Wallaby Joe Rural Fire Brigade has a new artwork hanging in their Wingham station.
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Local artist, Ron Irwin, was moved to paint the work specifically for the brigade in thanks for their service over the Black Summer bushfires of 2910-2020.
In late 2019 Ron bought a painting through a silent auction where the money was donated to the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital. It inspired Ron, an artist himself, to do something similar.
"I thought I would do a painting for Wallaby Joe. I know several of them and they've done a magnificent job. The brigade went beyond the call of normal duty with the horrendous fires around here," Ron said.
"I called it Remember November so it could be used as a reminder of the wonderful things they've done in the past, and hopefully it will inspire the new members that are coming along in Wallaby Joe."
The painting will stay on the wall in the station "forevermore" said Wallaby Joe captain, Kristian Guppy.
"We felt privileged. It was really good," he said of the donation.
"It was out of the blue and the members didn't expect someone to come in and say, 'this is what I've done for you guys to say thank you'. They were all humbled, I think."
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Julia Driscoll
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times since 2014. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings.
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times since 2014. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings.
