Nick Moir did not expect to find himself coordinating an emergency rescue on a rain-soaked back road near Lismore last year. But when the SMH chief photographer and Ingleside Rural Fire Brigade volunteer came across an overturned Australian Army troop transport with injured soldiers, his RFS training took over without hesitation.
On 4 May 2026, St Florian’s Feast Day and International Firefighters’ Day, Moir received a NSW RFS Commissioner’s Certificate of Commendation (Individual) at the annual Bravery and Service Awards ceremony held at the NSW RFS Training Academy in Dubbo, recognised for his actions during the incident in March 2025.
For a man more accustomed to photographing disasters than being formally honoured for responding to one, the recognition was humbling. “I was very surprised and a bit embarrassed,” Moir said. “But I will be accepting it on behalf of not just myself, but those who have trained me.”
How a photographer became the first responder
Moir was in the Lismore region covering flood-relief efforts in the aftermath of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, navigating isolated roads where flooding had cut the main routes to Coraki south of the city. Coming around a bend, he spotted something blocking the road and reached for his long lens to identify it.
What he saw stopped him cold. An Army troop transport was on its side, with soldiers on top looking dazed. He jumped out immediately.
“I jumped out and got to work calling Triple Zero and started making a situation report to RFS contacts,” Moir recounted. “It wasn’t a difficult decision to help and there was no quandary as to what I should be doing. When you do RFS training, a lot of the time they use the worst-case scenario. The effort that is put into training me was reflected that day.”
NSW RFS Commissioner Trent Curtin said that beyond calling Triple Zero immediately, Moir provided a precise GPS location for the incident and coordinated directly with the RFS, giving a detailed situation report that enabled the right resources to be despatched to the scene.
Using his first aid training and demonstrating exceptional resourcefulness and composure under pressure, Moir provided reassurance to distressed Australian Defence Force personnel of the Army’s 7th Brigade and prevented unnecessary movement of casualties until NSW Ambulance paramedics arrived.
A brigade with deep roots in the Northern Beaches
The Ingleside Rural Fire Brigade was formed in the early 1950s when a group of residents from the Tumbledown Dick Brigade came together to establish a dedicated service for the Ingleside community, and has been responding to emergencies on Sydney’s Northern Beaches ever since.
The brigade responds to around 100 operational incidents each year, including bush and grass fires, structure fires, vehicle accidents, horse rescues and storm damage, serving the communities of the Northern Beaches area and also assisting other brigades throughout the state with incidents from flooding to major bushfires.
The brigade has produced members of remarkable longevity and dedication, including Ronald Hughes who served as an active member for more than 50 years, holding roles as Captain, Senior Deputy Captain and RFSA Representative. Moir, as both a brigade member and an award-winning photojournalist, brings a distinctive combination of skills to the volunteer role, as the Lismore incident demonstrated.
The training that made the difference
Commissioner Curtin said Moir’s commendation recognised a profound commitment to the safety and wellbeing of others. For Moir, the recognition belongs as much to those who trained him as to himself.
“This is a reflection of those who have given up their time so I and other members can respond at any time to any incident with the mental tools to aid those around us,” he said.
Ingleside Rural Fire Brigade trains on the first Wednesday of each month, with general meetings on the third Wednesday. The station is at King Road, Ingleside. Anyone interested in volunteering with the brigade can contact them on (02) 9913 2230 or click here.
Published 20-May-2026
