Recognising the efforts of Darryl Watkins

As the devastating Dunns Road bushfire burned closer to Batlow on January 4 2020, the town was declared “undefendable” and residents were urged to leave.

Despite the grim warning, the brave members of the Batlow Rural Fire Service and many volunteers were determined to stand firm and do what they could to defend their community.

Under captain Darryl Watkins, around 20 RFS members were joined in their Herculean effort by about 30 or so local residents and they saved much of Batlow.

In December 2020, I had the pleasure of awarding Darryl a Community Service Award in recognition of his work leading the response to the Dunn’s Road Bushfire on 4 January 2020.