A volunteer firefighter and rescuer from the land is being remembered for his dedicated contribution to the Dubbo community spanning more than 50 years.
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Leslie John Clarke gave innumerable hours to a variety of organisations, the first to put up his hand to help and a mentor to younger recruits.
The much-respected life member of the Dubbo Rescue Squad and the Dubbo Show Society, and 60-year volunteer with the NSW Rural Fire Service died on March 7, aged 82 years.
A large contingent of emergency services members is expected at his funeral on Monday.
Dubbo Rescue Squad acting captain Neil Sturrock paid tribute to the “lovable fellow, very much respected” on Friday.
Mr Clarke had joined the squad about two years after it started up, and together with driving forces Max Walters and Ray Tyson, worked to develop it, he said.
Mr Sturrock recalled when he joined the squad 30 years ago, it was “Clarkey” who had guided him.
“He took me under his wing,” he said.
Clarkey would be the fatherly figure in the squad.
- Dubbo Rescue Squad acting captain Neil Sturrock
Mr Clarke was a member who was “brilliant” at cordage and ropes, techniques crucial in the early years, and he passed those skills on.
“Clarkey would be the fatherly figure in the squad,” Mr Sturrock said.
“...he just loved taking young people aside and training them with what he knew and mentoring them.”
Dedication to the role saw Mr Clarke become the first person in NSW to be recognised for 50 years of service with the Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA) in 2014.
“Clarkey was never married, well people say he was never married, but he was married to the community, that was the attitude he had,” Mr Sturrock said.
“But his first love, he made it very clear to everyone, his first love was VRA.”
The squad remembered their colleague on social media as a “pillar of the VRA community”.
Mr Clarke was also a familiar sight at the annual Dubbo Show.
Part of the Western Districts exhibit team, he would collect produce and build the annual display at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
Dubbo Show Society president Chris Edwards paid tribute to Mr Clarke, saying he was an “independent character” who would be “sorely missed”.
“It will be strange this year in Sydney and at Dubbo that he won’t be around,” Mr Edwards said.