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.
This 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.
27-year-old carpenter and Brigade Captain Richard Alley 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 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.
Richard is 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.
For more information on the 2025 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards visit the 2025 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards website.
Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:
"Emergency service volunteers represent our unique community spirit in helping our fellow neighbours when they need it the most.
"I congratulate all the finalists who demonstrate a desire to do all they can to help their communities, whether it's responding to floods, fires or life-saving activities that make a tremendous difference to people across NSW.
"The outstanding group of finalists and the winner represent a small number of the extraordinary volunteers that I have the privilege to see in action in my role as Emergency Services Minister.
"Richard has given an extraordinary amount of service and personal commitment over a decade in emergency management.
"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."
Attributable to the Centre for Volunteering CEO Gemma Rygate:
"4.9 million people volunteer in NSW, contributing more than $200 billion to the economic and social well-being of communities across the state.
"Volunteering makes communities healthier, stronger and more resilient.
"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.
"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."
