McCORMACK PRESENTS NATIONAL EMERGENCY MEDALS FOR BUSHFIRE ASSISTANCE

Nationals Member for Riverina Michael McCormack has presented National Emergency Medals to seven Wagga Wagga residents who dropped everything to support those battling the devastating 2019-2020 summer bushfires around Tumbarumba.

Mr McCormack presented the medals and one certificate today in his Wagga Wagga Electorate Office.  

“It is an honour and a pleasure to presents these medals and certificate to these selfless people who put their lives on hold to help protect the lives and livelihoods of others,” Mr McCormack said.  

“They are fair dinkum Aussies who demonstrated real mateship and care during those dark and frightening times.”  

One of the medal recipients, Richard Salcole, organised the group to go to Tumbarumba after receiving a telephone call for help from Kylie Anderson of the Salvation Army in Wagga Wagga on New Year’s Eve 2019.  

“An all-volunteer crew of Veterans, spouses and two non-Veterans was quickly established and on New Year’s Day 2020 a convoy of vehicles drove through the orange smoke into Tumbarumba,” Mr Salcole said.

“Over the next 24 hours the crew provided meals to the residents of Tumbarumba and all emergency service first responders who came through the door, many of whom had not eaten in days on the fire front.

“The crew next responded to the Wagga Wagga evacuation centre and again assisted the Salvation Army to provide meals to those from the Tumbarumba, Batlow and Snowy Mountains districts who had been evacuated.”  

Mr Salcole said the group also stood ready to respond to any fire threat to the Murraguldrie Veterans Retreat.