Wingham Fire and Rescue captain David O'Donnell appeared emotional when he picked up his award for Pride of Workmanship at the 2020 Australia Day Awards in Wingham.
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The award was a total surprise to David. Rotary had sneakily contacted him and asked him to ask his crews to attend the ceremony because of the recent bushfires, to support the community and the trauma it had been through.
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It was lucky they were at the ceremony - they were getting kitted up to attend only to get a fire call. They just got back in time.
"I'm very humbled, and very honoured, but on behalf of all the others," David said, accepting the award not for himself but on behalf of all emergency service workers.
"There are a lot of people, especially the emergency services - the ambulance, the RFS, the SES and the local police - that are unseen in a way, they just do their job.
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"And obviously, with the media, some of them have been noted but there are a lot of people behind the scenes who don't get seen or acknowledged," he said.
David joined Wingham Fire and Rescue and became captain of the brigade at the age of 38. He has earned numerous awards and recognition within the service.
David is a peer support officer, trained to assist co-workers and their families with work related or personal difficulties.
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In late 2019 he has his team through the Community First Responders course. Being Community First Responders also means more work for the already busy crews.
"It has been pretty hectic for everyone, and their families too. There has been a lot going in, especially around Wingham before Christmas, and everywhere else as well," David said.
More recently crews from Wingham Fire and Rescue have been tasked to Merimbula, Eden and Victoria to assist in the carnage down south.
"I've really got a good crew here, a very supportive crew. We've been very lucky to have a good tight close-knit station. We spend a lot of time away, especially recently.
"I'd like to thank everyone for their support, and the resilience of the Wingham community. The support that the community has given to all those in need has been outstanding and I'm proud to be part of the community," he said.
Julia Driscoll
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times for seven years. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings. Career highlights have involved environmental stories - bringing the plight of the little known endangered Manning River helmeted turtle to the attention of the public, resulting in wide-spread knowledge in the community and conservation action; and breaking the news of the Manning River ceasing to run for the first time in recorded history.
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times for seven years. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings. Career highlights have involved environmental stories - bringing the plight of the little known endangered Manning River helmeted turtle to the attention of the public, resulting in wide-spread knowledge in the community and conservation action; and breaking the news of the Manning River ceasing to run for the first time in recorded history.
