Tag: emergency services

60 Years of Service: John Downes Reflects on Jamberoo RFS

Each member of the Jamberoo Rural Fire brigade has their own story, together they reflect the strength of Jamberoo RFS,  a brigade built on loyalty, service and community spirit.

Photo credit Linda Faiers 

As Jamberoo Rural Fire Service marked its 85th anniversary, its longest-serving member, John Downes, shared his reflections. John has been part of the brigade for an extraordinary 60 years, and in that time, he has witnessed the service change beyond recognition.

“When I started, we had little more than a haversack and a few basic tools,” he recalled. “Now the equipment is first class. The protective gear, the trucks, the training, it is all about safety and being ready.”

For John, what stands out is how the brigade has kept pace with the modern world. “It is like life in general,” he explained. “Just like you go to the doctor for regular check-ups, the RFS makes sure members are trained, the gear is up to date, and there is support after tough jobs. Everything is checked and ready before you need it.”

The difference, he said, is clear on every call-out. “Years ago, we might have had ten members available. Now Jamberoo, just a small village, has more than 60 trained people. That makes a huge difference. The pager goes off, and within minutes the trucks are on the road. And when you climb on board, you already know what you are heading to, whether it is a house fire, a crash, or a medical emergency. If someone inside relies on medical equipment, you know to take a generator. That information saves time, and it saves lives.”

The statistics back him up. In 2024, Jamberoo RFS recorded its busiest operational year ever with 180 call-outs, an average of one every two days. Even more remarkable, the brigade achieved an average turnaround of just 4.5 minutes from the pager sounding to the first truck on the road, one of the fastest response times in the Illawarra.

The brigade itself reflects the diversity of the community it serves. Its members range in age from 17 to 83, including students, retirees, small business owners, health professionals, and farmers. In 2025, 75% of its  officers are women, led by Captain Hannah McInerney, the first female brigade captain in the Illawarra.

John also appreciates the way the brigade has become more inclusive. Where once women were mainly behind the scenes, today they stand side by side with men, both on the trucks and in leadership.

“The role of women is no different,” John said simply. “They get the same training; they stand shoulder to shoulder.”

One memory that stands out for John is the Jamberoo Mountain bus crash, when a tourist bus rolled down an embankment, killing two people and injuring many others. “That was terrible,” he said. “But what I remember most is the support we got afterwards. Male and Female counsellors were at the station that night, and everyone sat down together. It helped a lot.”

After six decades, John’s reflections are not about looking back wistfully, but about recognising progress. From basic beginnings to one of the fastest, best-equipped brigades in the Illawarra, he sees the change as something to celebrate.

“It is better now,” he said. “This is progress.”

Deputy Commissioner Ben Millington presents John Downes with his 60 years of service medal Photo credit Linda Faiers 

Honouring Service

The 85th anniversary was also a night of recognition, with National Medals and RFS Long Service Medals presented to members whose commitment spans decades. Together, these awards represent hundreds of years of dedication to Jamberoo and the wider community.

National Medals

  • Mongo Delamont – 35 years

  • Corrine Wesche – 25 years

  • Craig Downes – 25 years

  • Dave Butcher – 15 years

  • Hannah McInerney – 15 years

  • Nathan Minett – 15 years (not present)

  • John Staniforth – 15 years (not present)

RFS Long Service Medals

  • John Downes – 60 years

  • Mongo Delamont – 30 years

  • John Friedmann – 30 years

  • Gerard Blunden – 20 years

  • Kay Brennan – 20 years

  • Leanne McParland – 20 years

  • Andy Mullen – 20 years

  • Bob Parker – 20 years

  • Dave Brennan – 10 years

  • Leanne Deen – 10 years

  • Brian Dixon – 10 years

  • Pete Leeson – 10 years

  • Pete Williams – 10 years

  • John Temlett – 10 years

Each medal tells its own story, but together they reflect the strength of Jamberoo RFS,  a brigade built on loyalty, service and community spirit.

#JamberooRFS #85YearsOfService #VolunteerFirefighters #RFSFamily #CommunityHeroes #NationalMedal #LongServiceMedal #EmergencyServices #FireBrigadePride #IllawarraStrong


Jamberoo RFS, 85 years of service, volunteer firefighters, RFS family, community heroes, National Medal, Long Service Medal, emergency services, fire brigade pride, Illawarra strong

From a Box of Hoses to One of the Best-Equipped Brigades in the State

This is a recreated image produced for this 85th anniversary blog. It is for illustrative purposes only and does not depict the actual vehicles, buildings, or equipment from the period.

Eighty five years ago, on Valentine’s Day 1940, a group of locals gathered in the Jamberoo Council Chambers, not for romance but to talk about fire. Austin Howle was elected captain, with M Boulton, A Pryor, and J Murphy as vice-captains. Each picked a team of five mates, and together they formed the very first Jamberoo Bush Fire Brigade.

