{"id":31169,"date":"2013-04-24T23:32:29","date_gmt":"2013-04-24T13:32:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=31169"},"modified":"2020-12-18T16:15:57","modified_gmt":"2020-12-18T06:15:57","slug":"a-thank-you-for-years-of-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2013\/04\/24\/a-thank-you-for-years-of-service\/","title":{"rendered":"Thank You For Years Of Service"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Former firefighter Col Kowitz retired in 2010 after spending 35 years at Nanango station … Col was presented with the National Medal 2nd Clasp and the Diligent and Ethical Service Medal 2nd Clasp<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

April 25, 2013<\/strong><\/p>\n

Former Nanango firefighter Col Kowitz retired three years ago but he hasn’t been forgotten by his colleagues.<\/p>\n

Col was yesterday presented with a National Service Medal and a Diligent and Ethical Service Medal to mark his 35 years with the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service.<\/p>\n

And what is he doing these days?<\/p>\n

“I’m catching up on my fishing,” he said.<\/p>\n

Col was one on 13 local firefighters presented with medals during a ceremony held at the Kingaroy Fire Station.<\/p>\n

The medals were presented by Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington, who was representing Community Safety Minister Jack Dempsey.<\/p>\n

Mrs Frecklington said it was “fantastic” that there were so many award recipients from the South Burnett Region.<\/p>\n

She thanked them for their service and their courage.<\/p>\n

“You have my heartfelt thanks and gratitude for everything you do for the community,” she said.<\/p>\n

Assistant Commissioner John Watson thanked the firefighters for their service during the recent natural disasters, and noted how much things had changed over the past 10 years.<\/p>\n

The QFRS had taken on road accident rescue work, he said, and Kingaroy was one of the first auxiliary stations to take on vertical rescues, and now swift water rescues.<\/p>\n

He said the medals did not just mark time served.<\/p>\n

“These medals are earned. They something that we believe you deserve,” he said.<\/p>\n

Firefighters become eligible for the National Medal after 15 years’ service; a clasp can be added for each additional 10 years.<\/p>\n

The QFRS Diligent and Ethical Service Medal is awarded on nomination after a minimum 10 years’ service; a clasp can be awarded after another 10 years’ service.<\/p>\n

Award recipients:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fire and Rescue Station National Medal<\/strong><\/p>\n