‘Some call us Dad’s Army!’ Rural fire crew made up of over-70s hailed ‘heroes’

As much of New South Wales and Queensland continues to be ravaged by devastating bushfires, the thoughts of the Australian public are firmly with those brave men and women who are putting their own lives on the line to contain the blazes and protect members of the community and their homes.

One fire crew in particular though has garnered a whole lot of attention this week, thanks to their ages. The Woodgate Rural Fire Brigade shared a photograph of two of its hard-working crews earlier this week, revealing that they have been given a rather comical nickname due to the fact they are all aged 70-plus.

“Today’s two Woodgate crews, each of us is over 70!” a force spokesperson wrote on Facebook. “Some call us Dad’s Army. We don’t mind.”

https://www.facebook.com/woodgateruralfirebrigade/photos/a.656516451145292/1697017330428527/?type=3&theater

After posting the image, which showed six members of the Woodgate brigade dressed in their bright orange firey uniforms and covered in ash from the fires, the rural fire brigade was flooded with messages of support.

Hundreds of people took to Facebook to thank ‘Dad’s Army’ for their hard-work and sacrifice in fighting the unprecedented fires, many of which are still burning across the Sunshine State.

“This is awesome,” one person wrote. “From personal experience I find the “old” guys “go harder” than a lot of the young guys on the fireground. Would be honoured to stand shoulder to shoulder with this crew any day.”

Another wrote: “So many of us do not quite comprehend how hard you Guys work. You are all heroes.” While a third commented:
“I have family in Woodgate. Thank you for your efforts , what an inspiring group you are. Take care out there”

The death toll from the bushfires is currently sitting at four, after locals near Kempsey, NSW, found the body of a 58-year-old man in burnt-out bushland just before midnight on Wednesday evening. The man has since been identified as Barry Parsons, who had been renting a shed in the area and lived alone.

Mr Parsons’ body was found on the southern end of the Kyuna Track at Willawarrin, around 34 km from Kempsey. He is the fourth person to have died as a result of the bushfires in NSW, after two people were confirmed dead in Wytaliba and a third body was found north of Taree over the weekend.

According to ABC News, the first confirmed victim was grandmother-of-six Vivian Chaplain, 69, who passed away in hospital on Saturday after sustaining severe burns while trying to protect her home from the flames. A man named George Nole also died near Wytaliba, with his body found in a burnt-out car.

The third victim was named by the ABC as 63-year-old Julie Fletcher whose remains were found in a burnt-out building at Johns River.