ROBERT “Robbie” Thatcher hasn’t let his 80 years get in the way of dedicated and active community service.
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Mr Thatcher celebrated his birthday with his fellow Jellat Rural Fire Service firefighters last week when they surprised him with a cake and special presentation.
Mr Thatcher has been a member of the Jellat RFS for around 57 of his 80 years!
Jellat is believed to be the oldest volunteer brigade in the Bega Valley, with early records showing an inaugural meeting held in 1942.
Mr Thatcher joined the Jellat RFS Rural Fire Brigade in 1958, although his association started several years prior to that as a farming teenager in the early days of bush firefighting in the Bega Valley Shire.
“In those days there was no uniform, none of this safety stuff,” he said.
“You’d be out working, milking cows, and if you got a call about a fire you’d just go.”
However, if the modern PPE – personal protective equipment – was still decades away, so was the extensive range of firefighting equipment used by today’s RFS volunteers.
Mr Thatcher recalled using “hessian sacks soaked in barrels of water to bash out a fire”.
He has served in many capacities for the brigade over the years in both operational and administrative roles.
He has served as a junior captain, deputy captain and captain from 2000-10.
He has also held the regional position of Section Leader South, equivalent to a current group position.
Senior Jellat RFS members say Mr Thatcher has been a rallying point for the brigade and its members and provides guidance, leadership, mentoring and inspiration to all.
Although 80 years old, Mr Thatcher is still an active firefighter and currently serves as the permit officer and president of the brigade.
On the fire line he is always one of the first to grab a rake-hoe and get stuck into the very important job of blacking out.
He is a highly respected long-serving member of the Bega Valley community - as well as his long service to the RFS, he is also active as a volunteer for the Tathra Op Shoppe, Red Cross, and Meals on Wheels.
He has been honoured as the Rotary Citizen of the year and his long and diligent service to the Jellat RFS Brigade and NSW RFS was recognised in 2003 with the award of the National Medal.
Robbie and his older brother Ken were dairy farmers at “Spring Hill” in the Bega-Jellat area for over 45 years.
Although “retiring” in 1996, Robbie is still an active farm hand.
He recalled when the brigade equipment was located at “Spring Hill” and was a strong voice in the establishment of the current Jellat station and delivery of firefighting vehicles in 1998.
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