Steph Cooke MP
Member for Cootamundra

​​Friday, 26 August 2022 The Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crew at Narrandera Fire Station are being trained to use state-of-the-art drone technology to assist in firefighting operations and a range of other emergencies. Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said Narrandera is one of 25 locations across regional NSW to benefit from the Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) rollout. “Deploying these drones to Narrandera will give our firefighters an eye in the sky to more effect

​​Wednesday, 20 April 2022​ Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke has officially opened a new $5 million NSW Rural Fire Service Area Command Centre, air base and brigade station at Cowra. RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers and Cowra Mayor Bill West joined the Minister today to open the new co-located Area Command Centre and Waugoola Rural Fire Brigade Station, and hand over five new fire tankers, worth almost $1 million, to local volu

​​Tuesday, 5 April 2022​ NSW Rural Fire Service’s (NSW RFS) South West Slopes Zone is celebrating the official handover of a new $354,000 fire truck that will assist the Jugiong Brigade volunteers to provide a greater level of fire protection to the local community. Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke joined NSW RFS Area Commander Chief Superintendent Tim Butcher on the weekend to officially hand over the keys to the CAT 1 tanker, and recognise the commitment of the Brigade’s

​​Monday, 19 April 2021​ Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke has celebrated the long service of NSW Rural Fire Service volunteers from the MIA District. Ms Cooke joined NSW RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers AFSM and Mayor Neville Kschenka to present 44 long service medals to volunteers from Narrandera Shire Brigades. Ms Cooke said the 44 recipients had together given a total of 1,455 years of service to the community. “The members being recognised today with long service medals a

​​Tuesday, 1 December 2020​ Prepare your bushfire survival plan, don’t drive through floodwater, swim between the flags, and make sure your home is fire safe this summer – these are some of the safety tips NSW emergency service agencies have shared ahead of the 2020 summer season. Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said summer is a particularly busy time of year for all emergency services and urged everyone to put safety first. “After last summer’s bushfires, floods and sto

​​Monday, 26 October 2020​ Three ceremonies over the weekend marked a special occasion for 35 RFS Brigade Members who received long service medals and/or clasps. Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke and NSW RFS Area Commander, Chief Superintendent Ian Stewart AFSM joined members from the Dudauman, Berremangra and Crowther Brigades to celebrate the occasion. Member for Cootmaundra Steph Cooke congratulated the 35 long serving members who share 1,486 years of service between the

​​Monday, 26 October 2020​ The NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) South West Slopes Zone will be better prepared for the fire season after the official opening of three new stations, an investment of more than $500,000. Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke was joined by NSW RFS Area Commander, Chief Superintendent Ian Stewart AFSM, brigade captains and brigade members to open new RFS stations at Crowther, Dudauman and Berremengra. Minister for Police and Emergency Services David

​​Thursday, 17 September 2020​ The NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) is calling for all residents to join their local volunteers for Get Ready Weekend to prepare for the bush fire season. This weekend, volunteer firefighters will be holding more than 480 innovative COVID-safe events and activities across the state, in person and online. Police and Emergency Services Minister David Elliott said the threat of bush fire is as real as ever, particularly the risk of grass fires

​​Friday, 11 September 2020​ The NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) is better prepared for the upcoming fire season after the official opening the new South West Slopes Fire Control Centre (FCC) located at Harden. Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott joined Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke and Acting Deputy Commissioner Peter McKechnie to officially open the new $6.1 million purpose built Centre. Mr Elliott said the new FCC was built to provide the South

Friday, 11 September 2020 The Riverina is better prepared for fire events after the official handover of a new fire truck to the NSW...

​​Friday, 26 June 2020​ Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke has inspected the almost finished Rural Fire Service (RFS) Fire Control Centre in Harden. The new multi-million dollar Centre will provide the RFS South West Slopes Zone with state-of-the-art facilities to better support members during incidents and provide enhanced training capabilities. Ms Cooke said the tour highlighted how important the Fire Control Centre will be for firefighters responding to and preparing for

​​Wednesday, 6 May 2020​ The Member for Cootamundra has congratulated the South West Slopes Zone Senior Management Team in Harden today on receiving a NSW RFS Internal Bravery and Service Award. The unit were recognised with a Commissioner’s Certificate of Commendation for the work of the Senior Management Team over many years. Steph Cooke said the award was well-deserved by the unit. “For many years the South West Slopes Zone Senior Management has undertaken the work of t