Congratulations to John Nardi, who will be receiving the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM), in recognition of his decades of dedicated service to the Rural Fire Service (RFS).
The RFS said in a statement, ‘John Nardi joined the former Goonengerry, Nashua and Eureka Brigade in the Byron Shire hinterland in 1971 and has continually served as an operational member for 54 years’.
Founding member of Federal Brigade
‘Following expansion in the area, he was a founding member of the Federal Brigade in 1993 and the brigade’s first senior deputy captain.
‘John used his own farming equipment to undertake all earthworks of the site at his own expense.
‘John served as the deputy captain for 11 years, a brigade training officer for 16 years and was elected as captain in 2001, his current role.
‘He has also held the role of the deputy group captain for the district and served as a permit officer for 15 years.
‘John has assisted in significant campaign fires in the Clarence, Northern Rivers and Far North Coast areas, and assumed senior roles as sector and divisional commander.
‘He has assisted in leading RFS crews in community recovery for numerous events, including the 2022 North Coast floods and ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie in 2017.
‘John represented the RFS on the local Bush Fire Management Committee from 2015 to 2022 and contributed his local knowledge to the development of the Far North Coast Fire Access Fire Trail Plan in 2021.
‘Despite weathering drought and personal hardship, John has continually prioritised the RFS, brigade and community, before his own interests, with unwavering dedication and commitment’.
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