Malcolm Weir, OAM, volunteered to be a firefighter with the Gerringong Rural Fire Brigade in 1962. 

This month he celebrates 60 years of dedicated commitment and service to his community. 

Malcolm – who is now a Life Member of the organisation, attending meetings and sharing his wealth of knowledge with new members – also holds the record as longest serving Brigade Captain, from 1969 to 1994. 

In 2013, Malcolm was awarded a Commissioner’s Commendation for Service honouring his outstanding achievements and dedication and in the same year received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the community of Gerringong.

Malcolm managed this significant role as a volunteer while also running a farm and helping his wife Gay raise their quadruplets who were born in 1973. The Weir family have run Buena Vista Farm in Gerringong since 1859.

He says that the main reason he first joined the Brigade was there were no service clubs in Gerringong at the time. 

“The captain said to me, because I lived reasonably locally, you are ideal for being in the fire brigade. Also, at that time there was a major accident where Fern Street meets the highway. A VW ran in under a semitrailer and caught alight. 

“I thought, if I can help, why not?” 

Malcolm fought many fires including the 1968 Foxground wildfires and the 1982 Gerroa/Shoalhaven Heads bushfires. He has also attended many traffic accidents. 

“There are certain ones that you remember and will never forget.

“But lots of good things happened as well. The Brigade has been great in Gerringong, it’s a great voluntary group. 

“I’ve been able to protect the place and fight fires, and you develop comradeship with the Brigade members – I’ve still got some great mates.” 

His daughter Fiona Weir Walmsley says she grew up seeing her dad drop everything to respond to emergency calls.

“We are all super, super proud of him and his enormous commitment to Gerringong.

“Dad always said that volunteering for the Fire Brigade was his service to the community. He always felt a sense of obligation, and this was his contribution to the community that he loves.

“I’m incredibly impressed and proud of his ongoing commitment,” she says.

Fiona and her husband Adam Walmsley now run Buena Vista Farm. 

Continuing in the family tradition, Adam was Captain of the Brigade until about a year ago when, because of COVID, he stepped back to Deputy Captain.

Adam says that many years ago, when he first moved down to the farm, his father-in-law had an application for membership of the Gerringong Fire Brigade pinned to the fridge, so there was never any doubt that he would join.

Andrew Downes, Kiama’s Citizen of the year for 2020, is now the Gerringong Brigade Captain and says that the RFS is keen to bring in new recruits. The RFS provides full ongoing training and uniforms for its volunteers.

For more information call Illawarra Fire Control Centre on 4230 8200 or go to www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/volunteer