Geoff Fisher is the first person in the lower South West to be awarded for a 60-year affiliation with the fire service.
The special recognition was handed to the 77-year-old by Robyn McSweeney MLC at the Bridgetown Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service Brigade’s annual dinner and medals presentation on July 16.
Mr Fisher is only the third recipient of this honour in Western Australia.
The born and bred Bridgetonian first joined the brigade in 1956 at the age of 17, and has been a support member since 2002.
He is still regarded as an integral part of the brigade by ensuring station maintenance is kept up to date, attending meetings regularly, and providing valuable input where called upon.
Mr Fisher has been a probationary member, active firefighter, apparatus officer, foreman, brigade captain, reserve member, and support member at Bridgetown VFRS.
He held the position of brigade captain from December 1964 until January 1966 – a title of which he is proud.
“I was in charge of the whole thing,” he said.
“It has been a great honour to reach 60 years.”
The biggest change he witnessed in the past 60 years was the upgrade of fire engines.
“When I first started we didn’t even have the jaws of life, the ambulance used to have it and we used to have to call them out to an accident.”
His most memorable moment was dealing with a hefty fire in Kangaroo Gully.
“We didn’t have all the gear they have now, it took two days to put it out.”
The brigade has renamed the old engine room “Roo’s Roost”. Roo is Mr Fisher’s nickname among his colleagues.
He spent most of his career as a mechanic, his father owned Kordics Bridgetown car dealers.
Mr Fisher is a widower with two sons, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
After stopping his duties as a volunteer firefighter, he remained on “just to be a member of the fire brigade”.
“I do a lot of things around the fire station, even though I do not fight fires any more."
Current Bridgetown VFRS captain Chris Wallace said the brigade still turned to Mr Fisher for his suggestions and ideas during their monthly meetings.
“Congratulations on a fantastic achievement, it’s a huge effort that no-one expects anyone to put in,” Mr Wallace said.
“As a support member there’s no cut-off, so he might make it to 70.”
Present at the awards night was DFES deputy commissioner operations Lloyd Bailey, DFES Lower South West assistant superintendent Danny Mosconi, and Bridgetown VFRS former captains Greg Rees and Paddy Woodall, of 14 years and four years respectively.
John Steele was awarded Bridgetown VFRS Firefighter of the Year.