The late Ronald Winstone earns Australia Day honour with Australia Fire Service Medal

Geraldton’s late Ronald Winstone has been recognised in the 2024 Australia Day honours list after serving more than 50 years in emergency fire and rescue service. Four emergency services personnel from WA were handed an Australian Fire Service Medal, including the family of Mr Winstone, after he died on December 18 at the age of 79. The former volunteer responded to more than 1200 incidents in more than 50 years of service in Toodyay, Geraldton, and Lake Grace before retiring in 2023, showing a commitment and strength of character on the frontline. Ron’s granddaughter Lyndall Shaddick, 19, said he was deserving of the medal after his tireless efforts to keep the community safe and his constant encouragement of new members. “He was a really good man,” she said. “He was really committed to the brigade and loved his brigade family as well as our family. “The award he won on Australia Day, the Australia Fire Service Medal, was truly because of all his dedication (and the work) he did for the brigade.” Mr Winstone was credited with almost single-handedly saving the Geraldton Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service from the brink of collapse in 2012. As captain, he overhauled the brigade’s culture to be more inclusive, boosting volunteer numbers and lifting female membership to 30 per cent. “He was always telling me how the brigade isn’t just for males, females are the same and can do the same thing that males can,” Ms Shaddick said. “I know speaking to some of the females at the brigade, they’ve said that Ron really took them under his wing and really helped them when they first got there and showed them what to do. “They’re all grateful for what Pop did to help them get there now because I feel like if it wasn’t for Pop, they wouldn’t have been there.” Recalling funny memories, Ms Shaddick said Mr Winstone would always accuse her brother Peter Micono of stealing his tools whenever they went missing. Although she is not a current volunteer, Ms Shaddick said her Pop inspired her to join the men and women in orange, but first she had to complete her university studies. “We’re both thinking about going back to follow Pop’s footsteps and be like his legacy,” she said. Other recipients include Nambeelup Bushfire Centre of Excellence superintendent Craig Garrett, frontline firefighter in the Shire of Capel Christopher Scott and chief bush fire control officer in the Shire of Toodyay Craig Stewart. Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson congratulated the medal recipients and said it was heartening to see them recognised nationally for decades of community service. “Each recipient has displayed dedication, selflessness, and bravery in different areas of the WA fire service,” he said. “They have all gone above and beyond the call of duty and are very worthy of this prestigious national honour.”