Two firefighters who lost their lives battling the Green Wattle Creek fire in the Wollondilly area, south-west of Sydney, in 2019 have been awarded for bravery.
Deputy Captain Geoffrey Keaton and firefighter Andrew O'Dwyer, both of Horsley Park Brigade, posthumously received the Commissioner's Commendation for Bravery.
The awards were part of an annual ceremony held on May 4 by the RFS and commissioner Rob Rogers.
In an address to attendees RFS manager of membership and administration Diane Thompson said the pair were "valued and loyal" members of the Horsley Park Brigade.
On December 19, 2019 Keaton and O'Dwyer responded to unprecedented fires in the Wollondilly district to support landowners protecting their homes
The two firefighters and a crew of three where driving in a convoy on Wilson drive, Buxton when their vehicle was impacted by a tree. The fire truck rolled causing the death of Keaton and O'Dwyer.
Ms Thompson said the firefighters were veterans of several campaign fires with extensive experience.
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Keaton had spent 13 years with the RFS, while O'Dwyer had dedicated 17 years to the service.
She said Keaton was a "valued and loyal member of the Horsley Park Brigade, a passionate trusted mentor, and a natural leader who will be sorely missed."
"O'Dwyer had a passion for sharing his photography and brigade information with the public. His warm and confidence inspiring leadership will be sorely missed."
Commissioner Rogers said this year's recipients demonstrated extreme acts of bravery in the face of horrific conditions experienced during the 2019/2020 black summer bushfires, and included recipients for 2020 who were unable to receive their commendation due to COVID-19 restrictions last year.
"During a bushfire season like no other, our members fought tirelessly for months to save lives and property," he said.
"Tragically, four RFS members were killed in action during this terrible season and we have posthumously awarded Andrew O'Dwyer and Geoffrey Keaton from Horsely Park Brigade, Samuel McPaul from Morven Brigade and Colin Burns from Belowra Brigade with individual Commissioner's Commendations for Bravery.
"Their sacrifice will never be forgotten."
NSW RFS Internal Bravery and Service Awards 2021:
Commissioner's Commendation for Bravery (Individual)
- Captain Stuart Anderson, Back Creek-Greater Hume Brigade, Southern Border, Area South Western
- Group Captain Ian Avage, Splitters Creek Brigade, Southern Border, Area South Western
- Senior Deputy Captain Nathan Barnden, Jellat Brigade, Far South Coast, Area South Eastern
- Firefighter Colin Burns, Belowra Brigade, Far South Coast, Area South Eastern *
- Deputy Group Captain Scott Campbell, Lawrence Brigade, Clarence Valley, Area North Eastern
- Firefighter Ryan Clarkstone, Wilton Brigade, Southern Highlands, Area Greater Sydney
- Firefighter John Gallagher, Tathra Brigade, Far South Coast, Area South Eastern
- Captain Andrew Godde, Culcairn North West Brigade, Southern Border, Area South Western
- Firefighter Andrew Julian, Back Creek-Greater Hume Brigade, Southern Border, Area South Western
- Deputy Captain Geoffrey Keaton, Horsley Park Brigade, Cumberland, Area Greater Sydney *
- Firefighter Andrew O'Dwyer, Horsley Park Brigade, Cumberland, Area Greater Sydney *
- Firefighter Rodney O'Keeffe, Culcairn North West Brigade, Southern Border, Area South Western
- Firefighter Samuel McPaul, Morven Brigade, Southern Border, Area South Western *
- Captain William Ross, Spencer Brigade, Central Coast, Area Hunter
- Firefighter Dean Symons, Illawong Brigade, Sutherland, Area Greater Sydney
- Deputy Captain Alison Wade, Spencer Brigade, Central Coast, Area Hunter
* Also recipient of the Commissioner's Commendation for Service Commissioner's Unit Citation for Bravery Harrington Brigade, Mid Coast, Area Hunter
Commissioner's Commendation for Service (Individual)
