Supt Karen Hodges Bids Farewell to Hawkesbury
“She has been an amazing leader – constant and reassuring.” “A true leader not scared to make tough calls.”
While her colleagues were saddened to see her leave her Fire Control Officer role in the Hawkesbury many believe Supt Karen Hodges AFSM’s new role in Queensland’s South Eastern Region as its new Deputy Chief Officer is well deserved.
Her meteoric rise started when she first joined the Council as a typist in 1988.
According to a Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Danielle Wheeler, the Superintendent spent only “a couple of weeks” at Hawkesbury Fire Control and never left.
Only two years later, she was appointed as the Deputy Fire Control Officer, the youngest person and the first woman to be appointed in such a position, according to her colleague Group Captain and Operations Officer Craig Burley.
Karen was appointed Fire Control Officer (FCO) in 1999, also the youngest and first woman. She gained command of the entire Hawkesbury District and, over the years, across the state.
Councillor Wheeler mentioned that, as Hawkesbury’s Fire Control Officer, Superintendent Hodges carried a plethora of responsibilities, from the day-to-day operations to being in charge of 23 brigades, 1,800 volunteers, an office of short-staffed employees, and a tight budget.
Serving also as Incident Controller, Superintendent Hodges led 36 Section 44 declarations or Emergency Bush Fire Declarations in her stay.
Most notable is her key leadership role during the historic 2019-20 Gospers Mountain Fire, the months-long inferno that reached Sydney’s doorstep, only held under control after months of arduous fighting and the eventual rain and flood in January.
RFS members commend her as a competent leader, a quick thinker, and blunt but with a big heart:
“Karen is really well loved. She can probably tell you the names of most of the firefighters in the District. You see it at awards nights: she charms the crowd and has a word of a joke for everyone,” a member said.
“She’s known for her personal touch. Not many FCOs would send flowers for births or to grieving relatives. It’s that personal touch we’ll miss most,” another member said.
“The competent, dedicated volunteer fire fighting force that Hawkesbury is today is a testament for Karen’s commitment, both during and after work hours, for the conduct of firefighting and the welfare of the District’s crews,” one Group Officer mentioned.
The Hawkesbury City Council and Councillors formally recognised Superintendent Hodges’ massive contribution to Hawkesbury and beyond during the 9th July Ordinary Council Meeting.
This month, she will transition to her new role in the newly formed Rural Fire Service Queensland as its first Deputy Chief Officer, South Eastern Region.
