newy.com.au – Kearsley Fire Brigade marked 100 years of service with a ceremony honouring generations of firefighters who have protected communities across the Cessnock district.

Fire and Rescue NSW Acting Commissioner Michael Morris joined firefighters, dignitaries and community members at Kearsley Fire Station at 11am on Friday, August 7, 2026.

The brigade began with four volunteer firefighters working from a hose cart kept behind the Kearsley Hotel. It served growing communities including Abernethy and Elrington.

A dedicated station was completed in 1927 and remained in use until the present station opened in 1990 to accommodate the brigade’s expanding operational role.

Among its long-serving leaders was Captain David Sneddon, who held the position for 35 years between 1926 and 1961. His son later led the brigade from 1971 to 1980.

The current captain, Desarae Sim, became Kearsley’s first female firefighter when she joined in 2004. She was appointed the brigade’s first female deputy captain in 2013 and, four years later, became the first female captain in Fire and Rescue NSW’s Metropolitan North area.

Kearsley firefighters have responded to emergencies across the Hunter and NSW, including the 1968 Cessnock bushfires, the 1994 eastern seaboard fires and the 2002-03 Abernethy bushfires. Crews were also deployed to the South Coast during the Black Summer bushfires and assisted during major flooding across the Hunter and Mid North Coast in 2021.

More recent incidents have included fires at Weston Aluminium in 2021, a Kurri Kurri factory in 2024 and Hunter Valley wineries including Drayton’s and Tamburlaine.

In 2024-25, the brigade attended 73 incidents and carried out more than 100 community safety and preparedness activities.

“To operate for 100 years is a tremendous achievement and a testament to what our people mean to this region,” Acting Commissioner Morris said.

Cessnock MP Clayton Barr said the anniversary recognised firefighters who had helped the community through bushfires, floods and industrial emergencies.

“As our community has grown and changed, the station and its firefighters have adapted and stood ready,” he said.