Mr Gibbons has served the Kelso and Bathurst communities as a retained 

firefighter with Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) for 35 years (since July 15, 1979), but he has finally called it a day.

For all those years he has worked his full-time job, but also jumped the moment his pager went off to help those in need.

The city’s retained firefighters, based at Kelso and Bathurst fire stations, are constantly on call.

They go about their daily business, but they always carry a pager. The moment the pager goes off, these dedicated men and women respond to help the community.

Call-outs are many and varied and include false alarms, car accidents, hazardous materials incidents and raging fires.

Over his 35 years in the service, Mr Gibbons has seen things that many ‘regular’ folk would simply run away from.

An incident that jumps to his mind is the huge Kelso High School fire in 2005 which left the community devastated.

“It was such a big fire, for the last 40 years it’s the biggest fire in Bathurst,” he said.

“I remember a lot of flames and a lot of smoke. I wasn’t able to get around the building to see what was involved.”

The fire was a huge loss, according to Mr Gibbons, and  one the wider community still remembers today.

“It’s extremely sad to lose a building of that stature with it’s history and what it stands for,” he said. “You try your best to save things.”

He also recalls battling to save the historic St Barnabas’ Anglican Church which was deliberately lit on fire in February, 2014.

“I remember coming up Havannah Street [from Bathurst Fire Station] and you could see the glow and when you got there you could see the flames coming out the windows,” he said.

Mr Gibbons was initially based at Bathurst Fire Station for his first 20 years in the service before transferring to Kelso Fire Station when it opened in May 1999.

Since then Mr Gibbons has been captain of Kelso Fire Station – a position filled with a huge amount of responsibility, all the while looking out for the safety of his crew and the public.

While FRNSW’s full-time firefighters are based at a station and available to attend any call-out at a moment’s notice, the retained firefighters often leave day jobs, family gatherings or a good night’s sleep to attend a call-out.

For the retained, being a firefighter is like a second job that can require them at any time.

“I’ve had Christmas lunches interrupted as well as children’s birthday parties,” he said.

His wife of 39 years Sue is also looking forward to sharing a few more meals with her husband, rather than a pager announcing another emergency he needs to attend.

There have been many things to enjoy about being a firefighter for so long, according to Mr Gibbons.

“I’ve enjoyed helping people in their time of need whether it be when they’re in motor vehicle accidents or in life and death situations,” he said.

“I’ve always enjoyed my time thoroughly.”

Another highlight of his years in the service has been taking part in the biannual NSW Firefighter State Championships.

You could say Kelso’s firefighters are the stalwarts of the competition – they’ve won three times (2004, 2010 and 2012) and come runner-up twice (2006 and 2008).

“We’ve been involved since 1980 ... I love the competition and to challenge myself to do the best that I can,” he said.

The championships are timed events that challenge firefighters to undertake everyday firefighting tasks with points up for grabs for the quickest and most proficient.

“It’s a thrill to know your team has competed against the best,” Mr Gibbons said.

 Mr Gibbons said his decision to retire from the FRNSW was an easy one.

“I’ve done enough and I’ve seen enough. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time in the brigade, but it’s time to ease back a bit,” he said. “I’ll miss the camaraderie with the firefighters, not just in the station, but with Bathurst [station] as well.”