Bruce Blackburn didn’t start volunteer work for accolades he says he just wanted to do something for the community.

Mr Blackburn was jointly awarded the title of 2017 Volunteer of the Year with Kim Rayner at the Rotary Emergency Services Awards night at Panthers Port Macquarie on May 3.  

Mr Blackburn was involved in the military for 20 years and was attracted to the sense of mateship and comradery of the Rural Fire Service (RFS). 

In 1998 Mr Blackburn was on long service leave from his military service. He bought a property at Kings Creek and decided to join up with the Wauchope Rural Fire Service. 

Since joining 19 years ago Mr Blackburn has made many friends not only in the Wauchope district but also firefighters who work interstate who he has ‘a lot of respect for’. 

After nearly two decades Mr Blackburn said he still loves what he does by being a volunteer for the RFS.

He said the 2017 fire season was incredibly demanding. 

Mr Blackburn helped fight the fires in Pappinbarra and also travelled interstate to assist others with the fires in Victoria. 

He described the fires as ‘absolutely devastating’ and said it was the first time he had experienced those kind of extreme conditions while fighting the flames at Pappinbarra. 

Mr Blackburn commended the training of all of those who fought the fires describing their training skills as exceptional. 

Mr Blackburn said when attending a job where someone has lost a property as a firefighter you reflect on what they’ve lost and feel for all involved. 

He said it’s important to recognise that firefighters have an important job to do in stopping the flames from burning. 

Mr Blackburn is retired and volunteers on average about 30 hours of his time a week to the RFS.