Eight RFS members recognised on Australia Day

Group Captain Scott Campbell, Lawrence Brigade (Clarence Valley) 

Scott Campbell joined the Lawrence Brigade in 2007 and has served as a deputy captain, senior deputy captain, captain, secretary, representative of the NSW Rural Fire Service Association (RFSA), community engagement officer, training officer, equipment officer, first aid officer and permit officer.

Scott has been instrumental in local and regional training for a decade and as a marshal at the RFS Northern Exercise and Australian Fire Cadet Championships. He has driven the Secondary Schools Cadet Program across the Clarence Valley, helping increase the youth membership of local brigades. Appointed a deputy group officer in 2019, Scott is a member of the Senior Leadership Team, was part of the pioneering ‘Your Health Matters’ initiative and is currently the elected president of the RFSA.

As a strike team leader, divisional commander, sector commander and crew leader, he continues to serve locally and on interstate deployments, including twice as a strike team leader to the Piliga in 2015 and to the Namoi Gwydir District, the Northern Tablelands, Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland. During the 2019/20 fire season, Scott was a divisional commander in the Clarence Valley District providing exceptional service to other firefighters and the community during the most difficult of times. A natural leader, Scott encourages his peers to give their best and search for the optimum outcome.

Deputy Captain Samuel (Stuart) Clark AM, Killara Brigade (Hornsby/Ku-ring-gai) 

Stuart Clark AM joined the Elouera Brigade (later renamed Westleigh Brigade) in 1973 and has since served as a member of the Ku-ring-gai, Killara and Hornsby Communications Brigades. He served as the Communications Brigade captain from 2017 to 2024 and is currently the Killara Brigade deputy captain and president.

Stuart has played a key role in the Killara Brigade’s establishment, engaging both state and local governments to secure land and build a brigade station, delivering enhanced local firefighting capability. A respected senior member, he has given his time and legal expertise freely for the betterment of the RFS, contributing to projects including the development of the Code of Conduct and Ethics, disciplinary processes, Brigade Constitutional reform and the Brigade Management Handbook.

Stuart has played an integral role in the establishment of the modern RFS, mentoring generations of leaders and contributing to the professionalism for which the agency is now known. As the architect of the Service’s organisational structure, he worked with successive commissioners to implement necessary legislative and corporate changes to shape the Service. The RFS is indebted to Stuart for his unwavering commitment.

Group Captain Anthony Clough, Wantabadgery Brigade (Riverina) 

Anthony Clough has given more than 50 years’ service to the RFS, including as a captain, senior deputy captain and deputy captain of the Wantabadgery Brigade and as a group captain in the Junee District for the past 27 years.

He has ensured the Wantabadgery Brigade is always ready to respond as needed and has personally responded to numerous challenging incidents, including the Jail Break Inn fire at Junee in 2006 and the Dunns Road fire at Tumut during the 2019/20 bush fire season. Serving as a strike team leader on multiple occasions, his professionalism and guidance is highly valued.

Anthony has contributed more broadly as a member of the Riverina Zone Senior Leadership Team since 2010 and a founding member of the Area South Western Team. He has helped safeguard the community and firefighters through his efforts as a member of the Riverina Bush Fire Management Committee and by helping develop practical fireground solutions and underpinning policy, including the RFS Farm Fire Unit policy. Anthony has always demonstrated the highest values of the RFS.

Deputy Captain Robert Conroy, Coal and Candle Brigade (Northern Beaches) 

Robert Conroy has made a serious and sustained contribution to bush fire control in NSW and Australia for decades, through his influential career in the National Parks and Wildlife Service, volunteer service with the RFS and membership of the NSW Bush Fire Co-ordinating Committee and the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council.

Joining the Coal and Candle Brigade in 1998, he has served as a deputy captain and senior deputy captain. He is recognised as a mentor and trainer, particularly for crew leaders, and recently co-authored the Brigade’s history.

Robert has contributed to countless incident management teams since 1994 and has deployed to numerous fires and other incidents, including as a divisional commander to the USA in 2019, a strike team leader to Tasmania in 2019 and on 13 strike teams during the catastrophic 2019/20 fires.

With renowned operational knowledge and skill, Robert provides expert advice on local risk management and mitigation planning based on an encyclopaedic memory of every major bush fire and hazard reduction activity on the Northern Beaches dating back to the 1950s. Robert’s contribution is highly regarded at all levels.

