With 26 years of experience under his belt, Wayne Fitzpatrick is the Mid Murray Rural Fire Service Support Brigade’s most experienced captain yet.
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And when he is not a volunteer firefighter, Capt Fitzpatrick is better known to locals as Deniliquin’s Sheriff — a position he has held for more than 21 years.
He takes charge during a new era for the support brigade, with it taking on communications, logistics/catering, bulk water and Airbase operations for the zone.
Taking on all these tasks makes the support brigade a unique entity, and has required the appointment of four senior deputies.
‘‘The senior deputies — Andrew Wood (aviation), Andrew Atley (bulk water), Barb Goudie (communications) and Olivia Duffey (logistics/catering) — will work closely with myself as captain and the team at the Fire Control Centre, as well as other brigades, to prepare and assist our members in training and in the field,’’ Capt Fitzpatrick said.
‘‘Your normal RFS brigade attends bush fires, house fires, motor vehicle accidents and a range of other incidents in their area, but the Mid Murray Support Brigade assists them behind the scenes with their work, out in the field and across the zone.
‘‘Each sector has a large and important role, which is why we have four new senior deputy captains, compared to one, to run them and train members. It ensures we can assist the public and our other volunteers to the best of our ability when an incident kicks off.
‘‘We will assist with communications during any large event within the area from the new state-of-the-art operations room located at the Mid Murray Zone Headquarters at Deniliquin Airport, and we supply the bulk water tanker to take water out to the fire ground.
‘‘We also run the airbase located at the Deniliquin Airport for water bombing aircrafts and are able to set up in remote locations to achieve this as well.
‘‘We support the units out in the field with equipment and fuel as well as supplying and organising meals for the fire crews on the ground, and anything else crews or trucks need.’’With just over 20 members so far, the brigade is seeking new members. Capt Fitzpatrick said there is a role to suit everyone, including members of the general public without any existing links to the fire service.
‘‘Not everybody wants to get out there and fight fires, but still want to help in some way. The support brigade is exactly how you can do that and our brigade is looking for people who want to get involved.’’
Capt Fitzpatrick said while the support brigade will be based out of the Deniliquin Fire Control Centre, it will support the whole Mid Murray Zone which spans 25,000km².
‘‘I’ve always gained a lot of personal satisfaction from getting in and helping, or trying to help people at some of the worst times in their lives. Just knowing the effort that we, as a team, have put in may have prevented the loss of property and lives is a good feeling,” Capt Fitzpatrick said.
‘‘As the name suggests, Mid Murray Support Brigade doesn’t just cover the Deniliquin area but every brigade in the Mid Murray zone, which covers the local government areas of Murray River, Edward River and the Murrumbidgee south of Coleambally.‘‘I want to see the brigade grow in strength and numbers and get it operating to its full potential.’’
Membership forms can be collected at the RFS zone office at Deniliquin Airport, or visit.
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