RFSA awards joint Members of the Year
The RFSA has named Mitchum Neave and Mick Miller its 2021 Members of the Year in recognition of their united effort to strengthen the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, particularly within the NSW RFS.
Mitchum, a volunteer firefighter with Piallaway Rural Fire Brigade (RFB) and Mick, a volunteer firefighter at Dunedoo RFB, are active members of RFSA Division 10 which is situated in the Liverpool Range.
Mick is the current Division 10 Chairperson and has held various representative roles since first joining the Castlereagh Branch in 2008. He is also the Deputy Captain of Dunedoo RFB.
Mitchum is the current Delegate to Division 10, member of the Liverpool Range Branch and Captain of Piallaway RFB.
Since joining the Association, both Mick and Mitchum have consistently represented and advocated for their fellow volunteers, as well as providing effective management of their local Branches and Division 10. Both have made representations directly influencing issues such as training, fire service structure, brigade funding, health and safety, and equipment standards.
Their most recent and significant contribution has been as the joint driving force behind the introduction of the NSW RFS Indigenous Pin.
First proposed by Mitchum in 2019, Mick was later instrumental in carrying the idea through to the RFSA State Council. With the RFSA in full support of the pin, it was through the NSW RFS/RFSA Consultative Committees that it came to be realised. Launched in 2021, the NSW RFS Indigenous Pin is now available to all NSW RFS members state wide who wish to wear it with respect.
For these efforts, Mick and Mitchum have been recognised as the 2021 joint RFSA Members of the Year. The RFSA congratulates both members on their achievements and thanks them for their significant and sustained contributions to the success of the RFSA and the NSW RFS.