Hawkesbury RFS say goodbye to Max and Jenny Ryan

Due to start on Monday, August 31 the pair have accepted lateral transfers to the Gloucester Great Lakes RFS team where Mr Ryan will remain an inspector and Mrs Ryan will retain her administration officer role.

The East Kurrajong residents have served and protected their community during some of Hawkesbury’s worst fires as both volunteer and paid members.

They volunteered at the Grose Vale brigade and saw their way up the ranks to becoming paid members at the Hawkesbury RFS control centre.

Mr Ryan worked his way up through service with Grose Vale brigade and the communications group in Wilberforce before becoming an inspector responsible for operations.

Prior to his 14 years as an inspector, he was deputy group captain and captain of the Grose Vale brigade.

Mrs Ryan volunteered with the brigade for four years before joining the communications group as the district administration officer.

Both have also been crucial in filling many roles on incident management teams during major fires and managed some desperate times such as the 2001 Christmas day fires which destroyed 13 homes in the Hawkesbury.

Having both lived in the region their whole lives, the Ryans are upset but are looking forward to the ‘‘new and exciting challenge ahead’’.

Mr Ryan said they always had plans to retire in Forster so they took up the opportunity when the positions came up.

‘‘It’s not easy I tell you,’’ Mr Ryan said. ‘‘It’s tough leaving behind the many friends and colleagues we have grown up with, but we have to do what’s best for us eventually. We are leaving behind people we went to school with, worked with and played sport with which makes it a very emotional time for us.’’

Mrs Ryan said it’s sad to leave but thanks the community for making it an enjoyable and easy experience.

‘‘We will miss everyone dearly, especially members of other emergency services agencies,’’ she said.