Des Barton’s pride for shire Citizen of the Year honour

Decades of involvement with the Rural Fire Service was acknowledged when Des Barton, of Baan Baa, was honoured as the shire’s Citizen of the Year.

Mr Barton’s involvement with the RFS dates back to the early 1980s when his service started with the Eulah Creek brigade.

Early achievements included helping to instigate the first fire truck to the brigade and regularly being part of broader training exercises in the Northern Rivers area.

While living at Eulah Creek, he was president of the Namoi Voluntary Air Patrol and was Pilot of the Year for the area in the early 1990s.

By 1999, Mr Barton and his wife Gayle made the move to Baan Baa.

He would eventually join the Baan Baa brigade and is still proudly a member today.

“I enjoy the camaraderie with the fire brigade,” Mr Barton said.

“We’re all from different walks of life and it’s a great group to be involved with.”

Almost 40 years of involvement with the fire service means there are stand-out memories and achievements for Mr Barton.

Roles in airside operations, including mapping, are among the highlights.

Mr Barton has also been deployed to assist in major emergencies, including Ash Wednesday fires in Victoria as a second-in-charge as well as the devastating Warragamba fires.

“I have had roles working with police during floods.

“I have had many roles in the Pilliga with different fires over the years.”

Changes in technology and firefighting equipment have also been evident during his involvement.

“It’s phenomenal how things have changed in firefighting,” he said.

Mr Barton said aerial firefighting techniques were among the bigger changes.

The safety aspects of fire vehicles is also more advanced.

While firefighting continues to evolve and adapt to changing technology, Mr Barton is happy to continue giving back to the service.

Just prior to Australia Day, he had been assisting with firefighting efforts in Maules Creek.

Mr Barton’s involvements in the Black Summer bush fires was also honoured.

He was among a large group of National Service Medal recipients who were presented with their medals at the Narrabri RFS centre, acknowledging services during a national emergency.

His RFS service aside, foster caring has also formed a major part of his life.

Mr Barton and his wife have cared for 140 foster children since the early 1980s.

The couple is still involved in foster caring today, and are proud to provide a safe space for young people at a time when they need it most.

Mr and Mrs Barton’s dedication to caring for children was honoured with a national long service award in recent years.

“It gives them a safe environment to be in,” Mr Barton said of foster caring children.

“It gives them a chance of getting out of an abusive area.”

A large number of those 140 children cared for by Mr and Mrs Barton have been on a short-term basis, sometimes for periods of respite.

“It gives the children the benefit of getting out and thinking for themselves,” he said.

The involvement with foster caring also works hand-in-hand with Mr Barton’s dedication to the RFS.

“Quite a few have gone into the fire brigade,” Mr Barton said.

Speaking of the Citizen of the Year award, he said it was very much appreciated.

“I’m proud to be the Narrabri Shire Citizen of the Year,” he said.

The honour proved a double celebration for Mr Barton, whose birthday falls on Australia Day.