigation officer, Mardi has led several significant investigations and serves as a senior trainer in the New England Zone, specialising in first aid. As a health and safety representative and a member of the senior leadership team, she actively contributes to forums and workshops, representing her zone with professionalism and insight.

An inspiring role model for women in the RFS, Mardi demonstrates outstanding operational skill while fostering leadership and supporting members’ mental health and wellbeing after incidents.

Firefighter Greg Frullani, Hazelbrook Brigade (Blue Mountains District)

Firefighter Gregory Frullani joined the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) in 1978 and quickly learned that dry firefighting skills, strong leadership and being engaged with your community are of vital importance during bushfires in the Blue Mountains. These have become the traits that Greg is widely renowned for across the RFS.

Greg's commitment, high energy and athleticism led him to be a founding member of the Blue Mountains Remote Area Firefighting Team (RAFT) in the early 1980s. Greg is always enthusiastic to use his experience, skills and training qualifications to develop members’ skills. His expertise was also utilised in developing the state training program for RAFT. Greg promotes the RFS through community engagement and fundraising, which has led him to be the RFS liaison for over 20 years, collaborating with various external organisations to raise funds for those organisations and the RFS.

Greg’s leadership skills have been recognised as an elected captain and deputy group captain over 36 years of his service. He is well respected as a mentor for new and experienced senior field officers. As a highly valued member of Hazelbrook Rural Fire Brigade, he continues to inspire the team’s camaraderie and achievements.

Firefighter Max Hedges, Manton Brigade (Southern Tablelands District)

Firefighter Max Hedges has been a member of the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) for 55 years and a field officer for 45 years in positions ranging from deputy captain through to being group captain for 25 years, providing fire ground leadership, management and co-coordinating social and fundraising activities for the Manton Brigade and Group 2 brigades. He has mentored generations of firefighters, including the majority of the local field officers in the Southern Tablelands.

Max has been deployed to local and out-of-area fires, too many to count, and with this expertise has worked tirelessly to improve firefighting capabilities within the Southern Tablelands. Max was instrumental in establishing the Rural Fire Service Association branch in Yass, the RFS presence at the Murrumbateman Field Days and has served on the Bush Fire Management Committee for many years. He raised funds to purchase appliances for Manton and the station, and drove the key infrastructure project’s introduction of radios, a fire spotting tower and establishing the Fire Control Centre.

Max has encouraged and engaged new landowners to become involved in firefighting activities to protect their own properties. He has been active at the district and zone level, representing members and conveying brigade concerns within the group. After stepping down as a deputy captain, he continues to be a passionate advocate for firefighter health and safety.

Captain Gary Laker, Stanwell Park Brigade (Illawarra Sutherland District)

Captain Gary Laker joined Stanwell Park Bush Fire Brigade at age 14 and has served the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) for 49 years. He is a life member and has since served as deputy captain, senior deputy captain and for over two decades as captain.

Gary has trained, mentored and supported the majority of RFS officers and firefighters in Stanwell Park, and many in the Illawarra District. He has shown outstanding and continuous commitment to training and the maintenance of skills and organised successful community education events and recruitment drives.

As a NSW Rail Fire and Emergency firefighter, Gary leveraged his extensive experience and knowledge to connect Sydney Trains staff and RFS personnel to improve knowledge and awareness around the area’s rail corridors. Gary was deployed to the 1994 Sydney fires, the 2001–2002 Southern Sydney Christmas fires, 2003 Canberra fires, 2003 Waterfall Train disaster, 2004 Wollongong flood and storm damage, 2007 North Sydney storm damage, and the devastating NSW bushfires in 2019–2020.

Captain Liam MacWilliam, Ridgeway Brigade (Lake George District)

Captain Liam Macwilliam joined the Ridgeway Brigade of the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) in 2009. He has served as a captain since 2020 and previously held positions of senior deputy captain, deputy captain, brigade youth officer, community engagement officer and training officer. Liam is an active member of the brigade, consistently attending both operational and non-operational events, including out-of-area deployments.

Liam's achievements and commitment to the RFS goes far beyond his brigade's operations. He is passionate about training within the Lake George district and, as both an instructorand a member of the Training Advisory Group, Liam is instrumental in delivering and assessing a large number of training courses.

