That announcement came in the form of a $10,000 grant for Parkes Shire Council to erect a public memorial to honour the courageous efforts of the Parkes Fire Brigade who fought the major fire at the Mobil Depot in East Street on May 23, 1983.

On top of that Mr Grant said the Museum of Fire Inc in Penrith had also offered to assist council to curate the memorial in addition to its work with council for the 35th commemoration service in May.

“I know the event of 1983 is still very raw for many in the Parkes community and it’s important the bravery of those involved is recognised,” he said, as he stood at the new fire station location in Hill Street.

“As Minister for Emergency Services I’m proud to provide funding to support a public memorial to recognise the truly exemplary contribution of emergency services personnel in this region.

“I look forward to the memorial being completed to ensure this important event in our history is acknowledged for generations to come.”

“It’s a long time ago, there’s been some questions about individual recognition for the efforts of people throughout that event...We weren’t prepared to not recognise the outstanding deeds...of the many who participated and successfully averted a disaster for the Parkes township.

“If that fire had of got away, if that fire had not been contained by the brave actions of a few it could of had devastating consequences to the township of Parkes for a long, long time.

“That was averted, I think that’s something worth recognising.” 

Parkes Mayor Ken Keith said a location for the memorial is still to be decided.

“Whether we [put] it onsite or whether we actually do it here at the Fire and Rescue station when the new building is built so that all the future firefighters...can see that plaque and remind them of the bravery of their forebears,” he said.

“Can I say a sincere thanks to Troy for this, our community and the firefighters involved in that major event, and this had the potential – it was a fuel rail tanker that was on fire – to level most of the CBD of Parkes and probably half the housing in our community.

“When you had firefighters standing knee-deep in fuel dousing a train-load of fuel down to try and stop it exploding, it really was a major event and it needs to be recognised appropriately.

“Thank you very much on behalf of some very heart-felt firefighters and the community.”

Cr Keith said he remembered the event well.

“I don’t think a lot of the people in Parkes realised the danger that the community was in,” he said.

The mayor said the project will now go to council for consultation, adding that he believed the firefighters who were involved that day should have a fair say in what the memorial should look like.

Parkes fire captain Craig Gibson said he was in school at the time the fire erupted in East Street.

“I can only speak for myself but I am so appreciative of their efforts that day,” he said.

“Many of those firefighters are still good friends of the brigade and still come in for a chat.

“If it wasn’t for their actions, I might not be here today, and that’s the simple fact.

“Their actions saved lives.”

Parkes Shire Council, Fire and Rescue NSW and Museum of Fire Inc are all working together to finalise arrangements for commemoration of the event in May.