Narrandera’s Bryan “Wal” Lingen was awarded for 50 years of service to the Volunteer Rescue Association last week.

Wal joined the Narrandera squad in April 1970 when the building simply consisted of today’s meeting room, with no roof or floor. He went on to help form and support squads at Leeton, Binalong, Corowa, Coleambally and Balranald.

Wal recalled one of his first call-outs was to recover the body of an Ardlethan doctor when his car was swept away by flash flooding.

Another incident involved recovering the body of a bank manager from the flooded Edward River at Deniliquin with the help of the army and rescue squads from Narrandera, Balranald and Deniliquin.

Wal said the 1974 flood reached a record height in Narrandera.

“It was a big learning curve – I learnt a hell of a lot very quickly and it proved very useful in years later,” he said. 

Wal was promoted to regional coordinator and also elected state secretary in 1995, serving until 2018, and is the VRA Patron.

VRA life member and past president Ray Gill said under Wal’s leadership and guidance, the Narrandera squad developed into one of the best equipped and trained rescue units in the state.

“Your untiring fund raising, coupled with your ability to not only stretch every dollar but also make it multiply, made it all possible,” Mr Gill said.

“I recall the efforts you put into building the shed, fitting out the training room and acquisition of equipment.

“Your service to the VRA in various roles, including regional coordinator and secretary, exhibited the same dedication, commitment and loyalty.

“I greatly appreciated your commitment to the welfare of all the volunteers, and participation in major emergency operations such as the 1997 Thredbo landslip, 1999 Newcastle disease virus outbreak and the 1999 Sydney hail storms.”

Deputy regional coordinator Glen Hehir, of Leeton, paid tribute to Wal for the knowledge he had passed on to the region’s squads.

“It doesn’t matter if you have been there for 15 years or are fresh and new, there is always something to learn from listening to him talk about jobs, tools and equipment,” he said.

“He leaves a long-lasting legacy.”