This Site Was Last Updated On 10th May 2025
The
NSW Fire Brigades Retirees Association Incorporated, is a voluntary
association which aims to provide members with useful information, keep
members advised of upcoming events, send offs, dinners and functions
and maintains the comradeship and friendships formed during service
with NSW Fire Brigades. Depending on privacy considerations it may be
possible to help members keep in touch with or contact former comrades.
The association is open to any retired member of NSW Fire Brigades both
operational and administrative and includes wives and husbands. It
costs nothing to join the Association,
just write, call or email and give us your details or
complete the Membership Form on line.
Latest News!
(15/05/2025)
The Commissioner regrets to advise of the passing of Senior Firefighter
Ian WILSON (7149) formerly of City of Sydney Station, on 4th May 2025.
Ian joined NSW Fire Brigades on 8th May 1992, and served for over 33 years.
Funeral
(10/05/2025)
The Commissioner regrets to advise of the passing of Senior Firefighter Jared
McCULLOCH (7819)
formerly of Turvey Park, on 29th April 2025. Jared joined NSW Fire Brigades on 9th October 1998 and served for over 26 years.
Funeral
(07/05/2025)
Latest
Commissioner's Orders
2025/09 received.
(01/05/2025)
The Association has learned of the passing of Miss Bettye HARCUS
on 7th April, 2017. Miss HARCUS joined the NSWFB in January 1945 and retired in June 1983 and was the Secretary to a number of Chief Officers.
(26/04/2025)
The Commissioner regrets to advise of the passing of retired Senior Fighter
Robert 'Bobby' McLINKTOCK (6204) formerly of City of Sydney or Headquarters, on Wednesday 23rd April 2025.
Bobby joined NSW Fire Brigades on 25th May 1984 and served for over 33 years.
Funeral
(23/04/2025)
Illawarra Sub Branch - Kel Classic Golf Day. Entries need to be finalized by this Friday for catering purposes.
Calderwood Golf Course, Thursday 1st May 0700,
$50 includes breakfast, lunch and golf fees. Prizes on the day
Contact Shane 0401 973002 or 488 C
(23/04/2025)
Update. St Florian's Day Long Luncheon Sunday,
4th May 2025. 11am. Firehouse
Hotel North Sydney. Past , Present and Emerging Firies. Last chance to RSVP. Numbers filling up fast.
Great chance to catch up with past, present and new Firies. See the flyer or visit the website for more details.
stfloriansday.com
Flyer
(23/04/2025)
The Commissioner regrets to advise of the passing of retired Station Officer
Brian Dennis ROCHFORD (4366)
formerly of Gosford Fire Station, on 17th April 2025. Brian joined NSW Fire Brigades on 28th August 1970 and served for over 25 years.
Funeral details will be updated in FR360 once advised.
(23/04/2025)
The Commissioner regrets to advise of the passing of retired Retained Firefighter
Antonio Franscesco ZUMBO (265011) formerly of Coonamble Fire Station.
Antonio joined NSW Fire Brigades on 1st November 1981 and served for over 36 years.
Funeral
(18/04/2025)
The Commissioner regrets to advise of the passing of retired Captain
Robert BROOKER (394001). Robert joined NSW Fire Brigades on 26th May 1984 and was the Mulwala Fire Brigade’s inaugural Captain serving for over 25 years until his retirement in 2010.
Funeral
(18/04/2025)
The Commissioner regrets to advise of the passing of retired Superintendent
Douglas CROTTY (3171) formerly of Newcastle. Doug joined NSW Fire Brigades on 10th January 1964 and served for over 32 years.
Funeral details will be updated in FR360 once advised.
(18/04/2025)
The NSWFB Retirees Association has been advised of the passing of retired S/F/F
Michael ZILLMAN (4620)
on 17th April 2025. Michael chose to die by way of Assisted Dying at 12:00 hours. Mick joined the NSWFB on 21/09/1971 and retired on 08/06/1995.Michael's family have advised that there will not be a funeral but there will be a small private Celebration of Life on a date to be determined in the near future.
