A Murrumbateman Rural Fire Service Brigade Captain has been named the inaugural NSW Emergency Volunteer of the Year for more than a decade of service, dedication and leadership on NSW fire fronts.
Carpenter and Brigade Captain, Richard Alley (pictured), 27, was presented with the inaugural award by the NSW Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib at the NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards State Gala, held in Sydney.
“Richard has given an extraordinary amount of service and personal commitment over a decade in emergency management,” said Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib.
“He’s been there on the fire front to protect people and property, he has become an expert trainer for new and existing volunteers, and he has become a community leader and mentor for his peers.
“Richard is a very worthy recipient of this important inaugural volunteering award and showcases everything that we admire and respect in emergency volunteering across NSW.”
The award is the first of its kind in NSW, designed to recognise all types of volunteers who have made an exceptional contribution to their community during times of crisis.
The winner was selected from an esteemed group of volunteer finalists representing the diversity of volunteer services in NSW including the Rural Fire Service, State Emergency Service, VRA Rescue NSW, Marine Rescue NSW, Surf Life Saving NSW, Ambulance NSW, St John Ambulance, Girls on Fire, Resilient Lismore and Lifeline.
Mr Alley’s long-standing dedication to community safety was evident early on when, as a Year 11 student at Yass Valley High School, he was awarded the NSW RFS Cadet of the Year.
At 19, he became captain at the Murrumbateman RFS Brigade, the youngest ever Brigade captain across the RFS Southern Tablelands Zone.
He has gone on to become the Deputy Group Captain across the region, overseeing five brigades and contributing as an active member of the Rural Fire Service Association, improving conditions for volunteer firefighters across the state.
Mr Alley is also an accomplished chainsaw operator, taking out first place at the 2024 RFS State Championships. Beyond his firefighting skills, he shares his musical talent as a euphonium player with the Yass Valley Concert Band and brings joy to the community by donning a Santa suit during festive celebrations.
The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards are run by The Centre for Volunteering, the peak body for volunteering in NSW.
“Emergency volunteers are at the frontline of this remarkable effort to keep communities safe and help them rebuild at times of floods, fire, droughts and storms,” said Centre for Volunteering CEO, Gemma Rygate.
“It’s fitting that we recognise those efforts with the Emergency Volunteer Award. Congratulation to Richard Alley as the inaugural award winner and thank you to Minister Dib for supporting this award to recognise all emergency volunteers across the state.”
For more information on the 2025 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards visit the 2025 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards website.
