NSW RFS members recognised in 2022 Australia Day honours

The NSW RFS recipients of the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) are:

• David Bosworth, Minore Brigade
• Donald (Stuart) Farleigh, Mandalong Brigade
• Jane Hollier, Field Operations and Oakville Brigade
• Jennifer Lawther, Callala Beach Brigade
• Brian McKenzie, Lower North Coast Support Brigade
• Jonathon McKenzie, Tallimba Brigade
• Christopher Nolan, Illawarra Zone
• Christopher Petrikas, Hawkesbury Fire Control Centre

David Ian Bosworth

Mr David Bosworth has been a member of the NSW Rural Fire Service for over 55 years. He was one of the first members of the Cobar Central Bushfire Brigade, spending most of his Saturdays back in 1965 at the council depot checking over the bushfire truck and cleaning the equipment.

He was instrumental in the establishment of the high frequency two-way communication system for the Cobar Shire. David spent countless hours setting up radio equipment and base stations in vehicles, brigade stations, private properties and the council office as well as erecting radio towers. He was appointed the communications officer for the Cobar Shire bushfire area in 1966.

Mr Bosworth was Captain of the Cobar Brigade from 1983 to 1986, he was also appointed as the Brigade training officer and Deputy Fire Control Officer (Honorary) for the Cobar Shire. He has assisted at many large scale fires including the Roto fires (1969–1970) and the massive fires in 1974–75 which burnt out 1,500,000 ha of the Cobar Shire. He was involved in both field operations as well as the operational management of the Cobar emergency control centre during these fires and the large-scale 1984–85 bushfires. He has also been involved with other brigades including Glenhaven and Winmalee, is a current member of the Minore brigade and was voted life member of the Megalong Valley Brigade in 2015.

He has held multiple positions in these brigades including Captain, Senior Deputy Captain and Deputy Captain, Equipment Officer and President. He continues to support the RFS and provides invaluable assistance to the Orana Team. Mr Bosworth's lifelong service to the NSW RFS and his commitment to ensuring the safety of the community is most noteworthy.

Donald (Stuart) Farleigh

Mr Donald (Stuart) Farleigh joined the Bonnells Bay Brigade in 1966 at the age of 15, where in 1972, he became Deputy Captain. In 1987, he transferred to Morisset Park Brigade where he held the position of Captain until 1981.

After a brief stint with NSW Fire Brigade (NSWFB) in Dubbo, Stuart joined Morisset Brigade and held the position of Captain until 1985 when it transferred over to NSWFB. Stuart was the inaugural Captain until his retirement in 2000.

Mr Farleigh re-joined the NSW RFS in 2003 as Captain of Mandalong Brigade which he held until 2006 where he was elected Group Captain until 2009. He returned to Mandalong Brigade as the Captain until 2011 where he was again elected Group Captain which he still holds.

Mr Farleigh has a passion for training, having been the Central Coast course coordinator for the village firefighter program for six years and educates external agencies on bushfire awareness. Mr Fairleigh has attended many major incidents during his career including the 1989 Newcastle earthquake, the Western Sydney hail storm, the 1994 and 2003 bushfires and the 2015 East Coast low. He has played a significant role in the 19/20 fire season with both local and out of area deployments. He was also first on scene and was incident controller for the triple semi-truck disaster on the M1 motorway in Cooranbong in 2018.

He is a certified wildfire and structural investigator having been crucial in bringing many alleged arsonists to justice. He was an afterhours operator for the Central Coast district being responsible for the receipt of triple zero calls and dispatch of trucks to incidents.

Mr Farleigh is a dedicated member of the RFS who should be recognised for his service to community safety, education of his peers and his extensive operational experience.

Jane Hollier

Ms Jane Hollier has provided exemplary service to the NSW Rural Fire Service for the 32 years as a salaried officer and volunteer. She has held various roles in the service from community engagement, hazard management, professional standards and her current position Manager Operational Business.

She has a strong understanding of emergency management and has provided support during many operations including most recently, the 19/20 Black Summer bush fires.

Ms Hollier is well known for her professionalism and knowledge of the service. This was called upon during the 19/20 Black Summer Bush Fire Season when she was asked to organise for various senior state and federal officials to visit fire affected communities. Similarly, she played an integral part in arranging the state funerals for the three firefighters who were tragically killed in the line of duty.

