MAKING WAVES Monaro News
Monaro unit leaders visit the neighbours
Monaro Region Unit Commanders and Deputies, Regional Director Glenn Felkin and ROM Glenn Sullivan meet in Merimbula in February.
T
he leaders of units in the MRNSW Monaro Region have gone a-roving. The Unit Commanders and Deputies from the Batemans Bay, Tuross, Narooma, Bermagui,
Merimbula, Eden, Alpine Lakes and Moama units are holding rotating regional meetings to visit each other’s bases every two months. The first meeting was at the Merimbula RSL in February, followed
by an inspection of the Merimbula unit’s base and vessels. Monaro Regional Operations Manager Glenn Sullivan said the unit leaders would gain a better understanding of their colleagues’
local waterways and conditions, facilities and challenges. “The different environments will spark different conversations and everyone will take away new ideas for their units,” he said.
Dennis honoured for his bushfire support Chef worked every day to serve evacuees meals with a side of good humour.
M
arine Rescue Bermagui volunteer Dennis Walker has achieved the rare honour of being recognised with a special award by one of our fellow emergency services. In late January, Bega Valley Mayor Russell Fitzpatrick presented Dennis with a special award from Bermagui Surf Life Saving Club for his outstanding contribution to the community during the Black Summer bushfire emergency. This recognition was in addition to his NSW Premier’s Bushfire Emergency Citation. Far South Coast Branch Director of Life Saving Cheryl McCarthy said: “We are proud to call Dennis an honorary member of the (Surf Life Saving) team forever.” This was one of the few occasions on which Dennis seemed to be short of words. On New Year’s Eve 2019, the
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Bermagui Surf Club opened its doors to provide refuge to more than 5,000 people from Bermagui and nearby communities who were evacuating from harm’s way. MR Bermagui volunteers were called to help at the evacuation centre and Dennis was one of the first to respond. A qualified chef, he was quickly tasked to assist with catering, playing a vital role in food preparation and catering logistics. Dennis worked every day throughout January as residents faced four evacuation alerts. Many will remember the amazing meals Dennis turned out for them as they sought refuge from the fire threat. His incredible work ethic and good humour, always serving breakfast and lunch with a joke, was appreciated by everyone who came through the evacuation centre’s doors. As well as many jokes, Dennis
MR Bermagui volunteer, chef and jokester Dennis Walker with his Surf Life Saving Award and Unit Commander Caron Parfitt.
has many roles. Although we are not selling paper raffle tickets these days, he continues to tout our online raffle tickets about town; he is always the first to volunteer to work at a fundraising sausage sizzle or event; he represented our unit in the 2020 “together in isolation” ANZAC dawn commemoration and
is a regular ‘first mate’ for towing practice with Peter Ford in The Jane Too. He even does a reasonable dress-up as ‘Where’s Wally?’ and Rod Stewart! The admiration of his fellow volunteers at MR Bermagui goes without saying. Well done, Dennis. Debbie Worgan
