AFTER decades in the hot seat as a volunteer firefighter, Valla legend Peter Brougham – a recipient in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List – has seen it all.
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But getting the shy 71-year-old to tell a story or three can be akin to prising the meat from a reluctant oyster.
Yet with persistence, Captain Peter’s eyes sparkle at random recollection:
“There was the old lady at Newry Island who we’d helped out during the floods in 2009,” he begins, before son, Michael, an Inspector with the NSW Rural Fire Service chirps, “well she was probably the same age as dad”.
Unfazed, Captain Peter pressed on: “This little lady went to her purse and said ‘how much do you I owe you?’ And I said, just give us a smile.
“She said ‘that’s not enough’, so I said, well give us another smile then.”
A decorated firefighter and the patriarch of the revered Valla brigade, Captain Peter joined what was then the Bush Fire Brigade at Valla in the mid-1960s.
“They never worried much about records (of service) back then. We didn’t have a fire shed – we used to store our gear at Mick Henderson’s and Brian Pade’s. We had two trailer tankers.
“After I joined up we had one fire that started out the back of a banana patch on Mt England at 11 o’clock in the morning and by 3.30 in the afternoon it was over the Pacific Highway it had moved that fast.
“All we had to stop it was a tractor with a rotary hoe on the back.
“But there were no houses at Valla back then, well, there was one, and the fire went under it and came out the other side.”
With five adult children – two of whom in Michael and Annette are also members of the Valla brigade – Captain Peter said he would encourage anyone interested to join the RFS.
“It’s just great being able to help people who are stuck with fire. Mind you it’s not only fire we do these days, it can be floods and storm damage.”
Citation
Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) – Mr Peter Micheal BROUGHAM, Valla
Mr Brougham joined the Valla Rural Fire Brigade in January 1971 and during 40 years of active service has shown exceptional dedication to the NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS), his brigade, and the community where he currently serves as Captain. He has developed a brigade culture of sound practical knowledge, cooperation and dedication to a variety of tasks.
His detailed knowledge of the local area is invaluable when locating and fighting fires in remote bushland areas of the Nambucca Valley and he has shown an untiring devotion to the protection of people, property and the environment, both locally and interstate. His experience, knowledge and exceptional willingness have proved invaluable when assisting NSW State Emergency Service and Fire and Rescue NSW at a range of incidents.
Under his leadership, the Valla Brigade is highly regarded by other brigades and the Valla community also has been loud in its praise for the work he performs, particularly as he has attended many devastating motor vehicle accidents on the busy Mid North Coast Pacific Highway.
For his wealth of experience, enduring commitment to the NSW RFS, concern for the welfare and safety of his community, and ongoing selfless dedication to a difficult and responsible duty, Mr Brougham brings great credit upon the fire service community.
