Australia Day Honours for Retired Narromine Fire Captain
Published: 26th January 2010
NSW Fire Brigades Commissioner Greg Mullins today congratulated recently retired Narromine Fire Brigade Captain Robert Hawkins on being named in this year's Australia Day Honours list.Captain Hawkins was one of three NSW Fire Brigades' (NSWFB) officers awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal, one of the highest honours an Australian firefighter can receive.
Commissioner Mullins said that since joining the NSWFB in 1969 as a retained (on call) firefighter, Captain Hawkins had made a long term commitment to serve the Narromine community.
"Narromine born and bred, Captain Hawkins is a highly respected member of the community, serving as a retained officer for the Narromine Fire Brigade for 40 years, before taking well-deserved retirement in October 2009.
"Since his appointment as the Brigade Captain in 1985 he has been a leading figure in emergency management for the area, often called on for advice due to his vast knowledge and experience of incidents that have taken place in Narromine.
"A third generation firefighter at Narromine, following in his father's and grandfather's footsteps, he has responded to thousands of emergencies over the years and has helped to educate residents about fire safety through a number of community-based projects."
Commissioner Mullins said that Captain Hawkins' complete dedication to the protection of the Narromine community made him a worthy recipient of the award.
"He dedicated a great deal of his time to ensure that the Narromine Fire Brigade was well equipped, well trained and provided the highest possible level of service to local people.
"He's made a tremendous contribution to the Brigade and is fully deserving of this prestigious award. I wish him a long and rewarding retirement," Commissioner Mullins said.