By
Michael Weaver
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Huntingwood
Fire Station Commander Alan Hitchell makes a special presentation
to Corporal Steve Gutteridge during a fundraising day for
the RAAF Base Richmond firefighter who is battling cancer.
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Photo
by LAC Col Dadd
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FIREFIGHTERS
from RAAF Base Richmond and the wider Air Force community have
rallied behind a workmate stricken with cancer, raising more than
$10,000 following a recent barbecue.
In just over two hours, $6058 was donated for Corporal Steve Gutteridge,
a firefighter with the Richmond Fire Section, who has been diagnosed
with pancreatic cancer.
Contributions from local fire brigades and RAAF Bases Williamtown
and Amberley pushed the total into five figures.
The fundraising effort originated from the Richmond Fire Section
where CPL Gutteridge has been a valuable team member for most
of his Air Force career, which began as a transport driver in
1987.
He remustered as a firefighter in 1992 and has since served at
Williamtown and Pearce.
His wife, Corporal Narelle Gutteridge, also works at RAAF Base
Glenbrook and the couple have three children, two girls and a
boy.
One of those involved in organising the “long lazy lunch”,
Leading Aircraftman Aaron Richter, said there was no hesitation
in people getting together for their mate.
“Steve’s a fairly well known person; very talkative
and has a good sense of humour,” LAC Richter said. “The
day cost us nothing as everything was donated. It was a pretty
amazing response as people on and off the base chipped in.”
NSW Fire Brigade stations from Richmond, Huntingwood and Blacktown
joined with the NSW Rural Fire Service and the Army Emergency
Response Section at Holsworthy, putting their trucks on display
while firefighters answered questions from children at the Richmond
Childcare Centre and another group from just outside the base.
About 1000 people were fed while being entertained by the Air
Command Band. Raffles were run with winners even donating their
prizes back to the cause, while collection buckets quickly filled
with loose change – and some.
“That kind of attitude carried all through the day, which
was great to see,” LAC Richter said.
Almost 50 sponsors donated meat for the barbecue or raffle prizes,
including a weekend for two with airfares in Brisbane and a signed
Wallabies rugby union jumper.
The fire sections at Williamtown and Amberley also ran raffles,
while the Red Cross Blood Bank and No. 3 Hospital at Richmond
forwarded $446 from a Doughnut Fundraising Day.
LAC Richter said CPL Gutteridge was undergoing treatment, still
mobile and in good spirits.
Those wishing to donate to the fundraising effort can forward
to the Steve Gutteridge Fund at Fire Section Richmond or phone
(02) 4587 2655.
