Dan Repacholi (Hunter, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

After 58 years as a volunteer with the RFS, Deputy Captain Alan Robinson AFSM is heading into a well-earned retirement. Alan joined the New South Wales bushfire brigades in 1967, at the age of 25. He started his career with Blaxland Volunteer Bushfire Brigade, where he was a member until the Glenbrook-Lapstone Volunteer Bushfire Brigade was raised in 1969. Alan was a foundation member and remained a member of that brigade until 2010.

As a member of the Blue Mountains Group Support Brigade, Alan held various positions, such as deputy captain, senior deputy captain and captain. Alan also led an initiative to design and construct a purpose-built mobile communications vehicle, fully fitted out and operational so that the communications brigade could set up and obtain good communication for firefighters working in difficult terrain. This purpose-built vehicle was the first of its kind and has since been adopted as a standard by the NSW Rural Fire Service.

Over the years, Alan has been involved in almost every major fire season. For his dedication and service, he has received a number of medals and citations, including the Australian Fire Service Medal, the Premier's Bushfire Emergency Citation and the National Emergency Medal with clasp for the bushfires in 2019-2020.

Congratulations on an amazing career, Alan. Thank you for the decades of service that you've given to our community and thank you for putting yourself in danger to keep us safe. We really appreciate you. Enjoy your retirement, buddy.