Honouring History, Strengthening Futures: Fire Truck Gifted to Thunghutti Community

Aboriginal Affairs NSW, the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) and Thunghutti community members gathered on Country in Bellbrook to celebrate the official handover of the fire truck.

The collaboration between Aboriginal Affairs’ Community Emergency Management Program (ACEMP) and RFS in coordinating the gift significantly strengthens the capacity of the Thunghutti community around natural disasters. It also helps to support cultural burning and local fire management practices to maintain Country and develop local hazard reduction strategies.

Chris Dunn, acting CEO of Thunghutti Local Aboriginal Land Council said: “We feel privileged to have this truck in the Thunghutti community to help us manage Country. Not only will the truck help us better prepare for and respond to emergencies, it will also help us care for our sacred sites and protect them through cultural burning. Earlier this year we did cultural burning training with Firesticks—this truck will support us to put that training into practice.”

While this gifted vehicle is a new resource for the community, which holds a proud and unique place in the history of fire management in Australia. The local Bellbrook Rural Fire Brigade—west of Kempsey on the Mid North Coast—was home to what is believed to be the first all-Indigenous fire crew in the country, based in the Thunghutti community in the early 1990s.

“There is a very rich history of Indigenous participation in the brigade here,” Chris said. “Having this vehicle gifted to us helps bring that pride and purpose into the future.”

Deputy RFS Commissioner Peter McKechnie attended the handover and spoke about the power of partnerships: “This is about more than just the truck—it’s about building stronger relationships between brigades and communities, recognising the leadership and deep knowledge Aboriginal people and communities bring to fire management.”

Arthur Bain, Chair of the Bushfire Committee, reflected on the importance of shared responsibility: “This truck will support the Thunghutti community in developing consistent burning regimes to reduce hazards and improve outcomes. Back in 2019 when bushfires came close to enveloping this community, it was the collaboration between the community, landowners, RFS, state forests and national parks that helped protect us.”

Inspector Jamie Bertram, RFS Aboriginal Programs Coordinator, said it is essential for Aboriginal communities to lead this work: “Communities have the knowledge and connections to protect Country in the most effective way. It’s incredibly valuable for our Mob to be supported like this, and to be able to share our knowledge with other agencies and the wider public.”

The fire truck now stationed on Thunghutti Country is a practical and symbolic gesture—one that honours the past, supports the present, and helps prepare the community for a more resilient future.