The equipment was modest. It was a standpipe, a hose director, and a couple of lengths of canvas hose kept in a box at the Post Office. But it was ours, and it worked. Eventually, it was moved to the fence at the Council Chambers, which you might now know as the butcher’s shop.

Fast forward to 1958 and Kiama Council handed over our first station, an old Electricity Department building. The “tanker” at that time was a box trailer with a water tank and pump, towed by the captain’s Land Rover. Then came the brigade’s first real tanker in the early 1960s, an ex-army Ford Blitz that the members kitted out themselves.

From there, the fleet kept growing. A 1981 Toyota four-wheel drive, a 1957 Commer fire appliance rescued from Goulburn, and a Ford van turned into a forward control unit all joined the ranks. By the 1990s, we had replaced the lot with modern equipment, and the station grew too. Thanks to a lot of voluntary muscle power from brigade members who built, poured, painted, and laid bricks, we ended up with the four-bay station we know today.

We have had 14 captains over the years, from Austin Howle through to our current leader, Hannah McInerney. Along the way, many members have gone on to senior roles across the Kiama and Shellharbour fire service.

Today, Jamberoo is a village with fire-fighting equipment that consists of: Heavy tanker (Cat 1), Village protection unit (Cat 10), Striker unit (Cat 9) Personnel carrier (Cat 20)

The brigade 60  members, ready to tackle structural fires, bush and grass fires, motor vehicle accidents, rescues, searches, and even the occasional tree blocking the road. We also lend a hand across the Illawarra Zone and wider NSW  whenever needed.

From that humble box of hoses to one of the best-equipped brigades in New South Wales, Jamberoo RFS’s story is about dedication, community spirit, and a willingness to muck in and get the job done.

Here’s to the next 85 years, and maybe, just maybe, fewer 5am callouts.

#JamberooRFS #RuralFireService #FireBrigadeHistory #CommunityService #VolunteerFirefighters #HistoricFireTrucks #EmergencyServices #FirefightingHeritage #LocalHistory #NSWRFS

When ‘We Save Lives’ Becomes an Excuse to Ignore the Rules

True leadership means recognising that saving lives and following the rules are not mutually exclusive.

Few arguments carry more weight than “we save lives.” It is a powerful statement, one that demands immediate respect and gratitude. But what happens when that reasoning is used to justify actions that bend the rules, bypass oversight, or sidestep accountability?

At what point does a noble cause become an excuse for ignoring compliance, governance, and ethical standards?

Throughout history, we have seen well-intentioned organisations, charities, emergency services, and even law enforcement argue that rules should not apply to them because their work is too important. From disaster relief groups who resist financial scrutiny to surf lifesaving clubs who assume their community service grants them immunity from regulations, the mindset of

“we do good, so let us operate how we see fit” is not uncommon.

Rules and regulations exist to ensure fairness, accountability, and safety. Yet, many organisations fall into the trap of believing that their mission exempts them from oversight.

This has been seen across multiple sectors:

  • Emergency services personnel pushing back against safety restrictions, claiming that work limits or bureaucratic procedures hinder their ability to protect the public.
  • Medical professionals bypassing approval processes for experimental treatments, believing that urgent action justifies skipping ethical review.
  • Community organisations operating outside of lease conditions or financial agreements, arguing that their contributions to public welfare outweigh their need to follow regulations.

At the heart of these arguments is a genuine commitment to service, but also a risk of moral uncoupling.

When people begin to believe that their cause is so important that they are above the rules, it can lead to poor governance, financial mismanagement, and even public safety risks.

If one group claims that their work justifies operating outside normal standards, who decides when that is acceptable?

Should a surf lifesaving club be allowed to ignore council lease conditions because they provide an essential service?

Should a police department be given free rein on civil liberties in the name of security?

Should a hospital ignore government funding requirements because patient care is the priority?

These are difficult questions, but accountability must remain part of the equation. The best organisations understand that being a force for good does not exempt them from compliance, it demands higher standards of transparency.

Communities depend on dedicated volunteers, emergency services, and public health initiatives. Their work is essential, and their impact is invaluable. However, the moment an organisation believes that its mission justifies ignoring legal, ethical, or financial accountability, trust begins to erode.

True leadership means recognising that saving lives and following the rules are not mutually exclusive.

Transparency, ethical decision-making, and adherence to governance structures ensure that organisations continue to serve their communities without compromising the very principles that make them respected in the first place.

#AccountabilityMatters #EthicalLeadership #Transparency #PublicTrust #Governance #Compliance #CommunityResponsibility #NonprofitEthics #EmergencyServices #SavingLives #Leadership #GoodGovernance #RegulationMatters #TrustAndIntegrity