Geoff Olsen OAM was one of 30 Dungog shire recipients of Rural Fire Service national and long service medals at Tocal College last week.
The 87-year-old was presented with a gold clasp to add to his long service medals in honour of
62 years with the Dungog brigade.
At 25 years of age Geoff joined what was then called the Dungog bushfire brigade.
“I had always been interested in doing community service and became an air raid warden in Newcastle when I was 18,” Mr Olsen said.
“When I joined the brigade the organisation had very good ideas but very little equipment. When we had to fight a fire it was with branches, wet bags and knapsacks.
“The next improvement was water trailers with pumps and now we have these flash new tankers with everything you can imagine.”
Not only has Geoff fought some big fires over the years, he has attended numerous road accidents.
“I’ve seen big changes over the years, with one of the main things being communication,” he said. “Back then there were no two-way radios or mobile phones.
“And because of the lack of equipment we had more manpower. Now females are accepted, and in a lot of cases, are predominant in quite a few brigades.
“With the equipment now available, hard work such as beating fires out is no longer required and they can handle the hoses as well as anyone else.”
While Geoff no longer goes out on the fire front, he plays an active role in administration and radio work.
“I stay within my limits,” he said.
Mr Olsen has clocked up 17 years as captain of the Dungog brigade, 25 years as president and can’t remember how many years as vice president – a role he continues in today.
“I am very honoured and humbled to receive this clasp,” he said. “I have never done any community service for the rewards, it’s always been about assisting others.”
National Medal and Long Service medal recipients were Michael Jupp, Martins Creek; Wayne Bystersky, Paterson; and Alex Kokas, Flat Tops.
Long Service Medal recipients were Jo-anne Chevalley, Greg Presland, Garvin Burns, Leon Levick, Deborah White, Keith White, Margaret Bystersky, Peter Kearne, Kevin Leggett, Daniel Bridges, Patricia Gifford, Ian Eyb, and Darryl Jordon (Dungog deputy group captain) all from Paterson.
Gresford recipients were Glenn Wall and Grahame Chevalley, who is also Dungog group officer.
Diane Bennett OAM, Mark Bennett (Dungog deputy group officer) and Neil Cox represented Clarence Town while William Flannery and John Maher were recognised from the Flat Tops brigade.
Dungog representatives included Geoff Olsen OAM, Jim Francis, Ken Tickle, Eric Bosworth and Joe Howard (Dungog group officer).
Vacy was represented by Bob Gaston.
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