(11/04/2025)
Send Off for: Superintendent Jay "The Blade" Bland. Thursday, 29th May 2025.
Club Thirroul 2B Station Street, Thirroul. Flyer.
(05/04/2025)
Another descriptive Fire News report from Retirees Fire News Editor Kernin Lambert
of the Cabramatta 3rd Alarm Structure Fire And Multiple Explosions
NSW, Tuesday, 12th December 2023. The
article has also been placed in the Fire Rescue News Letters. Article
(25/03/2025)
The next E District Reunion is on Friday, 26th September 2025 at The Redfern Hotel Cnr Redfern and George Sts Redfern Midday onwards. Everyone welcome, not exclusive to E District members. Come along for a few drinks and catch up with old mates. Meals can be ordered at the bar.
Contact Paul Demi Roussis on 0434813131 for more details.
(26/01/2025)
If anyone knows the contact details for any of the following people please contact Ray Kelly on 0458 687 765 or ask them to contact him.
Phil Bedford, Bruce Cook, Bob Gilbert, Eddie Jones, Tony Mason, Ian
Tarrant.
Permanent Messages
28/02/2025)
Invitation to Retired Firefighters and those contemplating Retirement Region North
3 – New England & NW Command.
Details
(28/02/2025)
Invitation to Retired Firefighters and those contemplating Retirement Region North 2 – Northern Rivers.
Details
(05/03/2024)
From National Emergency Worker Support Service | Black Dog Institute:
Good afternoon NSWFB Retirees Secretary, I am an Implementation Practice Manager at Black Dog Institute, working on the National Emergency Worker Support Service
(NEWSS). NEWSS is a free, confidential mental health support for emergency service workers – both active and retired.
Details
(08/09/2023)
Workplace illness Claims including cancer - update from Darin Sullivan:
Retirees are still advised to contact FRNSW Health and Safety
Branch, as well as an experienced Solicitor, to ensure they receive support and guidance for workplace illness claims, including cancer related illnesses.
Masselos and Co are still the FBEU preferred/suggested solicitors as the most experienced in these matters. Contacting the FBEU directly may still be of some benefit if having trouble navigating these difficult issues.
- Darin Sullivan, Former FBEU President.
(11/08/2023
INTRODUCTION – FIRE NEWS EDITOR
The NSWFB Retirees’ Executive Committee is pleased to announce the appointment of current serving FRNSW Inspector, Kernin Lambert as Fire News Editor. This position on our website has been vacant for some time.
Kernin has been a Member of the NSWFB / FRNSW for twenty-seven years and is currently a Deputy Commander at Metropolitan West 1, C Platoon, Western Sydney.
Since joining the fire service Kernin has always had a strong desire to contribute to the improvement of operations by studying and learning from operational incidents of an unusual, complex or significant nature. His knowledge, coupled with an enormous insight into all aspects of Fire Service operations Statewide, enables him to produce comprehensive operational submissions.
Kernin sent his first article to Fire News in 1997 and in 2000 the Commissioner generously allowed him to write an insert in Fire News known as Fire Operations Journal. Over the years this publication has come and gone a number of times due to changes in editorial direction. However, he never stopped believing in the importance of learning and sharing from operational incidents.
Kernin’s aims have always been to improve fire fighter safety and the effectiveness of operations. This is particularly important as the materials involved in building construction are constantly changing. Some important examples include insulated sandwich paneling, combustible external cladding, tilt slab buildings and now we are seeing a wave of fires due to lithium-ion batteries, not to mention the always present dangers of bush fires.
Congratulations Kernin on this very important appointment of Fire News Editor. We are looking forward very much to reading, viewing and enjoying your Fire News reports, the first of which is already on our website – Port Kembla Ethanol Storage Tank fire.