Liam is passionate in raising the next generation of RFS firefighters, demonstrated through his unwavering commitment to the RFS Cadet Program each year and ongoing support to young members of the district. He sets and maintains the highest standards and is highly regarded by volunteers, staff and the community alike. Liam strives to promote the RFS in all facets of his life and constantly demonstrates the values of the RFS through his leadership, dedication and selfless commitment to the brigade, district and the community.

Group Captain (Retired) Graeme O’Brien, Singleton FCC & Bulga Brigade (Hunter Valley District)

Group Captain (Retired) Graeme O'Brien joined the Westbrook Darlington Rural Fire Brigade in 1971 and has since served as a secretary, treasurer and captain. In 2001, Graeme was appointed as group captain, a position he held for 18 years until his retirement from the role. Graeme was involved within the district conducting and assessing mainstream training and participated in the management of brigades within all group areas. He further devoted extensive time to the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) through the Local Rural Fire Service Association, Secondary School Cadets Program, community education and various management committees, including the Senior Management Committee, the Bush Fire Management Committee and the District Liaison Committee of which he was chairperson.

Graeme regularly assisted in the Hunter Valley District, participating in numerous incident management teams as sector division commander and operations support. He was deployed to many incidents, local, out of area and interstate, including major bushfires and incidents including the 1992 and 1994 fires, Operation Autumn Storm, the Canberra Kosciusko fires and the disastrous 2019–2020 NSW bushfires.

As a retired group captain, Graeme remains operational and continues to support and mentor the next generation of RFS members. He has enriched the lives of others and exemplifies the virtues of a good citizenship, providing ongoing initiative, leadership and dedication. He has devoted himself to sustained and selfless voluntary service, earning the respect of his peers, and is a role model within the community and the RFS.

Graeme’s 54 years of dedication to the service and wealth of local knowledge along with the support of his peers has seen him recognised as a most valued group captain and member of NSW RFS.

Firefighter David Philp, Brogo Brigade (Far South Coast District)

Firefighter David Philp has provided exceptional service to the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) since joining in 2008. A dedicated operational member of the Brogo Rural Fire Brigade on the Far South Coast, David has played an integral role in enhancing community preparedness and fire risk awareness.

As a highly skilled fire behaviour analyst, David has made outstanding contributions to fire operations at local, state, and international levels. His expertise has been critical during major incidents, particularly throughout the devastating NSW bush fires in 2019–2020, where his analysis supported tactical decisions that saved lives and property. He has completed multiple interstate deployments and represented Australia during a six-week assignment in Canada in 2017, reflecting his commitment to global fire management.

Beyond operations, David has been instrumental in fire behaviour research, including the Australian Fire Danger Rating project, and has mentored the next generation of fire behaviour analysts through training and development programs. His calm leadership, technical excellence, and unwavering dedication to community safety exemplifies the values of the NSW Rural Fire Service.

Group Captain Frederick Teudt, Woodburn Brigade (Northern Rivers District)

Mr Frederick Teudt has been a member of the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) for over 42 years, joining the Woodburn Brigade in 1983. He became captain in 1990 and was elected group captain for Richmond River (now known as Richmond Valley) district in 1996. He is still a serving group captain today. He has been involved in the operational development of members through his time in the training team and as part of the Event Marshall team helping at the Region North Exercise.

Frederick assisted with the reintroduction of Compressed Air Breathing Apparatus training in the Northern Rivers and during this time has trained most of the operational firefighters in the Northern Rivers. He has been heavily involved in local structure fire training and assisting other areas with training and assessment where required.

Frederick is known to be a steady, calm and balanced fireground manager and is a solid influence on both volunteers and staff in the northeast. Always ready to lend a hand, he has trained members from entry level bush firefighter to senior group leader roles.

Frederick has held the positions of brigade president, permit officer, training officer and community engagement officer and has been a member of the District Training Team and District Planning and Mitigation Team. Currently, Frederick actively mentors firefighters and other members of the RFS and he is always ready and willing to assist with fire history and local knowledge during large operations.