Community & Business
12 August, 2022
Pat is RFS Volunteer of the Year
A Pittsworth Rural Fire Service firefighter has been named the South Western Region's Volunteer of the Year.
“You just do it, you’re in the middle of it and you’re running on adrenalin a lot of the time,” says Pat Forrest, recalling the Pechey fires of 2019.
As a volunteer Rural Firefighter for the past six years, the five-day Pechey ordeal stands out in his memory.
In the heat of such disasters, all the hours of prior training is suddenly brought into sharp focus.
“When you get to see
the SES and QFS come together and you realise that the majority are volunteers... I love seeing it come together.
“It’s awesome when you consider there are 28,000 volunteers throughout Queensland,” he said.
Pat has just been named South Western Region’s RFS Volunteer of the Year.
Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Mark Ryan made the announcement this week.
Mr Ryan said Pat had show “true dedication to the Felton Broxburn brigade” by assisting in acquiring land and contributing to the station build project, which was officially opened in October 2021.
“Pat showed operational excellence during the Pechey and Crows Nest fires in 2019, which devastated the Darling Downs area.
“He has also delivered a training program to brigades within the Pittsworth area, enhancing the relationship with local brigades and increasing the operational readiness and capability of the area.
“During his time with the RFS, he has demonstrated outstanding compassion, support, commitment and diligence to his brigade, and I thank him for that.
“It is thanks to volunteers like Pat we are able to support our community during tough times, whether that be bushfires, floods or storms.”
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Acting Assistant Commissioner South Western Region,
Mark Stuart, said alongside Pat, a group of 14 volunteers, one posthumous award,
two retired volunteers and one retired staff member would be receiving prestigious awards to acknowledge their service involvement within the
RFS.
“They do this not for thanks or recognition, but because they are committed to working hand-in-hand with their communities to build resilience.”
During the Pechey fires a helicopter crash-landed in the forest and the pilot luckily walked away without serious injuries.
Pat was part of a group which kept guard over the wreckage for several hours as fires raged around the region.
Pat said he enjoyed being able to give back to the community in his role as a volunteer firefighter.
“There’s nowhere else in the community, where the community comes together like you see in a disaster and to me that’s everything.”
