Volunteering for Bankstown SES for the last nine years, Adrian said it was a no-brainer to help the community whenever he could and in times of large events and disasters, and was lucky he had a very understanding employer.
In an acknowledgement of his efforts, Adrian was one of three Bankstown officers, along with Matthew Elliott and Daniel Groom to receive a Bravery Citation at an awards ceremony, for rescuing a Milperra man on February 9, 2020.
The three SES members were searching for an elderly man in flood waters in Milperra, making their way to his property and hearing a faint reply to their calls.
They entered the flood water to swim towards the calls and located the man on a muddy hill 200m away from a boat which they had earlier directed to their location.
They reached the man and lifted him into the boat and then swam beside it clearing debris and pushing down barbed wire fences for safe passage to waiting paramedics.
Adrian said he didn’t really think about the dangers, just put his head down and did his job.
“I’m never worried as I know the guys always have your back,” he said.
“I’m grateful for the bravery award but that’s not why we do what we do, though it’s nice to be recognised.”
Adrian was also commended, along with Garrie Herring and David Johnston in a Bankstown SES Unit Citation for the part they played supporting firefighters in the 2019-2020 bushfires.
