The community of Frogmore came together last Friday to celebrate a number of significant milestones in their village.
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NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons was on hand to officially open Frogmore’s first fire station, handover a second new tanker to the brigade, celebrate 100 years of formal existence and present 21 individual long service medals.
The opening was originally scheduled for December last year when the brigade celebrated their centenary but was cancelled due to flooding in the region.
The $70,000 station is located at the northern end of the village where the original Frogmore Hall was situated before it was burnt down in 1997.
It is adjacent to the current Community Hall which was built courtesy of the Lee Kernaghan ‘Hat Town’ appeal which raised about $65,000 to rebuild the hall.
Prior to the station being built, brigade members housed tankers in sheds on their farms.
Mr Fitzsimmons said the combined service of the brigade’s volunteers amounted to around 1000 years which was “just extraordinary”.
“They have all made a valuable contribution,” he said.
“They are born and bred locals who have given a lifetime of service to the community through the years.
“They are a group of people who are wonderful characters.
“Boy it was great to hear some of their stories.”
Mr Fitzsimmons said the station has grown from humble beginnings with basic equipment such as using fire-beaters and wet sacks to the state-of-the-art appliances and a dedicated station front that it is today.
“It is the most rewarding aspect of the role as Commissioner a day like Friday.
“Because of the wonderful people who give so much to the community…it is also for the wife’s and family of the people who are receiving accolades.
“To catch up with them…they’re very humble, shy and very embarrassed.
“[In the RFS] we don’t do it for the recognition, we do it for the want to look after the community.
“They are absolutely deserving of these accolades.
“It is a good community and it was a lovely, lovely afternoon.
“It is so important that we continue to invest in the gear they need so they can operate as safely and effectively as they can.”
Superintendent Trevor Reeves, Zone Manager, was also in attendance and said the day went very well, was well attended by all involved and overall was “bloody great”.
“It is always a privilege for me to present at a medal ceremony,” he said.
More photos from the event will appear in next weeks edition of the Boorowa News.
