Remembering our National Parks and Wildlife Service staff

On World Ranger Day, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service has paused to remember all NPWS staff who lost their lives while serving the community.

Govetts Leap lookout, Blue Mountains National Park

Our dedicated and committed NSW National Parks and Wildlife staff are often on the frontlines of fires and floods. We are grateful for their bravery and commitment and the risks they take to conserve and defend our natural and cultural heritage.

With sorrow, we acknowledge those who have lost their lives during service, or as a result of their service, and pay our respects to their families.

We also acknowledge the pain of NSW National Parks and Wildlife staff who’ve been injured at work and the sadness of those who mourn the loss of their friends and colleagues.

An honour roll of 11 names has been read during a service at the NPWS Memorial at Govetts Leap in the Blue Mountains, to commemorate their lives.

National Parks and Wildlife Service Honour Roll

Jack Erskine, Ranger, Kosciuszko National Park, 1978

Ian Mahood, Wildlife Research Officer, Royal National Park, 1981

David Earle, Conservation Architect Historical Resources Subsection, NPWS, 1986

Mark Cupit, Field Officer, Sydney North Area, 2000

Claire Deane, Field Officer, Sydney North Area, 2000

George Fitzsimmons, Senior Field Officer, Sydney North Area, 2000

Erik Furlan, Field Officer, Sydney North Area, 2000

Bryce Laut, Senior Ranger, Manning Hastings Area, 2008

Aaron Harber, Ranger, Dorrigo Area, 2009

John Garland, Field Officer, Upper Hunter Area, 2011

Richard Oswald, Crewperson, ParkAir, 2022

We thank and honour them for their service to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

/Public Release. View in full here.