A local Department of Fire and Emergency Services volunteer has been recognised for his commitment to keeping Western Australians safe – clocking an extraordinary 70 years of service.
Geoff Landwehr is one of the state’s longest-serving volunteers, with the 87-year-old recently celebrating the milestone in Armadale.
Hailing from Yarloop, Mr Landwehr began his volunteering career as a 17-year-old with the Harvey Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service on 15 February 1955, spending 10 years with the brigade.
He then moved to Brunswick Junction VFRS where he served for nearly six years.
He also had stints at Bunbury VFRS and Kalgoorlie South VFRS as he moved around the state for work before joining Armadale VFRS in 1974, where he still serves today.
Mr Landwehr was captain of Armadale VFRS for 12 years and is a life member of the brigade.
He has turned out to more than 3000 incidents during his 70 years of service.
Mr Landwehr said the camaraderie among volunteers was the reason for his marathon stint.
“I think it’s something to be proud of, 70 years, I never thought I’d get to 70,” he said.
“My work has taken me around the state, it’s been a lot of fun and I’ve got a lot of stories to tell.
“It’s been a great part of my life; I’ve made a lot of friends and met a lot of people.”
Among a host of achievements, Mr Landwehr was awarded the prestigious Australian Fire Service Medal in the 1996 Australia Day Honours List.
In recognition of his volunteer service, he was awarded the Queen’s Long Service and Good Conduct Medal for exemplary service in 1976.
In 2003, Mr Landwehr was inducted as a life member of the VFRS Association after serving 18 years as an executive member. A year later he was awarded the Australia Day Active Citizenship Award from the City of Armadale.
In 2023 he was recognised by Volunteering Western Australia with a medal for A Lifetime of Volunteering.
Mr Landwehr has received every long service medal and clasp available – in fact his service is so rare DFES has had to create a new clasp to recognise the 70-year achievement.
DFES Assistant Commissioner Danny Mosconi saluted Mr Landwehr for his outstanding career.
“Volunteers all over WA make an enormous contribution to protecting communities but it’s rare to see that devotion stretch across such a lengthy period,” he said.
“I congratulate Geoff on a remarkable career and on behalf of the emergency services family, thank him for his extraordinary contribution to helping keep communities safe throughout the state for such a long time.”
And Mr Landwehr’s community-minded spirit has been passed on to his two sons John and Kevin, who both joined the WA Career Fire and Rescue Service.
“I’m proud of his volunteering and honoured to call him our dad – 70 years is a huge achievement,” John Landwehr said.
“It’s transferred into the family. We’re immensely proud and his actions have ingrained that community spirit in his children.
“Most volunteers don’t do things for want of a reward but a pat on the back every now and then is awesome, so to receive something for 70 years is outstanding.”
