Volunteer firefighters awarded QFES

Kim Hanson-Ross kimberley.hansonross@icloud.com

Warwick locals Yvonne and Peter Maher were awarded the The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) Medal on February 25, at the Empire Theatre in Toowoomba, for their long-term contributions as volunteers to the Wildash Rural Fire Brigade.

“I’ve been in it for 25 years,” Mr Maher said, “I’m the fire warden so I still get around the area.”

Mr Maher said he enjoyed working with the fire brigade because “you meet all sorts of people for a start. It beats just hanging around in the bungalow all the time.”

“Way, way back when I was a teenager, it had been a stormy Saturday night, and lightning had started a fire. A bit of branch had fallen from a tree and set the paddock on fire.”

“Since I’ve been in the brigade, you never know when you’re going to get call out.”

Mrs Maher said that she hasn’t fought fires during her time as a volunteer, instead, she helps around “the shed, do what needs doing. I’ll be outside gardening, and when we have functions on, I help with catering for that. I enjoy doing that.”

Mr Maher added, “We do yard maintenance around the shed, mowing, not so heavily involved in the fire side of things as I used to be but still doing a bit.”

Both Mr and Mrs Maher stated that they were surprised to receive the QFES Medal, though further added that they were “very honoured.”

Mr Maher recommended people keep their yards well main- tained around the house, and ensure trees are not located too close to the house, in order to avoid damage to protect the house from fires. He further advised that “for big fires, have an exit plan, an if you’re told to get out, you just got to go.”

The Wildash Rural Fire Brigade had fundraised to build their shed in 2010. It “kicked off from humble beginnings from what we have now,” Mr Maher said, “Before now, volunteers all banded together on their individual vehicles and fought the fire. We’ve gathered a lot of gear over the years, got all modern stuff now.”

The Warwick Wildash Rural Fire Brigade are interested in taking in new members. Call the secretary on 0407405751.