The NSW Rural Fire Service has gifted a fire truck to the Muli Muli community, equipping the community to better protect itself for generations to come.
Recently celebrated on Githabul Country in Northern NSW, the handover celebration included Elders, community members and representatives from the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) and Aboriginal Affairs NSW.
Together they enjoyed a feed, listened to the Elders speak, and marked the occasion with an official handover ceremony.
Muli Muli Local Aboriginal Land Council CEO Susan Williams lauded the community initiative.
"Resilience is built not only through equipment and infrastructure but through Culture, connection, and community," Ms Williams said.
"Together, we continue to build a safer and more resilient Muli Muli community through Aboriginal leadership, strong partnerships, and shared responsibilities to care for Country."
NSW RFS said Aboriginal communities hold deep understandings of local landscapes, cultural values, risks and priorities. They said by embedding this knowledge into joint bushfire management committees, local Mob are actively leading the way in developing safer, more culturally respectful fire practices.
Aboriginal Programs Manager for NSW RFS, Jamie Bertram, said building strong, collaborative relationships on the ground is crucial for community safety, especially looking back at the devastating impacts of the 2019 bushfires when Muli Muli was surrounded by fire.
"As an Aboriginal man myself, it's a beautiful story and fantastic outcome for Muli Muli to have a fire truck," the Wiradjuri man said.
"With trained community members to work and manage the truck, the community can continue building their resilience and capacity to look after themselves during disasters and emergencies."
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A key highlight of the handover was the celebration of local leadership, with several Githabul Rangers officially presented with their Firefighter 1 and 2 combined training certificates.
Local community member Keith Green spoke of the local brigade's importance in the community.
"This fire brigade is something good for the future generations, for the younger ones," he said.
"With the Githabul Rangers being part of this burning off, it's going to be good for the future."
NSW RFS said the fire truck handover reinforces a growing recognition across Australian fire authorities of the vital role cultural fire practices play in land management.
RFS District Manager for the Northern Rivers, Daniel Ainsworth, said the partnership is designed to be a two-way street of learning and mutual respect.
"I'm looking forward to working with the [Githabul] Rangers to build that experience and learn from cultural burning skills to hopefully pass on to our firefighters," Mr Ainsworth said.
Aboriginal Affairs' Aboriginal Communities Emergency Management Program (ACEMP) Senior Project Officer, Dean Buchanan, said the fire truck handover was an amazing experience.
"It will help set this community up to prepare for these disasters, for fires especially, and then help the community train around that RFS training," the Gumbaynggirr man said.
NSW RFS said the handover symbolises partnership, empowering the community's living heritage today, and inspiring a new generation of caretakers for tomorrow.
