RFS Assistant Commissioner Kelly Quandt AFSM, Member for Heathcote Maryanne Stuart, Shellharbour Council Deputy Mayor Kellie Marsh, Member for Whitlam Carol Berry, Calderwood Rural Fire Brigade Captain Christopher Bourke, Wollongong City Councillor Ryan Morris, Wollongong City Councillor Dan Hayes and RFS Superintendent Martin Surrey at a special ceremony honouring NSWRFS Illawarra volunteers. Photo: Clinton J Down Photography.
Christopher (Chris) Bourke was just 12 when he started volunteering for the NSW Rural Fire Service (NSWRFS).
It was 1979, and things were a bit different then.
“My mother and father, and all the locals in Mount Kembla village were all volunteering, so at age 12, I joined,” he said. “Kids were more hands-on back then — these days the youngest you can join is 16.”
He was among dozens of Illawarra NSWRFS volunteers whose dedication and commitment to protecting their local communities were recently recognised at a special ceremony in Thirroul.
The length of service among recipients ranged from 10 to 47 years.
Chris, who is currently the Calderwood Rural Fire Brigade Captain, was awarded for 15 years of diligent service (National Medal), 25 years of diligent service (National Medal 1st Clasp) and 35 years of diligent service (National Medal 2nd Clasp).
Over his 45 years of service, Chris has been deployed to fires all over NSW and Victoria.
Among them was the 1994 eastern seaboard fires, when some 800 fires raged through NSW from Batemans Bay in the south to the Queensland border in the north.
He was there for the Black Christmas bushfires in 2001 and the 2009 Black Saturday Bushfires when they reached Marysville. That deadly fire is said to have claimed the most human lives — 173.
More recently, he battled against one of the most intense and catastrophic fire seasons on record in Australia — the 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires.
“I couldn’t tell you the first fire I fought, but they all stay with you in some respect,” he said. “Some were particularly terrible.”
Through the heat and adversity, Chris said teamwork and mateship had been fundamental to a cohesive group of volunteer firefighters, and a big contributor to his longevity as a volunteer.
“Once you’re hooked, you’re hooked,” he said. “It’s the camaraderie and the enjoyment you get out of helping communities in their time of need.”
RFS Deputy Commissioner Kelly Quandt AFSM was joined by Maryanne Stuart MP and special guests for the presentation of the medals.
Ms Stuart said it was fitting to recognise the many RFS members who went above and beyond for their brigades and local community.
“I am honoured to be here today to thank the volunteers who day in, day out protect our local communities when we need it,” she said.
“Their professionalism does not go unnoticed, and while they don’t do the work for praise, their bravery and commitment should be acknowledged.
“I also acknowledge those who support volunteers in what they do — the family, friends, employers and colleagues. We know it takes their ongoing support and patience to assist and enable our volunteers to do what they do to save lives and protect property.”
The award recipients were:
Long Service Medals
- Nonee Walsh, Austinmer — 1st Clasp
- Anthony Auld, Bulli — 2nd Clasp
- William Murray, Bulli — Medal
- Dale Elliott, Calderwood — Medal and 1st Clasp
- Gordon Lewis, Calderwood — Medal
- Gregory Gilbert, Otford — Medal and 1st Clasp
National Medals
- Christopher Bourke, Calderwood — 1st and 2nd Clasp
- Stephen Roberts, Dapto — 1st and 2nd Clasp
- Dennis Hamilton, Helensburgh — 2nd Clasp
- Brett Skiller, Helensburgh — Medal
- Daniel Belter, Otford — Medal
- Peter Dowell, Otford — Medal
- Gregory Gilbert, Otford — Medal
- Patrick Johnson, Otford — Medal
- Paul Marshall, Otford — 2nd Clasp
- Phillip Rook, Otford — 1st Clasp
- Matthew Sage, Otford — Medal
- Warren Selby, Otford — 1st Clasp
National Emergency Medal
- Narelle Rainey, Illawarra Communications
Commissioners Unit for Citation
- Andrew Sweeney, Gerringong
- Ross Barlow, Oak Flats