Deputy Captain Jennifer Farrell, Matcham/Holgate Brigade (Central Coast) 

Jennifer Farrell’s career in bush fire management began with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service in 1973 and has continued as a member of the Matcham-Holgate Brigade since 2012. Qualified across incident management and firefighting capabilities and with more than five decades’ experience in complex campaign bush fires, Jennifer has served as a planning officer for dozens of major fires and deployed locally, interstate and internationally in both incident management and firefighting capacities.

Acting as a mentor and trainer in various disciplines, she also has served as the chair of the Central Coast Bush Fire Management Committee for the past four years and as the planning officer for bush fires in the Clarence Valley, Northern Tablelands and Central Coast during the 2019/20 bush fire season. She has deployed on firefighting strike teams to Singleton, Cooma and Eurobodalla and supported incident management in the ACT.

During the 2023/24 fire season, Jennifer was the planning officer for large fires at Coonamble, Narrabri and the Central Coast, as well as joining local and out-of-area firefighting efforts. Jennifer’s capabilities have helped minimise the impact of bush fires on countless communities.

Group Captain John Hedley, Bulga Brigade (Hunter Valley) 

John Hedley joined the Bulga Brigade in 1974, holding roles including deputy and senior deputy captain before his election as a Hunter Valley District group captain in 2001, a position he continues to hold. As well as responding to bush, grass and structural fires and motor vehicle accidents throughout the Hunter Valley, John has joined numerous incident management teams and performed as a sector and division commander and in Operations Support when needed. Contributing across the district, he conducts and assesses training, helps with brigade management and assists in the Fire Control Centre when staff are otherwise committed.

John devotes extensive time to building relationships and bush fire awareness through the RFS Cadets program, educating landholders as a fire permit officer and working with other agencies and on the Senior Leadership Team and Hunter Valley Bush Fire Management Committee. During the 2019/20 fire season, along with another colleague, he organised to billet out-of-area strike teams at the Lone Pine Army Barracks and acted as a liaison officer for Victorian crews. John is admired for his calm, confident and respectful manner.

Group Captain Wayne Keel, Halls Creek Brigade (Tamworth) 

Wayne Keel joined the Namoi River Brigade in 2003, quickly progressing to become the brigade captain. After overseeing the successful amalgamation of the Upper Manilla and Namoi River brigades, in 2016 he transferred to Halls Creek Brigade, where he holds the positions of deputy captain, treasurer and secretary.

He has served as a Tamworth District deputy group captain since 2017 and group captain since 2020. During the 2019/20 bush fire season, Wayne was deployed as a divisional commander to fires at Tenterfield, Glenn Innes, Walcha, other areas of NSW and his local area. He was tasked to flood recovery strike teams in Moree, Grafton and Gunnedah in 2021 and 2022. He organised the RFS Tamworth District flood appeal for the Forbes community following the devastating floods of December 2022.

Known for his collaborative approach, Wayne is a member of the Area North Western Senior Leadership Team and a dedicated trainer, assessor and course coordinator on the RFS Tamworth District Training Team. He has committed significant time and effort to youth engagement, conducting numerous RFS secondary school cadet programs. This includes the Walaaybaa Junior Ranger program with the Tamworth Local Aboriginal Land Council.

Wayne is recognised by his community for his ongoing commitment to the RFS and local volunteer organisations.

Captain Robyn Reynolds, Pambula Brigade (Far South Coast) 

Robyn Reynolds has been a dedicated and highly-esteemed member of the Pambula Brigade since 1999. Her commitment to her brigade and the community has been unwavering, marked by her extensive service in key roles that have significantly contributed to the brigade’s effectiveness and resilience.

Robyn has demonstrated leadership, professionalism and operational skill as the brigade’s health and safety, training, first aid and permit officer, as well as the secretary, treasurer, deputy captain, senior deputy captain and captain. As the previous secretary and current treasurer, Robyn’s meticulous attention to detail and integrity ensured the efficiency of the brigade’s administration and financial management.

Throughout her progress through the ranks to her current role as captain, Robyn has shown strategic vision and the ability to inspire and lead her team through numerous challenging and hazardous incidents, always prioritising safety and operational success. Robyn has made a wider contribution as a member of the Bega Valley District Training Advisory Group, helping shape training policies and improve the overall training framework.

Robyn’s long-standing commitment and significant contributions have had a lasting impact on the Pambula Brigade and community. She is commended for her service, dedication and leadership.