Today is a very sad day for the Volunteer Fire Fighters Association of NSW with the passing of our Founder and inaugural President of ten consecutive years.
Mr. Peter Joseph Cannon OAM passed away overnight at Peak Hill Hospital having been born there on June 15th 1950.
Peter as some might know, had battled a tumour of the brain for some years now and whilst initial surgery left Peter able to work again, it had seriously impacted his ability to verbally communicate.
Over the past three months, the tumour had returned and took a rapid hold on Peter with his health seriously deteriorating over the past three weeks.
To Peters wife Val, his sons Adam, Todd and Wade and his daughter Megan, we extend our deepest condolences.
Peter gave his all as a Volunteer Firefighter, as Captain of the Waratah Brigade and later as Group Captain of the Mid Lachlan Zone.
He was an incredibly strong and vocal supporter of everything Volunteers stood for and in 2002, he along with a few other long time brigade members created the Volunteer Fire Fighters Association (VFFA) so as to give a stronger voice.
Friday 11th of September, 2015 was a very special day for everyone when Peter was awarded an Order of Australia at an official ceremony
at Government House.
Presented by His Excellency General, the Honourable David Hurley AS DSC (Ret’d) Governor of NSW, it was a very emotional day for Peter and his family as he proudly stood before Governor David Hurley to receive his Medal. See the featured image (above) attached to this post.
Peter will be dearly missed by all who knew him, the farming community of NSW has lost one of their best, the people of NSW have lost a great man.
A great bloke and a straight shooter who understood the bush and its ways. He would never back off the empire builders and the bureaucrats who have increasingly taken over fire management from the grass roots experts. All of his predictions (unfortunately) proved spot on over recent years as uncontrollable firestorms ravaged the land. To Val , family and the Peak Hill fireies my sincere condolences at this very sad time.
To Mrs Val Cannon,
Please accept my condolences, on hearing the sad news of the passing of your talented husband, Peter.
I am currently writing to you. I’ll look for the address after this.
But I think the who region will know your address..
My ancestors lived and worked with William Cannon in Victoria in 1850’s.
I have met several Cannon persons at Greendale plus a Nun.