A COLLECTION of RFS volunteers from several areas of the North West Zone were officially recognised last month for their efforts and sacrifices during the 2019/20 'black summer' bushfires.

One of these was a posthumous presentation to the family of a now deceased but loved member of the Central Warren brigade and local community Shay Stephens.

Presentations of the National Emergency Medal were held at various brigade headquarters, including the headquarters in Lightning Ridge and Coonamble on Friday 25 March.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Chief Superintendent Chris Ryder was in attendance for the presentations, representing RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers, along with North West Zone District Officer Inspector Dez White, RFS staff and representatives from Walgett Shire and Coonamble Shire Councils.

At the Lightning Ridge ceremony in the morning, local recipients of the National Emergency Medal were Kevin Kelly (Lightning Ridge Brigade); Pauline Jackson (Lightning Ridge Brigade); James Hancock (Glengarry/Grawin Brigade); and Glen Hancock Sr (Glengarry/Grawin Brigade), all of whom were deployed multiple times during the 2019/20 fires.

Group Captain Barry Henry of the Walgett Brigade was also presented with a National Emergency medal as well as a Commissioner's Certificate of Commendation for his personal efforts in saving the lives of a brigade during the fires.

ABOVE: Local RFS volunteers and staff James Hancock, Kevin 'Grassy' Kelly, Grant Hancock Snr, Pauline Jackson, Barry Henry at the award ceremony in Lightning Ridge with Acting Assistant Commissioner Chris Ryder and Inspector Dez White. Image: Joanne Coleman, Walgett Spectator.

Local recipients of the awards at the presentation in Coonamble later that afternoon were Brian Ditchfield (Willow Downs Fire Brigade); Donna Ditchfield, also part of the Willow Downs Brigade and a member of the North West Zone staff deployed to multiple incident management teams during the fires; Peter Leaney of the Coonamble Headquarters Brigade and Luke Zell from the Combara Brigade, who were all deployed on multiple occasions during the Black Summer fires.

Warren local Hayley Stephens also accepted a posthumous National Emergency Medal on behalf of her father Shay Stephens, Captain and Instructor with the Warren HQ Brigade, who died in a tragic motorcycle accident on 25 March 2020.

Operational Officer Luke Crotty said a few words about Mr Stephens, who first joined the RFS in 2003 before taking over the role of captain of the Warren headquarters in 2006 and over the years held a number of official and unofficial positions within the brigade and volunteered his time for many out of area deployments.

"Shay was passionate about training, also encouraging and supporting young members and he always made the new members of the brigade feel at home," Mr Crotty said.

"As an instructor Shay was fun and light hearted. He took pride in training people and would happily adapt his style of teaching to best suit his captured audience.

"Shay also taught much more than textbook RFS lessons, he was a true leader, a sounding board and a support like one another.

ABOVE: Warren's Hayley Stephens accepts the National Emergency Medal from Acting Assistant Commissioner Chris Ryder on behalf of her late father Shay Stephens.

"Whether it was the RFS, home life or anything else, it didn't matter to Shay. If you needed to talk, he was always there to listen and when required offer advice or a joke. Whatever the situation needed. He had it swiftly offered it up with you wanting to hear it or not.

"Shay's view on the world was amazing and genuinely believed our children were the future. He was instrumental in making that brigade one that was family-friendly and pushed to have junior members in the brigade.

"Shay would be so proud of the school cadet program at Central Warren school. Shay was a larrikin, a s**t-stirrer and, at times, even a troublemaker and everything he did he did was with a good heart and for that we are truly blessed.

"Shay was one of a kind, a true volunteer in every aspect of the word. His goofy smile lit up the hard times. And his sheer presence made everyone feel at ease.

"Shay's greatest joy was his family, including the RFS family, but what he most was proud of was his wife and children. No matter how good or bad the job was. Nothing made him happier than knowing he was going home to Melody and the kids."