I can remember, as a youngster, going up several times to watch a Tiger Moth land at South Pacific Estate in the late 1950s before it was subdivided. The aircraft was owned by two blokes – Tommy Harrison and Bud Reeves. they also owned the service station that still stands on the highway, opposite Powell Avenue.

In more recent times, a float plane landed on Ulladulla Harbour but was wrecked while taking off.

Volunteering to serve in the RFS is an important, valuable and essential contribution from all members of our community, that is about helping to protect neighbours, friends, family and many others besides. But, the first consideration must always be “time”. While good intentions are always behind becoming a volunteer it's important to know your own limitations – especially time-wise. 

Today’s world makes it far too easy to overextend ourselves and then experience a loss of interest and good intent. I am not trying to discourage anyone from volunteering, but it is a fact that many who do volunteer never consider their own limitations, especially when it comes to dedicating the time.

However, there are those who have the time and the inclination to volunteer and join the RFS (even if they cannot fight fires or do not want to), the local rural fire brigades can certainly use your services elsewhere and the community will still value your contribution.

To make an application, contact your local rural fire brigade. Anyone seeking more information on what it is all about can visit the NSW RFS website at https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/volunteer/Join-the-NSW-RFS.

What happens after a person completes and submits their application form? Well, they will be invited to attend an interview with the brigade they want to join. They will need to bring along 100 points of identification (such as birth certificate (50 points), passport (50 points), driver’s licence (60 points), to that interview. The interview will cover the types of things they can expect as a volunteer of the NSW RFS, what their voluntary interests are, how they would prefer to contribute and be involved and what the NSW RFS expects from its volunteer members, including understanding their obligations under the RFS Code of Conduct.

Because our volunteers hold a high level of trust and respect within the community, it is important that the NSW RFS make an assessment about every applicant's suitability for membership. Background checks are therefore an important step in this process, and a criminal history check will be conducted after their application form has been received and their interview conducted.

All going well and their membership is accepted, they will be become probationary members of the brigade for a minimum period of six months. During that time new members can undertake some activities and training and at the end of their probationary period, their fellow brigade members will vote on whether to accept them as ordinary members of the brigade.

So, if you do have the time, we have the brigade!

I think Mr Panneman has a chip on his shoulder when having a shot at people with personalised number plates.

I have owned a personalised number which my mother bought for me as a birthday gift 30 years ago. Vanity is not the word for my number plate as I have never thought of it as such. Next thing you will be screaming about is the amount of people who have tattoos that are invading the Shoalhaven. Pull your head in, Mr Panneman.