Edition 24/2020
December 17, 2020
NorthernRiversTimes
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TOP HONOUR FOR BALLINA FIRE CHIEF
BALLINA Fire Brigade Captain Dennis Henry BALLINA Fire Brigade Captain Dennis Henry was honoured with the Australian Fire Service Medal in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honour list, and at a recent ceremony at NSW Government House was presented with his AFSM Medal by NSW Governor, The Honorable Margaret
Beazley. Captain Henry commenced his service with Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) as a retained firefighter at 211 Station Ballina in 1980 and was appointed Brigade Captain in 1999. As captain for over 20 years he has consistently demonstrated a high level of
professionalism, mentoring and leadership of his brigade to ensure rapid response to all emergencies in the region. His outstanding planning, operational leadership, and his approach to consultation and team building, has ensured Ballina Fire Brigade is a highly efficient and effective unit who work collaboratively with other emergency service agencies. His skills in the management of his station have led to numerous safe and effective inter and intra zone responses to multi-agency emergency incidents, including numerous wildfires and flood deployments during his tenure. He is highly respected by his colleagues within FRNSW and his community preparedness and education initiatives have ensured that the community of Ballina is a safer and more resilient one. Mr Henry is also the recipient of the National Medal and the FRNSW Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and
has provided dedicated commitment to FRNSW and to the community for over 40 years. Also recently members of the Ballina Fire Brigade were presented with the 2019-2020 NSW Premier’s Bushfire Emergency Citation by FRNSW Zone Commander, Superintendent Greg Lewis on Tuesday 8th December at Ballina Fire Station. The Premier’s Citation recognises the contribution made by firefighters during the horrendous bushfires experienced across the state during the worst bushfire season in history. Ballina firefighters Dennis Henry, Joel Peters, Daryl Holmes, Chris Hackett, Rod Westblade, Michael Miles, Paul Ueberdiek, Phil Heggen, Tony Savage, Lisa Garthe, Simon Puglisi, Dave Crozier, Luke Williams, Neale McLennan, Michael Martin, Glenn Vanderburg and Peter Sammut were all awarded the NSW Premier’s Citation for their efforts. The Ballina crew participated in many tasks
Merry Christmas 2020 has brought many changes and we are all learning how to live our daily lives differently. It is more important than ever to tell the people we love how much we appreciate them. Together let’s look towards 2021 with hope and confidence in the resilience of our community. Authorised by K Hogan MP, National Party of Australia - NSW, 63 Molesworth Street, Lismore NSW 2480
and responded to bushfires at Tabulum, Grafton, Canungra, Yamba, Brooms Head, Casino, Rappville, Port Macquarie, Wardell, Coraki, Iluka and Woodburn from February through to November in 2019, while still maintaining fire coverage for the Ballina fire district. Crews returning from these bushfire tasks would often express their pride in being a firefighter when being welcomed and applauded by the residents of bushfire ravaged communities as they arrived or departed after firefighting duties. The overwhelming experience that they had made a difference will live with them forever. The crew from Ballina station were proud to be a small part of a huge effort undertaken by firefighters from all fire agencies who worked together to bring under control fires which at times seemed to have the upper hand as they destroyed parts of NSW.