According to Hawkesbury RFS fire control officer Karen Hodges, the money will make a difference to both the brigade’s station and operations on the ground.

“The funds will go towards a new kitchen as well as a concrete slab and pathways at the station, which will enable training to take place on a smooth surface,” she said.

“The funds will also be used for training aids such as white boards, projectors and portable radios.”

Ms Hodges said the funds would make it easier for the brigade to continue tackling bush and home fires in the lead up to summer.

“The new portable radios will supplement the radios that the brigade already has, and will make communications on the ground much easier,” she said.

“Hawkesbury Headquarters Rural Fire Brigade, Windsor, has been involved in tackling many fires around the Hawkesbury including the Londonderry fire two weeks ago, which they attended with four other brigades.

“They have also recently been taking part in numerous key hazard reductions.”

Ms Hodges said the 59 members of Hawkesbury Headquarters Rural Fire Brigade, Windsor, had been delighted to hear of the grant.

“The money was applied for earlier in the year and we recently found out the application had been successful,” she said. “The brigades are generally funded by a combination of Council, RFS, the State Government and donations from the community.”

The grant was made as part of donations to nine charities across NSW and the ACT for the ‘Paul Newman’s Own 25th anniversary celebrations.’

The grants, which total $375,000, will be used to assist with projects such as research into neurodevelopmental disorder Rett Syndrome by the Children’s Medical Research Institute in Wentworthville, to funding camps for teenagers with heart disease run by HeartKids Australia.

Paul Newman Foundation spokeswoman Sally Fairclough said a total of 26 charities from around Australia had received donations of up to $50,000 for special projects in the past year.

“The foundation is dedicated to honouring Paul’s vision and his legacy of generosity will see all the profits from his salad dressings, pasta sauces and mayonnaises continue to go to charity,” she said.