NSW RFS unveils memorial garden dedicated to fallen firefighters

Summary

A memorial garden to commemorate the lives and sacrifice of NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) members and support personnel, killed in the line of duty, has been unveiled at Dubbo today.

Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke, Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders and RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers officially opened the memorial garden, which contains the names of nearly 100 personnel who have lost their lives protecting others.

Ms Cooke said it was important to commemorate the fallen RFS members and support personnel, who bravely stepped up in some of the State’s darkest days.

“By having their names inscribed on this memorial, we honour their courage, dedication and commitment to communities across the State,” Ms Cooke said.

Mr Saunders said the garden is an important memorial to honour those who have given up their life to protect others.

“We hope this provides a small measure of comfort to the loved ones of these brave RFS members and contractors, and shows that they will not be forgotten,” Mr Saunders said.

Commissioner Rogers said 95 RFS members and aviation contractors have lost their lives in the line of duty or from fire-related illnesses since 1932.

“The RFS dedicates this site to our fallen firefighters and contractor colleagues, may their names and the sacrifices they made always be remembered. They put their lives on the line to protect our State and to show our gratitude which is why we have created this garden as a tribute to their service, hard work and dedication to others,” Commissioner Rogers said.

The RFS wishes to thank the Rural Fire Service Association (RFSA) who made a significant financial commitment towards the memorial garden.

Work commenced to design and build the memorial garden at the RFS State Training Academy at Dubbo in 2021.

Two semi-circular walls flank a bronze statue of an RFS firefighter leaning on a rakehoe, which was one of the iconic images from the devastating 2019-20 Black Summer bush fire season. A bronze propeller also recognises the lives of the crew of Bomber 134, a C-130 Hercules firefighting plane that crashed near Cooma on 23 January 2020, tragically killing three US airmen.

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