Three Illawarra Emergency Service Veterans Honoured on Australia Day 2026
Three distinguished emergency service personnel from the Illawarra region have been formally recognised in the 2026 Australia Day Honours list, celebrating decades of unwavering commitment to community safety. Gary Laker, Shane Wicks, and Ross Taylor have each received prestigious awards for their lifelong dedication to surf lifesaving and firefighting services.
Lifelong Service Began in Childhood
Remarkably, all three honourees began their emergency service journeys as children and never looked back. Ross Taylor and Shane Wicks both joined Surf Life Saving as six-year-old nippers, while Gary Laker became a volunteer with the NSW Rural Fire Service at just fourteen years of age. Their collective service spans generations, demonstrating how early passion can evolve into lifelong community contribution.
This Australia Day, Mr Taylor and Mr Wicks have been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), while Mr Laker has received the Australian Fire Service Medal. These honours acknowledge not just years of service, but profound impact on their communities.
Ross Taylor: An Octogenarian Still Going Strong
At eighty years young, Ross Taylor remains an active and beloved figure in surf lifesaving circles. A life member at both Thirroul and Coalcliff surf clubs, Mr Taylor expressed being "absolutely stunned" to receive his OAM. "I just love the camaraderie and because I'm old now the younger blokes look after me," he said with characteristic humour.
Far from slowing down, Mr Taylor continues to patrol beaches and competes in surf lifesaving events at state and national levels. While he has reluctantly retired from beach sprints, he still participates in surf races, board races, board rescues, and the one kilometre beach run. His daily fitness routine includes a 5am start and a half-kilometre swim at Austinmer rock pool, a discipline he has maintained for fifty-five years.
Shane Wicks: Balancing Fire and Water
Gerringong resident Shane Wicks serves as both a Surf Life Saving South Coast Branch duty officer and a volunteer firefighter with the Gerringong Rural Fire Brigade, a dual role he began in 1990. When asked about his motivation for decades of volunteering, he simply stated, "I enjoyed it and there was a need in the community."
Among his proudest achievements is witnessing how emergency services help shape young people. "I love watching young members come through and going on to join Fire and Rescue NSW or join the military. The RFS has got them there, it brings people out of their shells," he reflected. Despite his accomplishments, Mr Wicks remains humble about his OAM, noting, "You don't do it to get awards, you do it to help people."
Gary Laker: From Street Observer to Brigade Captain
Gary Laker faced a childhood choice in Stanwell Park: become a surf lifesaver or volunteer firefighter. Living on the same street as the local rural fire brigade made his decision easy. "They used to hit the air siren and I used to go up and watch the trucks go out," he recalled of his early fascination.
His progression was rapid, achieving the rank of Stanwell Park Rural Fire Brigade captain by age twenty. "There wasn't a lot of formal training, we just picked it up as you went along," he said of those early days. In addition to his volunteer work, Mr Laker spent seventeen years as a firefighter with NSW Rail Fire and Emergency, protecting the state's rail network alongside Fire and Rescue NSW.
Receiving the Australian Fire Service Medal left him "gobsmacked." "It was not even something I ever expected and it was pretty humbling because you're nominated by your peers," he said, adding generously, "I think my wife deserves this medal more than I do."
A Legacy of Community Commitment
These three Illawarra legends exemplify how sustained volunteer service creates stronger, safer communities. Their stories highlight not just emergency response, but mentorship, community building, and personal dedication that transcends decades. As Australia celebrates its national day, these honours appropriately recognise individuals whose quiet contributions have made profound differences in countless lives.
Their collective advice to aspiring volunteers echoes their own journeys: start where you can, give what you can afford, and recognise that supportive families make sustained service possible. Through bushfires, beach patrols, and countless emergencies, these three honourees have demonstrated that emergency service is more than a duty—it's a lifelong passion that benefits entire communities.
