A swamp fire in 1966 which threatened the Anna Bay home of Keith and Shirley Smith was the catalyst for a family dynasty of volunteer firefighters that continues to this day.
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"As the blaze neared their property on Morna Point Road, my dad [Keith Snr] ran out to help the team put out the fire and consequently became a paid up member [one shilling] of the Anna Bay Rural Fire Service," recalled son Keith Smith Jnr.
It was the start of four generations of volunteer firefighters.
Keith Jnr joined in 1974, followed by his sister Kristine Glen, her son Jason and his wife Peta, then the youngest family members - Brendan Glen, sisters Jade and Tyela Teerman, and Jordan Bennett.
All have attended Anna Bay Public and Nelson Bay or Tomaree high schools.
Affectionately known as Anna Bay's 'fire family', the three living generations will take time out during National Volunteers Week (May 18-24) to reflect on the recent summer of devastation while checking on the health and safety of members.
"Volunteering is all about community... it's what this family has done for more than half a century in Anna Bay and it's great to see the young ones coming through," said Keith Jnr.
"There's nothing more satisfying than being able to assist people, whether that be in bushfires, floods or road accidents. We are on call 24 hours a day and that means getting out of a warm bed at 2am if need be," added Jason, the current Anna Bay Rural Fire Brigade captain.
On average the brigade receives around 140 callouts a year, but the recent summer of hell had father and son Jason and Brendan Glen fighting fires in 33 different towns from August to February.
Family matriarch Kris Glen said that the bushfires had prompted a number of new inquiries from Port residents wanting to sign up, "but COVID-19 has put a stop to that".
She points out that volunteering to be a firefighter is different to most other volunteering work.
"It can be dangerous work. We have excellent training available and at the end of each day we debrief and offer support for anyone requiring it through the critical incident team. We are fortunate in our extended family that we look after each other," Mrs Geln said.
Due to COVID-19, Volunteers Week activities and events will move online.