VOLUNTEERS with local Rural Fire Service brigades were super-busy over the Christmas-New Year period, both on and off the firegrounds.
The annual Santa Run, shared among several RFS brigades, took Santa Claus himself to visit the streets of the Myall Coast, delivering some lollies to those patiently waiting in safe areas on what turned out to be a very hot Christmas Eve in Tea Gardens.
“I love this part of the job, it gets me every time when I see a small child’s face light up with joy at seeing me, for real, atop the big red fire trucks graciously driven by local volunteers,” Santa told News Of The Area..
Santa was, of course, involved in runs in and around several locations across the region this year, as he has been for decades.
“We are only too happy to help Santa out, and the lollies that Santa disperses are paid for by RFS funds directly,” Pindimar/Tea Gardens RFS Captain David Bright said.
A week later, on New Year’s Eve, the RFS volunteers were once again on standby as supervisors of the Tea Gardens Country Club fireworks display.
In light of recent major bushfires, both locally, across the state, and most recently in Victoria, it is always a fantastic idea to have RFS members and trucks on-hand, trained and ready to intervene if fireworks happen to get out of hand.
Even a small shift in the wind can send the fireworks’ embers floating into undergrowth and tall trees – as the firies witnessed from directly beneath the Country Club display, as the wind blew sparks into clearing piles and further off trees.
Unfortunately, several illegal and unreported fireworks were witnessed off in the distance around the same time, which could have easily resulted in a catastrophe had conditions been different.
Thankfully, the local fireworks went off without a hitch, lighting up the sky for a full 10 minutes or more; their illuminated blooms and deafening bangs reminding everyone that 2025 was done and dusted, and 2026 was just around the corner.
Recent weather patterns appear to be cycling through extreme heat, followed by changes that may or may not bring heavy rain in short bursts, so firies are still keeping an eye on the remnants of the Nerong fires, responding to callouts as needed and as available.
They are always open to new recruits.
By Thomas O’KEEFE
You can help your local paper.
Make a small once-off, or (if you can) a regular donation.
We are an independent family owned business and our newspapers are free to collect and our news stories are free online.
Help support us into the future.
