Firefighters’ exceptional efforts recognised with RFS Week Awards

• RFSQ volunteer members who have gone above and beyond for their communities have been recognised with awards during RFS Week
• State awards for Volunteer of the Year and Young Volunteer of the Year both went to Gold Coast volunteer members who showed incredible community commitment following the 2023 Christmas storm event.

Queensland rural firefighters who have demonstrated extraordinary levels of service to their communities have been recognised as part of 2024 RFS Week celebrations.

Brendan Gold from Guanaba Rural Fire Brigade was named State Volunteer of the Year and Ben Pearson from Gilston/Advancetown Rural Fire Brigade named as State Young Volunteer of the Year.

Regional award winners for the Rural Fire Service Queensland’s (RFSQ) South Eastern, Central, Northern and South Western regions have been recognised and celebrated for their efforts at local events throughout the week.

Mr Gold has been the First Officer at the Guanaba Brigade since 2019 and was nominated for the top award for his passion, leadership and unwavering commitment, particularly in the weeks following the 2023 Christmas storm event.

He was recognised for the time, effort and dedication to both his brigade and wider community and was named by colleagues as the “ultimate volunteer”.

Mr Pearson, 20, deployed eight times to south west Queensland during the 2022-23 bushfire season and played an integral role in the aftermath of the 2023 Christmas storms.

He was credited with always displaying respect, integrity, courage and loyalty while wearing the RFSQ uniform.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Fire and Disaster Recovery Nikki Boyd

“The State Volunteer of the Year and State Young Volunteer of the Year are awarded in recognition of overall distinguished levels of service by an individual to the RFSQ.

“Nominations are submitted by fellow Brigade members who get to see firsthand their hard work and dedication.

“Brendan and Ben display the best qualities of our volunteer firefighters; their dedication to helping their communities when it’s needed most is admirable and their efforts this year when responding to fires in south-west Queensland and the Christmas storm event in the south-east was truly extraordinary.

“RFS Week is a great chance to recognise our more than 27,000 volunteer members and staff and I thank them for the incredible contribution they make to Queensland.”

Quotes attributable to QFD Commissioner Steve Smith

“RFS week celebrations come at a time when our RFSQ volunteer members and staff have been working tirelessly to prepare their communities for the upcoming bushfire season.

“The week provides an opportunity to recognise the invaluable roles RFSQ staff and volunteer members play across Queensland and that their hard work and commitment to keeping communities safe is greatly appreciated.

“The award winners announced this week have gone the extra mile for their communities, and I’m proud to be able to highlight their efforts in keeping locals safe.

“Our personnel don’t just protect their own backyard, but regularly deploy around the state in times of need, and even head interstate and overseas. We can’t thank them enough for what they do.”

Quotes attributable to RFSQ Acting Chief Officer Ben Millington

“All of our regional and state award recipients embody the values of exceptional rural firefighters and we are honoured to have them as part of RFSQ.

“Whether protecting homes from bushfire, storm clean up or undertaking hazard reduction burns, RFSQ staff and volunteer members are always standing shoulder to shoulder with their communities when they need them most.

“This is an important date in the RFSQ calendar where we get to say thank you to the members for what they do year round.”

Background information

Full list of award winners

Volunteer of the Year (State) - Brendan Gold from Guanaba Rural Fire Brigade
Volunteer of the Year (Central Region) – Raymond Murphy from Bondoola Rural Fire Brigade

Volunteer of the Year (Northern Region) – Stuart Yendle from Wonga Beach Rural Fire Brigade
Volunteer of the Year (South Eastern) – Nigel Kemp from Bli Bli and Districts Rural Fire Brigade
Volunteer of the Year (South Western) – Christina Myers from Crows Nest Rural Fire Brigade

Young Volunteer of the Year (State) – Benjamin Pearson from Gilston/Advancetown Rural Fire Brigade
Young Volunteer of the Year (Central) – Bailey Smith from McEuen Rural Fire Brigade
Young Volunteer of the Year (South Eastern) – Lachlan Steele from Gilston/Advancetown Rural Fire Brigade
Young Volunteer of the Year (South Western) – Claire Case from Cabarlah Rural Fire Brigade

ENDS

Media contact – QFD Media 3635 3310.