farewelled their brigade captain, Tony Walkinshaw at the races on Saturday.
Fire and Rescue NSW Station 256 Cobar captain, Tony Walkinshaw, has stepped down from his role as he makes the move to West Wyalong to take up a new position.
Tony has been the Cobar brigade’s captain for the past four years taking over the role from former brigade captain, Brad Lennon, when he resigned in December 2018.
Tony first joined the Cobar station as a Retained Firefighter in May 2008.
“I’d already been a firefighter in New Zealand for a few months before moving here,” Tony told The Cobar Weekly.
He was promoted to deputy captain in September 2013 and then moved up into the captain’s role five years later.
Tony said taking on the captain’s role had been a big responsibility and time consuming but he enjoyed the challenge.
“I’ve enjoyed helping the community, not just fighting fires but also helping at vehicle accidents, Hazmat incidents and from time to time we help out the Ambos and police.”
Tony said he also liked meeting people and promoting the service. He said one of the downside’s of the role was that it did regularly cut into his “personal family time”.
He enjoyed his time with the “tight-knit” 256 crew and said he will miss them.
Tony is keen to continue to serve as a Retained Firefighter and has plans to join the West Wyalong station.
His vacant captain’s position will be advertised and, in the interim, the role will be carried out by Deputy Captain Alex Lennon.
“Tony will leave a big hole in the station that will be hard to fill, Deputy Captain Lennon said.
“With over 15 years experience as an emergency first responder in Cobar, his skill and knowledge as a firefighter was hard to match.
“His uncanny ability to see how an incident was going to unfold and what needed to be done before anyone else could is a skill very few possess and made him a great Captain.
“He helped the station get through some very dark times and was always about what was best for the crew and Cobar. We wish him all the best in West Wyalong.”
