Clarence Valley volunteers recognised as brigades receive new fire trucks

Summary

Veteran volunteers from the Clarence Valley District were honoured today by NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons for their ongoing commitment to the local community.

Commissioner Fitzsimmons presented 17 volunteers with Long Service Medals and four members with National Medals at a ceremony at the Clarence Valley Fire Control Centre.

The 21 medal recipients have accumulated 362 years of service between them.

"Each and every one of these volunteers is worthy of our most sincere thanks and I would like to personally commend them, not only for their commitment to the Service but also to their community," Commissioner Fitzsimmons said.

"All the volunteers here today have demonstrated an exceptional level of commitment to their community over the years and these medals are a proud acknowledgement of their efforts.

"These men and women have been part of the Service during an incredible period of growth and transformation and the experience and knowledge within their ranks illustrates this."

Local brigades also celebrated the official handover of new state-of-the-art fire trucks and support vehicles that will help volunteers fight fires more efficiently.

"The NSW RFS is committed to providing volunteer firefighters with the equipment they need to carry out the important work they do to protect their local communities from fire," Commissioner Fitzsimmons said.

"These new vehicles are replacing older style models and will allow firefighters to continue providing a high level of emergency service response to residents in the Clarence Valley District.

"It is a wonderful day for members of the Southhampton, Glenugie and Grafton City Brigades, who are receiving these impressive new firefighting resources.

"I'd like to extend the thanks of not only the Service, but also local community, for the exceptional level of fire protection provided by the 37 Brigades in the Clarence Valley District."