Kenthurst volunteer achieves amazing milestone

BY BILL DUNCAN, KENTHURST BRIGADE

Sidney Lionel Smith, affectionately known to his family, friends and colleagues as Lionel, has given 75 years of continuous service to our state’s firefighting organisations. In 2021 he became the first NSW RFS member to be awarded the sixth ‘bar’ to his National Medal: a unique and amazing milestone.

Lionel’s story was featured in the 2017 book, ’75 Years of Service’, written to commemorate three quarters of a century since the establishment of Kenthurst Brigade at the request of Prime Minister John Curtin in early 1942.

At that time, Lionel was just entering his teenage years. He was born in 1929 in Oakville where he went to the local primary school and completed high school by correspondence. His family were farmers, raising poultry and crops.

Lionel’s first firefighting experience was at age 15, when he participated in attacking a fire in Oakville that was started by a spark from a steam train near Mulgrave station. Lionel fought the fire with wet bags and a knapsack spray.

Lionel’s father was one of the founders of Oakville Brigade in 1946 and Lionel became one of the earliest members, before serving as Senior Deputy in that unit from 1952 until 1968. He went on to become a Deputy Group Captain, then Deputy Fire Controller and later Fire Control Officer (FCO) for the Hills Shire. I

Lionel at Kenthurst Brigade station.

Photo courtesy of Bruce Linton.

n those days, the FCO reported to a Shire councillor – there were no uniforms or formal training, and little equipment. Some brigades had converted old ex-army ‘blitz’ trucks to use as fire tankers. The Hills District headquarters then operated out of the Council depot behind the old Council chambers, where the Castle Towers theatres now stand.

Having worked in the automobile industry, Lionel was always an innovator and developed many ways to improve firefighting equipment and techniques. Consequently, he was very active in the then Bush Fire Council of NSW, especially its technical committee, and was always at the forefront of improvements in firefighting vehicles, pumps and other equipment.

He subsequently designed and manufactured the Quenchmaster firefighting foam system in his spare time, which is now employed in tankers right across Australia and New Zealand. Lionel and his wife, Gwen, championed the use of ‘two-way radios’ in Hills brigades. Indeed, Gwen was the chief radio operator for the Hills brigades in those early years.

Now in his early nineties, this wonderful gentleman continues to serve with Kenthurst Brigade in the Hills District as a Deputy Captain.

Lionel chaired the Bush Fire Control Officers Association of NSW and has been awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal for his professional leadership, as well as the Commissioner’s Commendation for Service.

Lionel (second from left) as featured in a 1987 edition of the Bush Fire Bulletin.

In this role he mentors younger NSW RFS volunteers and instructs them in the use of the Service’s vehicles and equipment and also assists with chainsaw maintenance, heavy vehicle driver training, specialist foam training and anything else that is needed.

Lionel also provides specialist training on a Shire-wide basis on all aspects of foam use in firefighting.

He is still a very active member of Kenthurst Brigade and attends as many fire calls, hazard reductions, training activities and maintenance duties as he can. A Life Member of Kenthurst, he is also a Life Member of Round Corner Brigade. Sidney Lionel Smith is a true Australian champion of community service.