The 10 brave firefighters from Parkes have been recognised for their heroics in responding to a ferocious rail tanker fuel fire, 41 years later.
"I'm sorry it's taken over four decades for this to happen," said State Member for Orange Philip Donato, who hosted an award ceremony on Tuesday.
"I hope it provides you with some closure.
"I'm sorry those brave firefighters [now deceased] are not with us today."
On May 23, 1983 a rail tanker loaded with 33,000 litres of petrol that was being decanted into storage tanks at the Mobil Depot in East Street in Parkes fully ignited in close proximity to millions of litres of more petrol.
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The fire, and the tanks had they erupted, threatened not only the lives of the firefighters fighting to control and extinguish the blaze but the lives of the entire town.
In very challenging conditions of the time, it took firefighters three and a half hours to defeat the fire.
It's a day firefighters - the late Captain Gordon Northey, the late Rodney Bradley, Robert Tinker, Graham Dixon, Roger Larsen, Graham Thompson, the late Robert McDonald, Don Jewell, the late Bruce Shanks and the late John Ashcroft - relive, and relived, every day for the rest of their lives.
Only five of the 10 heroes are still alive today.
After years of advocating for recognition for risking their lives to save their town from a catastrophic explosion, then advocacy from Parkes Shire Council and finally at a state level with Mr Donato delivering a speech in Parliament at the end of 2023, the Orange MP was able to personally acknowledge and thank those firefighters for their extraordinary service.
Before a gathering of invited guests and dignitaries at the Cooke Park Pavilion on Tuesday, Mr Donato presented Statements of Appreciation signed and issued by Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell to the surviving firefighters and to the families of those who have passed.
"It is a true honour and a privilege to personally recognise 10 local heroes who pulled off an almost impossible feat and saved their town from certain catastrophe," Mr Donato said.
"The firefighters placed their own lives at risk to fight this fire, and based on the ferocity and volatility of this fire they each believed they would not survive it.
"It was a miracle the tanker and adjacent fuel depot did not explode.
"It is regrettable those who are now deceased were not recognised during their lifetime, and although this late recognition provides them no solace perhaps it does, to an extent, for their families, fellow firefighters and the community they saved."
The presence of retired police officer Brian Drabsch at the fire was also acknowledged.
Mayor Neil Westcott said the events that took place that day threatened to unleash a disaster of unimaginable scale.
"Their actions were nothing short of extraordinary," he said.
"As conditions worsened the call to evacuate was made but these brave individuals chose to stay right where they were to protect the community.
"After three and a half hours of relentless effort they achieved what many thought was impossible, they extinguished the fire.
"To the families of those who are no longer with us, please know that their bravery has not been forgotten.
"Their legacy lives on in every life that was saved and every home that was protected, and every memory preserved of the town."
Fire and Rescue NSW Commander of Region Zone West Superintendent Anthony Hojel also spoke at the ceremony.
"The size of that rail tanker that went up, 33,000 litres, that's a lot of fuel to be trying to fight a fire with," he said.
"I'd just like to acknowledge that Fire and Rescue NSW is very proud of the work firefighters achieved that day protecting the community of Parkes from this major emergency, and is a reflection of the can-do attitude that we see in the greatest firefighters that has built the foundation for what we see in our current members today."
Mr Hojel said fighting a fire of that magnitude and in such a serious situation, with so few members and little resources must have been exhausting.
Mr Donato thanked Mr Fewtrell and Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib - who both apologised for their absence - for "righting this wrong" by officially recognising the men for their heroism.
He also thanked Don Jewell and his wife Jenny for all of their advocacy, as well as the support of former Parkes mayor Ken Keith OAM and Council's General Manager Kent Boyd and the Parkes Champion Post for retelling their story.
"On behalf of the Parkes community, I extend enduring gratitude to these men, and their families, not only for their bravery and courageous actions which saved the town but also for the many years of dedicated service to the community," Mr Donato said.
A rock monument bearing a plaque was installed at the new Parkes Fire Station in Hill Street when it was built in 2020 to recognise the dedication of the firefighters who extinguished the 1983 fuel depot fire, however personal recognition wouldn't come until Tuesday's award ceremony another four years later.
More photos from the gathering and comments from some of the firefighters will appear in a second story soon.
