Steph Cooke with FRNSW Cootamundra Captain Les Carr.
June 11 was the date of a proud milestone for Cootamundra Fire and Rescue with the official opening of the newly refurbished Cootamundra Fire Station going on throughout the morning. The new station has been described as a perfect blend of heritage and modern functionality.
The fit-for-purpose station is said to reflect the commitment to keeping the community safe while honouring the proud legacy of firefighting in the region.
During the ceremony, they welcomed Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib, Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell, along with FRNSW Executive, Regional and Zone leadership, who joined an excited Cootamundra crew to celebrate this significant occasion.
Cootamundra’s heritage-listed station has been modernised with new engine bays, improved storage and updated facilities, all while preserving its historic character.
The station said the upgraded station is now better equipped to support firefighters in their vital work – from fires and rescues to hazmat response and community safety programs.
Coota Public School sung the National Anthem at the re-opening.
An upgraded station was also opened in Cooma, boosting support for local communities in the region. In the Snowy Mountains, Thredbo stations have also had major upgrades to meet the demands of modern firefighting, including better access, ventilation, and amenities.
Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke, said, “First Responder Day is such an important day on our calendar, and this project couldn’t have been better timed for its opening. To see a $3 million upgrade….that preserves the history of this fire station, which is over 100 years old and is also now fit for purpose for generations to come, is a really great outcome for the community.
“We’ve got Police, Ambulance, Fire and Rescue. We’ve got the SES, the RFS, Marine Rescue along the coastline, the all important Volunteer Rescue Association and of course, Surf Life saving.
“These are amazing organisations that between them have over….100,000 volunteers and of course, many paid staff. They are wonderful organisations. These are the people that run towards an incident, run towards danger when the rest of us turn around and bolt the other way.
“So we should be thanking them every single day. We know they save lives every day, they save properties, and they save livelihoods.”
Captain of Cootamundra Fire and Rescue, Les Carr, said it was a “20th century upgrade, and [it will] probably be another 100 years or so before they get to spend any more money on the station. I didn’t think I’d get to see it in my lifetime.”
-Jack Murray
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