By Jess Layt – 27 Jan 2017
No one was more surprised than Greg Green when he was announced as Wollondilly’s Citizen of the Year on Australia Day.
The 61-year-old never expected to receive any sort of accolades for his lifelong work with the Bargo Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade.
He told the Advertiser he was still getting used to his new title.
“It still hasn’t sunk in,” he said.
“It was a bit of a shock. Maybe in a few weeks it won’t feel so strange.”
Mr Green began his association with the brigade as a 13-year-old, attending his first call in 1968.
He officially joined the fire service in 1978.
The Bargo resident said he has loved helping people out.
“I’ve always been happy to do it,” he said.
“I’m just doing my job.
“I’ve had a great time meeting lots of people and getting to travel a lot.
“I’ve been to South Australia and Victoria a number of times with the brigade.”
Mr Green said he was “very proud” to have received the honour and he was “thankful to the people of Wollondilly” for recognising his decades-long efforts to keep the shire safe from blazes.
Several fires have stood out in his mind as being particularly nasty a “big one” in 1977 and the October 2013 fire in Bargo and Yanderra.
He also recalled a truck accident that has stayed with him.
Mr Green said he was honoured to celebrate Australia Day at the Picton Botanic Gardens and receive his honour, describing the event as a “pretty good do”.
He said he would not let his new Citizen of the Year status go to his head.
“I’m still me,” he said.
“I won’t go around bragging about it. It will be someone else’s turn next year.”
HOORAY FOR VOLUNTEER FIRIES!!!
Congratulations