“You don’t do it for a reward, the reward is the work.”
The citation is a rectangular silver framed navy-blue bar featuring a red stripe to signify the bushfire event, and a waratah, which is the NSW State Flower.
In addition, recipients received a letter from Gladys Berejiklian, the Premier of New South Wales, and a commemorative cap.
But it was also a day of remembrance and reflection for the crew, who say despite their deployment being just over a year ago, it felt like much longer.
“With Covid-19, it feels like it was so long ago and you have to think it was really bad for Australia," Charlotte McGoldrick, rural crew leader for Ngāmotu VRFF, said.