Gibb River Road’s Hamlet Grove Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade recognise heroes for long service

Hamlet Grove Bush Fire Brigade volunteers have been recognised for their long-time dedication to battling bush fires, being presented with long service awards from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services. DFES district officer Shane Klunder presented the volunteers their long service awards at the Hamlet Grove fire station on Friday July 15. Lieutenant Andrew Twaddle, volunteer equipment officer Julie Twaddle and admin officer Nadia Gerrard, who has volunteered at the Hamlet Grove station since its inception, were all awarded for 20 years of service. Lieutenant David Noonan, volunteer Laurie Donnelly and volunteer Sally Donnelly were awarded for 10 years of service with the brigade. Captain Brad Guy was awarded for 15 years of service and volunteer Warren Schofield was awarded for whopping 25 years of service. Mr Twaddle said the Hamlet Grove volunteer fire and rescue crew were a close-knit team who, after decades of service, worked well together. “We’ve got a good crew and I think the camaraderie and how everybody gets along is how well the unit functions,” he said. Mr Twaddle said there was a genuine passion to protect the area from fires among the Hamlet Grove Bush Fire Brigade volunteers as their livelihoods and homes were in the local area. “They’re passionate and the will is there to protect their properties and the surrounding area,” he said. “Ninety-nine per cent of us live in the area and that’s why we’ve got a lot more long service members, unlike a lot of other brigades where people come for a couple of years here and there and then move onto other things.” The Hamlet Grove Bush Fire Brigade currently has 15 volunteers in the brigade but Mr Twaddle said they were always looking to train up more volunteers who could eventually rise through the ranks. “Like all volunteer organisations, we’re always looking for more people to come aboard,” he said.