It is with great sadness that we advise our community of the passing of our much-loved member, Sally Kaufmann in August 2026.
Sally was a valued member of the Yass River – Nanima Rural Fire Brigade for more than 35 years and made an active and substantial contribution for over two decades. During that time, she held several important roles, including Catering Officer and Secretary and was most recently appointed as our Executive Administration Officer.
Sally was passionate about our brigade, its history and its members. She had a special talent for rallying people to support fundraising activities and community events.
One of Sally’s most significant contributions was her work supporting the Murrumbateman Field Days. She coordinated with 10 other brigades to bring together a roster of more than 200 volunteers, including organising over 40 volunteers from within our own brigade. This was an enormous undertaking and reflected Sally’s commitment, organisational ability and capacity to bring people together.
Sally was also a gifted writer. Through her online articles and many years of newsletters, she eloquently recorded and shared the story of our brigade and its community.
Sally leaves a strong and lasting legacy within our brigade. Her absence will be deeply felt, and she will be greatly missed by all who knew and worked alongside her.
Our thoughts are with Sally’s family, friends and community members at this very sad time.
If you would like to share some words, a memory or a reflection about Sally, please send them to for publication on this page.
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I was saddened to hear of the passing of one of our long-term volunteers of the Yass River-Nanima Bush Fire Brigade. Sally joined the brigade in 1991 and was a very active member – her many roles are mentioned above – and was always willing to lend a hand when asked. I had the privilege of working with Sally for many years on the brigade committee. She was great at writing, stemming from her time as a journalist and speech writer – if only she was here to help me write this. RIP Sally.
Peter Clark
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Sally was an extraordinary contributor to the RFS and to the Yass River–Nanima Rural Fire Brigade. For more than 35 years, she gave so much of her time, energy and heart to the brigade and its community.
What I will remember most is Sally’s warm and welcoming spirit. She had a wonderful way of making people feel included, valued and part of the team. Her generosity, enthusiasm and ability to bring people together were truly special.
I also have a particularly personal connection to Sally. My late dad, David Hingston, was Treasurer/book keeper of the Brigade for some years and he always had such lovely things to say about Sally. It was clear how much he valued her contribution, her friendship and the wonderful person she was.
Thank you, Sally, for your incredible service, your friendship and for everything you gave to the RFS and our community. Your contribution and legacy will live on in the people and community you brought together. You will be missed very much. Vale Sally. Rest peacefully.
Sarah Watson (née Hingston)
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It is with great sadness that we share the news of Sally Kaufmanns passing.
As with a lot of us, Sally was one of the first people who reached out to me when I joined, and after that call I felt welcomed and valued. I also had some jobs to do!
Sally was Communications Officer, Secretary, Newsletter writer, community focused duty reminder and friend to us all. She organized us, roused us, and occasionally shamed us with her drive and energy. A fixture at our committee meetings, she was a calm voice of sanity with a keen intelligence, and at times a biting wit. But always in friendship and a spirt of good fellowship.
She also kept us grounded in our community, and on occasion, gently brought a far too self-important deputy or two back down to earth. Always with a smile and a touch of irony.
We all have happy memories of Sally, whether a redirection of an AGM, a needed reminder of field days or the Christmas Party, or a discussion around the Yarrh Solstice. There are many things we did because Sally helped us achieve them.
The brigade has lost a part of its soul. We will miss Sally as the events she loved come around, but we can remember her drive, her attitude, and her unwavering determination, and most of all her happy, friendly way of getting us moving.
Gareth Ellem
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My memories of Sally include newsletter drafts or web content updates arriving somewhere around midnight or later. Her workday certainly appeared not to commence when the sun rose but rather the latter part of the day, and night. Sally was a prodigious writer and produced high quality readable copy. Her attention to detail was obvious when reading her work. In my role as Captain, Sally would always call and check important dates, brigade information and request any photos that we may have.
Sally was an enthusiastic member of the brigade and the executive committee. As Secretary she was always prepared which ensured that meetings were productive. She will be missed.
Neville McMartin
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Sally and her enormous contribution to our fire brigade will not be forgotten. Our family is particularly grateful for her effort in making fire brigade Christmas parties such special events. Sally will be missed!
Bron Gould, Tim Watt and family
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