Ms Hollier has built strong partnerships with key stakeholders and has represented the NSW RFS and at times other land management agencies at state and federal working groups and inquiries which includes her appointment as a member of secretariat for the Council of Australian Governments National Inquiry on Bushfire Mitigation and Management following the devastating 2002-2003 fire season.

For over 20 years, Ms Hollier has been an active volunteer member and is currently a member of the Oakville Rural Fire Brigade, where she is currently the Deputy Captain and President.

Ms Hollier has demonstrated her commitment to advancing firefighters interest through other roles, this has included filling the role of Director with the Rural Fire Service Association from 2011 to 2015. Ms Hollier is a strong advocate for women in operational roles and is a qualified crew leader. Ms Hollier has been award the NSW RFS long service medal 30 years and in 2020 received the Premier’s Bush Fire Emergency Citation.

Jennifer Joy Lawther

Ms Jennifer Lawther joined the Callala Beach Brigade in May 1989 where she progressively undertook the roles of Deputy Captain and Senior Deputy Captain, culminating in her appointment of Captain in 1996. In 2013, she was elected as a Deputy Group Captain and in 2016 Group Captain, a role which she continues to hold.

Mrs Lawther is a very active member of the NSW RFS, and over the years has contributed to a number of emergencies throughout NSW and interstate, including the Sydney hailstorm (1999), Canberra Bushfires (2003), Black Saturday (2009), Tathra bushfire (2018), and the devastating 19/20 Black Summer Bushfires, often undertaking the role of strike team leader or of divisional commander.

She has contributed as a trainer and mentor to NSW RFS members through Brigade, Group and District training since 1991 both as a trainer/assessor and as a member of the training committees. She was one of the inaugural members of the Shoalhaven community education group in 2001 which morphed into the Shoalhaven community engagement Brigade in 2011 of which she is still an active member.

In the early 2000’s when the membership of the Callala Beach Brigade seriously declined, Mrs Lawther personally door knocked throughout the village recruiting new members. Her actions and her leadership ensured the survival of the Brigade.

In 2005, she was awarded the national service medal and was awarded life membership by her Brigade. She is an active member of the Rural Fire Service Association and is a champion for gender equality and has participated in a state-wide working group examining ways in which women may undertake a range of roles within the service. Ms Lawther's exemplary service to both the NSW RFS and the community is of the highest order.

Brian Edwin McKenzie

Mr Brian McKenzie is the current captain of the recently formed lower North Coast Support Brigade. The Support Brigade currently includes the Remote Area Firefighting Team, Catering, Incident Management Team support, and undertakes a range of associated functions essential to the efficient running of the District particularly during major bushfire events.

Mr McKenzie commenced with the NSW Rural Fire Service at Gosford in 1977. Commensurate with his operational commitment and leadership capacity, he soon became a Group Captain serving in the position for 15 years from 1985 until his departure from the District in 2000. Due to his extensive operational experience, sound leadership and interpersonal skills, he was immediately appointed Group Officer upon his arrival at the Kempsey Fire Control Centre (FCC) in 2000 and undertook this role until 2006. He has since held the positions of Deputy Captain at both Frederickton and Aldavilla Brigades and was instrumental in the establishment of the lower North Coast Aviation Brigade.

Along with his extensive involvement at the local level, he has also participated in many out of area deployments including to NSW, South Australia, Victoria and Canberra. As well as participating in numerous strike teams, Mr McKenzie has also undertaken a range of highly demanding aviation roles during several major fire events.

Mr McKenzie's easy-going nature has greatly assisted his capacity to mentor and train others. His role is an accredited trainer has seen him specialise in the area of pumps and pumping. His capacity in this regard has also seen him help design and develop some of the earlier RFS appliances, including catering units at the Gosford Fire Control Centre. Mr McKenzie's leadership, operational experience and commitment to his community is second to none.

