Community & Business
13 August, 2025
Rural fire brigades efforts lauded
RURAL fire brigades were lauded for their efforts to protect their communities recently, with a ceremony held at the Tinaroo brigade facility to present annual awards.
The Tinaroo Rural Fire Brigade, which was formed in 1998, was named Best Northern Region Rural Service of the Year – taking the title from 200 services for the region.
“We’ve really built up the brigade, and I think we’ve got about 50 volunteers now,” Second Officer Errol Flynn said.
At an open day held at the station on 27 July to mark Rural Fire Service Week, the Tinaroo brigade was also given the keys to a new $165,000 vehicle.
Five officers – including founding member and First Officer Les Green, his wife Christine Green (brigade secretary and treasurer), Don Neville, Darryl Dilger and Lloyd Weare – were presented with 25 Year Service Clasps.
Tumoulin Rural Fire Brigade member Haylee Haynes was named Young Volunteer of the Year for the Northern Region.
Haylee uses her training and enthusiasm to encourage other volunteers to become better firefighters. She also uses her position as a role model to influence other young people into getting involved as volunteers.
“I was really happy when I found out, it was quite a surprise,” the 22-year-old said.
“It was just good to know that all my hard work has paid off.”
Haylee has been a volunteer firefighter in Tumoulin for over four years now and was inspired by her dad to join the brigade.
“I got into it because my dad was a volunteer firefighter when I was younger, and I was always interested in the yellow trucks that always went past,” she said.
“So, I asked him about it, and he introduced me to the first officer at the time, and she told me everything that’s involved. That just made me even more interested, so I joined.”
Haylee said the best thing about being a volunteer firefighter was being involved in the community and the feeling of satisfaction that came with helping people.
“It’s not just about firefighting. We do raffles at the local markets, and that gets us talking to the community and talking to the locals,” she said.
“We also go to festivals and all the shows, and a lot of other things that involve us with the community as well.”
Haylee hopes to encourage other young people to join their local Rural Fire Service and be a part of “something great”.
“We always need young ones – it feels amazing just to know that you’re helping out and being there for people that can’t quite protect their properties.
“But it’s just the feeling of being a part of something that’s greater than other people think.”