- Inspector Angus Barnes, Surf Beach Brigade, Far South Coast, Area South Eastern
- Deputy Group Captain Peter Bavington Captains Flat Brigade, Lake George, Area South Eastern
- Group Captain Grahame Chevalley, Gresford Brigade, Lower Hunter, Area Hunter
- Firefighter John Downes, Jamberoo Brigade, Illawarra, Area Greater Sydney
- Senior Deputy Captain Jennifer Farrell, Matcham/Holgate Brigade, Central Coast, Area Hunter
- Group Captain Glen Howe, Kariong Brigade, Central Coast, Area Hunter
- Firefighter Melody Lovelace, Manyana Brigade, Shoalhaven, Area South Eastern
- Captain Albert Maras, Jingellic Brigade, Southern Border, Area South Western
- Deputy Captain Kyle McCrea, Mittagong Brigade, Southern Highlands, Area Greater Sydney
- Deputy Captain Ted Millsteed, March Brigade, Canobolas Zone, Area Western
- Captain Peter O'Connell, Krawarree Brigade, Lake George, Area South Eastern
- Senior Deputy Captain John Ralston, Bendolba-Salisbury Brigade, Lower Hunter, Area Hunter
- Captain Gregory Speed, Orchard Hills Brigade, Cumberland, Area Greater Sydney
- Deputy Captain Warwick Teasdale, Killcare / Wagstaff Brigade, Central Coast, Area Hunter
- Senior Deputy Captain Barry Whalan, Eulomogo Brigade, Orana, Area Western
Commissioner's Certificate for Commendation (Individual)
- Captain James Barron, Peak View Brigade, Monaro, Area South Eastern
- Brigade Callout Officer Julie Barron, Peak View Brigade, Monaro, Area South Eastern
- Captain Paul Bott, Mongarlowe Brigade, Lake George, Area South Eastern
- Senior Deputy Captain Jonathan Bracht, Robertson Brigade, Southern Highlands, Area Greater Sydney
- Communications Officer Tania Burger, Hastings Communication Brigade, Mid Coast, Area Hunter
- Senior Deputy Captain Rosemary Byers, Ashley Brigade, Namoi Gwydir, Area North Western
- Senior Deputy Captain Harold, Gibson Trenayr Brigade, Clarence Valley, Area North Eastern
- Senior Deputy Captain Todd Gibson, Heathcote Headquarters, Sutherland, Area Greater Sydney
- Group Captain John Hawkins, Lankeys Creek Brigade, Southern Border, Area South Western
- Deputy Group Captain Peter Taylor, Lankeys Creek Brigade, Southern Border, Area South Western
- Group Captain Barry Henry, Walgett Headquarters, North West, Area North Western
- Group Captain Matthew Hicks, Jindera Brigade, Southern Border, Area South Western
- Firefighter Bernadette Dawson, Regentville Brigade, Cumberland, Area Greater Sydney
- Deputy Captain Evan Delaforce, Tucabia Brigade, Clarence Valley, Area North Eastern
- Group Captain Stuart Dick, Bingara Brigade, Namoi Gwydir, Area North Western
- Deputy Captain Elizabeth Ellis, Burrawang Brigade, Southern Highlands, Area Greater Sydney
- Senior Deputy Captain Lesley Wood, Mandemar-Wingecarribee Brigade, Southern Highlands, Area Greater Sydney
- Senior Deputy Captain Lindsey Flynn, Bundeena Brigade, Sutherland, Area Greater Sydney
- Mr Jonathan Gauci, Community Resilience, Operations, NSW RFS Headquarters
- Firefighter Malcolm Irons, Central - Greater Hume Brigade, Southern Border, Area South Western
- Deputy Captain Wayne Watson, Central - Greater Hume Brigade, Southern Border, Area South Western
- Captain Gerard James, Bunnaloo Brigade, Mid Murray, Area South Western
- Captain Andrew Jones, Laguna Brigade, Lower Hunter, Area Hunter
- Deputy Captain Brett Martin, Narara Brigade, Central Coast, Area Hunter
- Senior Deputy Captain Gordon Meiklejohn, Wollondilly Support Brigade, Southern Highlands, Area Greater Sydney
- Ms Jane Hollier, Deputy Commissioner's Office, Operations, NSW RFS Headquarters
- Captain Nicholas Hornbuckle, Queanbeyan City Brigade, Lake George, Area South Eastern
- Group Captain David Tucker, Bonalbo Brigade, Northern Rivers, Area North Eastern
- Deputy Captain Robin Tuckfield, Menai Brigade, Sutherland, Area Greater Sydney
- Deputy Captain Victor (Paul) Vaughan, Eulomogo Brigade, Orana, Area Western
