This week Geoffrey Keaton, 32, and Andrew O’Dwyer, 36, both fathers of young children, and part of the Horsley Park Rural Fire Brigade, were killed when their truck overturned near Buxton while fighting the Green Wattle Creek blaze.
Last Saturday night, the western Sydney volunteer firefighting brigade, attended a charity fundraiser at Bonnyrigg Sports Club, hosted by volunteers from the Serbian community in Sydney.
Their captain, Darren Nation, said the effort to raised $40,000 for new equipment and resources "left him in tears" on the night, but today their small victory has been overshadowed by a tremendous loss.
Geoffrey Keaton, 32, and Andrew O’Dwyer, 36, from the Horsley Park brigade, were in a truck convoy near the town of Buxton late on Thursday when a tree fell into their path, causing the vehicle to roll off the road.
According to the RFS, emergency services were called to the town of Buxton just before 11.30pm on Thursday. Police said the driver and the front passenger, both volunteer firefighters, died at the scene. Three other firefighters received treatment for their injuries, and a crime scene has since been established.
An RFS spokesperson confirmed the deaths early Friday morning.
In a media press conference early Friday morning, NSW RFS Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers said the firefighters were driving in dark and smoky conditions, making it difficult to spot fallen trees on the road.
"It just highlights (the) conditions that people are operating in, just how dangerous it is and particularly after the main fire front passes through, these trees just get burnt and they just can come down at any particular time," Mr Rogers said.
Keaton, whose own father was fighting fires north-west of Sydney on Thursday, joined the RFS in 2006 and was the deputy of the Horsley Park Rural Fire Brigade.
Both Keaton and O’Dwyer were dads to young children.
Bonnyrigg Sports Club, who hosted last weeks charity dinner and met the Horsely brigade in person, said that all staff and members of the Serbian community are deeply saddened by this news.
"On behalf of the board, management, staff and members of Bonnyrigg Sports Club, we are all saddened to hear of the tragic death of volunteer firefighters Geoffrey and Andrew. We extend our sincere condolences to their immediate families and fellow firefighters," said club manager Joseph Di Pietrantonio.
In a statement issued by the management team, they said that the night was attended by the members themselves, including the late Mr. O’Dwyer, and expressed how grateful they were to meet, what they said are real Australian heroes.
Very Reverend Fr. Miodrag Perić, Dean of the Sydney Deanary, who attended the charity night on behalf of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Australia, said that the community is grateful and humbled by their noble sacrifice.
“Under the initiative of His Grace Right Reverend Siluan, Bishop of Australia and New Zealand, various community organisations came together last Saturday and we were honoured to be in the company of the brigade, of these heroes.”
He said that the loss of these two brave men is not just a huge loss for their families and friends, but for the nation as a whole.
“I would personally like to say that I am in awe of their selflessness and heroism. I send my sincerest condolences to their families. I know that the whole Serbian community has them in their thoughts and prayers today.”
The Serbian Orthodox Church last week raised $16,000 of the combined total through donations at their Sunday services. The remainder was raised by community members on the night.
Brigade captain, Darren Nation, had previously told SBS Serbian that there were "no words to describe" the gratitude of his team.
The Serbian community, who last weekend gathered to raise $40,000, has expressed their shock and devastation at the news Source: Petrija Pajic
"I was in tears on the night. I can't believe that in just over a week a community managed to raise that much money, in fact, most of it in just one night. I want to say it's amazing, but ‘amazing’ is not strong enough of a word. It's more than just amazing," said captain Darren Nation.
He said that the money raised will be put to use around the fire station.
"Firstly, we need new technology for our trucks. It will be used for that. It will be used for tools, tools that we use on the fire ground. Better tools to save us time in getting access to premises we need to get to (to extinguish fires). It will be used for changing tyres, if we need to change a tyre and we can't get the bolts undone, we have to wait for hours for someone to come and do that. With the new tools we are getting, we will be able to do it ourselves and save time. Get to where we need to be quicker," said Nation.
Fr. Perić said that all communities, including Serbian communities, need to stand by volunteer firefighters now more than ever. He said that while those who can donate should, not everyone will be in a position to give, and called on community members to keep firefighters in their thoughts and prayers.
“We are seeing the worst conditions volunteer firefighters have ever faced,” said Fr. Perić, “I call on all Australians to continue to support them. I know that the Serbian community is keeping them in our constant prayer. For those who can donate, I hope they continue to do so. For those you cannot, it is important to continue to give thanks for their efforts regardless. We need to stand in solidarity with people who are doing truly selfless and holy work.”
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