09/01/2025
𝘼 𝙢𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝘾𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣:
On Tuesday, we received the very welcome news that the fire that had been burning around the Attunga State Forest - started by a lightning strike on Friday the 27th of December - had been put to a "Patrol" status after we had some much-needed rain. This fire burnt for around 10 days, over 1500 hectares, and in country that was mostly inaccessible to vehicles. It took many personnel and resources working around the clock to bring the fire under control. I wanted to take a moment to thank some of those people.
Firstly and foremost, I would like to thank 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗮: for many of our volunteers this was the first large fire they had been involved in. Everyone put in a huge amount of effort and time. They rose to the occasion and I couldn't have asked for a better team. Additionally, to the 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀: thank you, also. It is your willingness to hold down the fort at home which allows our members to do what they do best.
To our 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗮 and 𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗸 communities: Thank you all for your support. A special shout out to Attunga General Store for setting up and accepting donations. While we do get provided with food on the fireground, this small gesture made sure we had the little personal comforts like a hot coffee or a cold fizzy drink to take with us; we may not see welfare on the fireground for many hours so this was absolutely amazing.
To the many RFS 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 NSW Rural Fire Service Tamworth District: What an effort! I don't think there is a single Brigade that didn't have boots on the ground at an incident at some point. Even if they weren't at the Attunga fire, there were crews everywhere. Thank you all for your time. And to the 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲: Bron and the team had their work cut out for them, not only trying to manage this fire but multiple around the area. These staff and volunteers make themselves available 24 hours a day to support what we do. To the 𝗧𝗮𝗺𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 and the Rapid Relief Team AU - keeping so many crews fed and watered is an effort. We appreciate your efforts to make sure we all got food at some point during our shifts.
To the 𝗦𝘆𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘆-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀
: thank you. To have the support from so many additional volunteers was vital to getting this thing under control. I didn't get to work with all of you personally, but for those that I did, your professionalism and effort was amazing. One day, we will return the favour when you need us. To 𝗡𝗦𝗪 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Peter, Matt and all the other crews under you guys, thank you. Honestly, you guys and gals are built different! Nothing was ever too much, and you showed up every morning with a smile. I look forward to working with you guys again.
To the 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀: pilots and crew of helicopters, planes, dozer drivers, water carts... The list goes on and on and I couldn't possibly mention you all here! Thank you all. We take it for granted having you out there, but what you do is absolutely essential to getting this job done.
And to the 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗟𝗶𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘀... Well, I couldn't leave you out. From knocking on doors to standing in the heat and wind at Northgate Shopping Centre (and other locations!) to keep the public informed, thank you. For the community to be able to know what we're up to, and what they should do, is invaluable.
After all of that, I'm sure I've still missed some people and if I have, I'm sorry! There are so many people working behind the scenes to make these things possible. We see you, and we are grateful for you.
On a personal note from myself, a massive thank you to every little kid out there that gave us a wave while in the big red trucks. Fires like this are tiring and stressful, and require many hours away from our own families and kids. Every time you would give us a wave, it would bring a smile to my face and remind us of why this effort is worth it.
Cheers,
Alex