- Captain Timothy Raynolds, Araluen Brigade, Lake George, Area South Eastern
- Captain Michael Rogan, Grafton City Brigade, Clarence Valley, Area North Eastern
- Deputy Captain Peter Thomas, Wollondilly Support Brigade/Oakdale Brigade, Southern Highlands, Area Greater Sydney
- Senior Deputy Captain Loryn Mendham, Hastings Communication Brigade, Mid Coast, Area Hunter
- Captain Trevor Muddle, Mittagong Brigade, Southern Highlands, Area Greater Sydney
- Senior Deputy Captain Walter, Murray Mount Ramornie Brigade, Clarence Valley, Area North Eastern
- Captain Justin Parr, Nerriga Brigade, Lake George, Area South Eastern
Commissioner's Unit Citation for Service
- Arcadia Brigade, Hornsby / Ku-Ring-Gai, Area Greater Sydney
- Aviation Rescue Crew and Operations Support, Operations Support, NSW RFS Headquarters
- Bawley Point Brigade, Shoalhaven, Area South Eastern
- Mr Daniel Busch & Mr Simon Curry, Operations & Mitigation Services, NSW RFS Headquarters
- Cherrybrook Brigade, Hornsby/Ku-ring-gai, Area Greater Sydney
- Cumberland Strike Team Bravo, Cumberland, Area Greater Sydney
- Far North Coast Strike Team, Far North Coast, Area North Eastern
- Gulmarrad Brigade, Clarence Valley, Area North Eastern
- Kings Plains Brigade, Canobolas Zone, Area Western
Commissioner's Certificate of Commendation (Unit)
- Araluen Brigade, Lake George, Area South Eastern
- Bemboka Brigade, Far South Coast, Area South Eastern
- Bush Fire Building Impact Assessment Team, NSW RFS Headquarters, Planning and Environment Services, NSW RFS Districts, Volunteers
- Chaplains, NSW RFS Headquarters
- Crescent Head Brigade, Lower North Coast, Area North Eastern *
- Critical Incident Support Services, (Peer Support Team) NSW RFS Headquarters
- Clarence Valley Fire Control Centre Group Captain - Group 1, Coaldale Brigade, Trenayr Brigade and Copmanhurst Brigade, Clarence Valley, Area North Eastern
- Country Fire Authority Strike Team 1304, Victoria
- Eurobodalla Volunteer Operation Support Brigade, Far South Coast, Area South Eastern
- Ewingar Brigade, Clarence Valley, Area North Eastern
- Far North Coast Brigades, Far North Coast, Area North Eastern
- Far North Coast SMT, Far North Coast, Area North Eastern *
- Field Services Team, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), NSW RFS Headquarters
- Grays Point 1B, Sutherland, Area Greater Sydney
- Goodooga Brigade, Far West, Area Western *
- Interstate Liaison Unit, State Operations, NSW RFS Headquarters
- Laguna Brigade, Lower Hunter, Area Hunter
- Loftus 1 Bravo Crew, Sutherland, Area Greater Sydney
- Lower North Coast Zone Brigades, Group Captains and Staff, Lower North Coast, Area North Eastern
- Malua Bay Brigade, Far South Coast, Area South Eastern
- Mellong Fire Strike Team Hawkesbury, Area Greater Sydney
- Murrumbateman Brigade, Southern Tablelands Zone, Area South Eastern
- Northern Rivers Brigades - Busbys Flat/Rappville Fires, Northern Rivers Zone, Area North Eastern
- Northern Rivers Brigades - Kyogle Northern Rivers, Area North Eastern
- Operational Resources and Transport Team, Operational and Mitigation Services, NSW RFS Headquarters
- Predictive Services, Community Resilience, NSW RFS Headquarters
- Public Information Unit, Communications and Engagement, NSW RFS Headquarters
- Region South Strike Team, Riverina Zone, Area South Western
- Silverdale Brigade, Southern Highlands, Area Greater Sydney
- Deputy Captain Arron Deegan and Deputy Captain Lucy Brearley, Southern Highlands, Area Greater Sydney
- Southern Tablelands Zone Strike Team Echo 1, Southern Tablelands, Area South Eastern *
- South West Slopes Zone SMT, South West Slopes, Area Western *
- State Logistics Unit, State Operations, NSW RFS Headquarters
- Sutherland Strike Team Sutherland, Area Greater Sydney
- Tyringham Brigade, Clarence Valley, Area North Eastern
- Winmalee Walking Party, Blue Mountains, Area Greater Sydney
- Woronora Brigade, Sutherland, Area Greater Sydney
