Mulwala firefighter recognised for Black Summer efforts

By Adrienne Hartnett

Mar 22, 2022

Chief Superintendent Kelwyn White (Area Commander), Group Captain Tim Dowling (Mulwala), Federation Councillor Sally Hughes and Mayor of Berrigan Council, Matthew Hannan,.

A Mulwala member of NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) Southern Border Team has been awarded the National Emergency Medal for his efforts during the 2019-20 fire season.

Group Captain Tim Dowling was among 33 RFS members recognised at a special ceremony at the Corowa Civic Centre on Thursday, February 17.

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At the ceremony NSW RFS Southern Border operational officer Reynir Potter said during the 2019-20 bushfire emergency period, Southern Border Team Volunteers and staff provided significant frontline and operational support and resources locally, during the Green Valley Fires near Jingellic and several other significant fires across NSW. In addition, many members also undertook various interstate deployments.

The National Emergency Medal is awarded to people rendered sustained or significant contribution during nationally significant emergencies. Examples of when this medal has previously been awarded include the Queensland floods in 2010 and 2011, cyclones, north Queensland floods in 2019.

NSW RFS Inspector Sandra Huer congratulated the medal recipients for their courage, endurance and sacrifice during one of Australia’s toughest fire seasons.

“You gave up time away from your families and your workplaces, and you put in beyond what is what is normally asked of firefighters. You made a significant difference to the communities of NSW,” she said.

“During those fires there was significant loss, but we also saved an awful lot of property. This medal is a reminder of that good work.”

The most recent emergency, the Black Summer Bushfires of 2019-20 were declared on December 2, 2020. Bushfires that occurred in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia or the Australian Capital Territory between September 2019 and February 2020 were declared to be a nationally significant emergency.

By Adrienne Hartnett