Regards,
Bill Powell AFSM President
(10/08/2023)
Updated:
Further
EAP provider information for retired members
The Association has received from FRNSW Retirees' Peer Support
Officer, retired Superintendent Chris Jurgeit, the following new document recently published by FRNSW about
Transitioning into
Retirement. It contains great information both for staff contemplating retirement/separation and for those who have already made the move.
Chris states - Two important points will be added at the next review of the document, however they are pertinent now ie
- Page 10 (Section 4) - Under EAP that the service is now also available to staff who have left FRNSW (up to 5 years post leaving)
- so they can continue to get support for their transition out of FRNSW after they have officially left
- Page 16 - All staff have access to 6 free sessions with a financial counsellor per year (through EAP
"Money Assist" program) - this could be useful for those planning to transition away from
FRNSW.
Various sections of this document are both applicable and helpful to current retired firefighters. For example, Section 4 - Well Being, Section 6 - Volunteering, Section 7 - Know Your Finances and Page 21 - Check List.
For information or questions, please contact the FRNSW Retirees' Peer Support Duty Officer 0477 342
750.
Bill Powell AFSM President NSWFB Retirees Association
(02/03/2023)
FORMATION OF NSW FIRE AND RESCUE CEREMONIAL TEAM:
Senior Fire Fighter George Lloyd, under the guidance of Superintendent Peter
Stathis, (now retired), and Superintendent Greg Houston have assembled a
NSW Fire & Rescue Ceremonial Team. This team currently comprises
twenty four Members who volunteer their time to represent FRNSW at funerals, as well as Anzac Day and Graduation ceremonies.
Protocol procedures play out an important role in the Brigade’s future. Over the past two years the Ceremonial Team has attended a number of funerals for both retired and currently serving Members.
Please find attached a short video of the Ceremonial Team at the funeral of Bruce Johnson.
If any NSW retired fire fighters or their family would like to have the Ceremonial Team participate in a service, please contact the President, Bill Powell at
bill.p133@live.com
(1/12/2022)
Updated email address:
Need someone to talk to? The Retiree’s Peer Support Team is a group of retired firefighters, who are there to support other firefighters when personal difficulties arise in their life.
Right now, many people are experiencing further challenges caused by draught, bushfire crisis and now a worldwide pandemic.
The members of retiree’s peer support are not counselors, but someone to talk to and if appropriate, guide you to professional help.
All conversations are treated with confidentiality. Contact Information:
Email: retiredpeersfrnsw@gmail.com
Website: www.retiredfirefightersupport.com.au
Duty Officer: 0477 342 750
(04/06/2020)
Online Condolence Book:
With the recent sad passing of firefighters within our FRNSW family,
it is fitting to honour them and reflect on their service by
creating a personalised online condolence book.
Details
(09/03/2019)
From: Darin Sullivan:
Hi all, If you have had a cancer that may be related to firefighting but think it may be outside the current legislation that we got through parliament, please contact me for more information. Feel free to pass this and my email address on to others this may also assist.
Regards, Sully darinsullivan1@gmail.com
(12/10/2017)
Another report on the problem with old type Foam.
(16/08/17)
Latest PFAS information
supplied by Chief Superintendent Dave Felton AFSM.
1.
Information Sheet - PFAS Questions & Answers
2.
Information Sheet Firefighting Foam and PFAS
3.
Timeline - FRNSW Historical Use of PFAS Containing Firefighting Foam
(11/01/16)
Letter From Roger Bucholtz Re: Defined Benefit Income. Letter
(14/03/12)
The FRNSW Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. These
medals are not automatically issued to existing retirees. If you
qualify you must submit a Request To Be Recognised For Long
Service And Good Conduct Award form. Form
Dates Items Last Updated
Commissioner
Corner 25/03/2017
*** Funeral
Notices 15/05/2025 ***
*** Commissioner's
Orders 07/05/2025 ***
Photo Gallery
11/12/2024
Regional
Retiree Reunions 03/10/2024
Retirement
Functions 11/04/2025
Social Events
11/04/2025