Jonathon Stuart McKenzie

Mr Jonathon McKenzie joined Weethalle Brigade in 1999 and held the position of Brigade secretary and Treasurer. In 2003, he transferred to Bland Headquarters and was an active volunteer with the Brigade attending complex incidents in Nowra, the Blue Mountains, Oberon, Khancoban, Canberra and the Sydney hailstorm. In 2004, Bland Headquarters amalgamated with West Wyalong Brigade where he was elected Captain of the Brigade in 2006. He held the position for two years and was again re-elected Captain in 2014 for an additional two years.

From the commencement with the service, he has been a dedicated and active volunteer with each of the Brigades he’s been involved with. Mr McKenzie has also actively participated in aviation roles and fire investigation. In 2018, Jonathan was nominated by his peers to take on the role of Group Captain for the Bland Temora Zone, which he was elected to alongside seven other colleagues. He is very well respected by his colleagues as a firefighter and mentor who leads by example and is not afraid to take on roles and responsibilities over and above what is expected of him.

During the Black Summer bush fires of 2019-20, Mr McKenzie aptly lead his crews out of area as a strike team leader to the Dunns Road fire near Tumbarumba. His commitment in representing volunteers is second to none. His advice and guidance is sought through the zone liaison committee, senior management team and pre-and post-season captain’s meetings. He is as well regarded for his representation of the NSW RFS with key stakeholders and land managers particularly during difficult times.  Mr McKenzie is a strong advocate for NSW RFS volunteers and his community.

Christopher Ronald Nolan

Mr Christopher Nolan joined the Oak Flats Rural Fire Brigade in 1986, in the same year taking on the role of Equipment Officer, which he held until 2003. After stepping down as Equipment Officer, Christopher continued to take an active role in the Brigade, fulfilling the roles of Deputy Captain, Senior Deputy Captain, Captain, Brigade Health and Safety Officer, and Permit Officer.

Mr Nolan is committed to the development of younger members, culminating in the cadet program which he instigated in 2009. The program continues to run, two Sundays a month, taking in cadets as young as 14 years of age. Whilst the Cadet program focuses on training to create better and more skilful firefighters, he ensures the program also embraces cultural and social aspects to help shape younger members into contributing members of society.

At the end of the program, he facilitates for these cadets to transition back into the local brigades as well trained firefighters. To ensure the ongoing success of the Cadet program, Christopher has taken on the roles of Brigade Management Member, Brigade President, Cadet Coordinator and Brigade Training Officer. The results achieved through the program are inspiring and their results in both State and National competitions are ever improving.

In 2017, Mr Nolan was elected by his peers to the Rank of Group Captain, and in 2018 was awarded life membership to the Oak Flats Brigade. His 34 years of exemplary service to the NSW Rural Fire Service in the Illawarra has been recognised through the receipt of the 30-year service medal and the National Medal.

Christopher Helmut Petrikas

Mr Christopher Petrikas joined the NSW Rural Fire Service Tennyson Brigade in 1976. He was first seen assisting in firefighting operations when he was just 14 years of age alongside his father. For the following 43 years, he served his Brigade and district in many capacities including positions of Senior Deputy Captain, Captain, Deputy Group Captain, Brigade Training Officer, and currently holds the rank of Group Captain.

During this time, his dedication to the NSW RFS has been recognised through his receipt of the NSW RFS long service medal for 15 years, 25 years, 30 years and 40 years of service and has received the National Medal and one clasp in 2005.

Mr Petrikas has provided outstanding leadership and encouragement to his brigade members and throughout the district. He has attended numerous fires within the district and on various deployments over his many years of service. He is an integral member of the Hawkesbury district Incident Management Team and has assisted in controlling some of the most challenging campaign fires; including the more recent Gospers Mountain Fire where he undertook the roles of Operations Officer and Divisional Commander.

He is a dedicated trainer and assessor, renowned for his chainsaw training in the NSW RFS and in other agencies, as well as developing and mentoring frontline firefighters, crew leaders and group leaders.

He is a well-respected volunteer firefighter who has developed strong working relationships throughout the Hawkesbury community, with other emergency services organisations and across all levels of management.

Mr Petrikas should be commended on his dedicated and committed service to the NSW Rural Fire Service and to the Hawkesbury community throughout his 43 years of volunteer service.

Congratulations to these eight worthy recipients of the Australian Fire Service Medal.