'A selfless, special man': Emotional scenes at funeral for hero firie killed in bushfires
There were emotional scenes on Tuesday as dozens of fire crews and officials attended the funeral of volunteer firefighter Andrew O’Dwyer who was killed while fighting bushfires in NSW.
His colleague Geoff Keaton was also killed in the crash.
Today we celebrate the life of firefighter Andrew O’Dwyer of the Horsley Park Rural Fire Brigade. Andrew was tragically killed along with fellow member Geoff Keaton on December 19 while fighting the Green Wattle Fire near Buxton. #NSWRFS pic.twitter.com/vFTSJwdmPA
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) January 7, 2020
On Tuesday hundreds attended his funeral in Sydney’s Horsley Park. Prime Minister Scott Morrison, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, state Emergency Services Minister David Elliott and federal Labor MP Chris Bowen were among the mourners.
Heartbreaking photos show colleagues lining streets and saluting his coffin draped in an RFS flag.
One image showed an RFS truck had been dedicated to Mr O’Dwyer.
NSW RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons previously said the men’s deaths had shocked the RFS “to the core”.
"They're ordinary, everyday individuals – like you and I – that go out and simply want to serve and protect and make a difference in their local community and they don't ever go out in the knowledge that they might not come home from that shift," he said.
Young daughter receives service medal on behalf of father
Mr Fitzsimmons choked up as he addressed Mr O'Dwyer's young daughter Charlotte.
Charlotte should know her father was a selfless and special man, who only left because he was a hero, the commissioner told the congregation.
Wearing a white dress with her hair in pigtails, the toddler at one stage touched her father's casket before she wandered up to the pulpit during the service.
She received a service medal on behalf of her father from Mr Fitzsimmons.
Errol O'Dwyer said farewelling his son was the hardest thing he ever had to do.
Mr O'Dwyer described his son as a free spirit who lived in the present and whose greatest achievement was his daughter.
“Today we celebrate the life of firefighter Andrew O’Dwyer,” a NSW RFS said on Twitter, prompting dozens of tributes online.
“Rest In Peace. Australia will never forget your sacrifice, may you live on in the hearts and minds of us Australians,” one person said.
Mr O'Dwyer joined the NSW Rural Fire Service in 2003 and was a member of the Horsley Park Brigade.
He leaves behind his wife Melissa and young daughter Charlotte.
On January 2, Mr Keaton’s young son received medals for bravery and service on behalf of his father at his funeral.
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