Two tankers with a combined value of $450,000 were handed over to the Inverell brigade, while Delungra’s unit was worth $160,000. 

Mayor Paul Harmon said it was the finalisation of replacing the bushfire fleet’s petrol tankers with diesel models.

“It’s certainly a big safety issue that council along with the RFS have identified and we actually sped up the program to have them replace the old petrol tankers,” Cr Harmon said.

“This is the official handing over, or the acknowledgement of handing over those keys in an official ceremony. 

“I remember going to Wallangra and Ashford when I was first inducted as mayor in September last year, that was sort of the finalisation of those tankers, so today certainly acknowledges the handing over of those tankers.”

RFS manager for Northern Tablelands Superintendent Chris Wallbridge said there had been four stations opened across the district.

“We opened Kings Plains, Bukkulla, Inverell and Gum Flat rural fire stations; for three of the brigades it was their first ever stations, Kings Plain, Bukkulla and Gum Flat the first ones they’ve ever had,” Superintendent Wallbridge said.

“This morning we’re handing over three new trucks…two for Inverell, a Cat one and a heavy tanker Cat seven and Delungra’s new Cat seven as well, so celebrating a whole heap of new assets, I suppose.

“This has been part our ongoing program with council … we’ve been working hard to achieve this over the last seven or eight years…now it is all starting to come to fruition, it’s been a long process to gather that funding together between us and now we’ve got it all here and the assets are really starting to show through.”

Superintended Wallbridge said the new stations were opened at a total cost of about $200,000. 

13 fire fighters recognised for long service

A SMALL ceremony at the new Inverell Rural Fire Service (RFS) station on Wednesday morning saw 13 members presented with 13 awards in recognition of their years of service. 

Chief Superintendent Bruce McDonald presented all recipients with the Long Service Medal or variations of the medal depending on their length of service.

From the Graman brigade Richard Reardon was acknowledged for his 11 years of service while Peter Gillett has notched up 12 years.

Ashford’s Gary Thompson received the medal for 13 years service.

Inverell brigade’s Dianne Flett received her medal for 15 years service, Walter ‘Wally’ Fitzgerald received his medal and first clasp for 28 years service and Darren Blatch received the same for 28 years service at Tamworth city, Mittagong, Inverell, Gunnedah HQ an Gilgai brigades.