Congratulations to Rex and Di Farrell who were named as Ballina Shire 2023 Citizens of the Year at last week’s Australia Day Ceremony.
In a statement, Ballina Shire Council said the couple (pictured) had shown outstanding commitment to the Wardell community during the 2022 flood recovery.
“In the months following the floods they continued to support their community while also attending to regular duties with the Rural Fire Service,” Council said.
“Our community is forever grateful for their selflessness.
“When it became apparent that the Wardell district was going to be severely impacted by flooding last year, Rex – Captain of the Wardell Rural Fire Service – jumped into action.”
Two days before the floods hit, Rex organised a team to fill sandbags, and he set to work making sure the emergency evacuation centre at the Wardell Sport and Recreation Club was operational the night before the floods. Then, as water rose and houses became inundated, Rex accompanied local fisherman to perform dangerous boat rescues on a rapidly flowing river full of debris.
Di, a trained nurse and valued crew member of the Wardell RFS, was also hard at work at the evacuation centre. Di organised donations of food, clothing, bedding, and medicines to be transported from the sports club to the Catholic church hall and pre-school so that donations could be easily sorted and accessed by those in need.
She found residential accommodation for elderly and the unwell who wouldn’t be comfortable at the evacuation centre. She tended various wounds, cuddled babies, wiped tears, and held traumatised residents.
In the days and weeks following the floods Rex and Di continued to assist the community in many ways. Di conducted welfare checks, coordinated volunteers, and organised the distribution of essential items while Rex organised a team of 15 fire engines and Rural Fire Service personnel from across NSW to hose out houses, a task which continued for about four weeks.
“The list of Rex and Di’s achievements is countless; the sum of their actions cannot be measured,” Council said.
“In the months following the floods they have continued to support their community while also attending to regular duties with the RFS including bush and house fires, and first responders to motor vehicle accidents.
“Our community is forever grateful for their selflessness. Through their outstanding contributions, Rex and Di play a big role in making Ballina Shire a wonderful place to live.”
