NT Shoulder Patches (Oz Patches)

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NT Shoulder Patches

This first group of patches is from the 'Tri-Service' of Police, Fire and Emergency Services of which the Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service forms a component part. Although having mainly an urban (and fringe area) firefighting role, the NTFRS performs rail incident and road crash rescue throughout the Northern Territory

	The first Northern Territory Fire Brigade patches were hand-made locally, and two were issued to each Brigade member, one for each of the two white shirts issued. The patches were worn only on the right shirt sleeve. Note how the eagle is flying from the fire, and holding the crossed axes in its talons. The eagle, the fire and the crossed axes featured in all of the shoulder patches from this original to the current patch. This particular patch is the only one known to still be in existence, and was donated for display in the NT Fire Service Headquarters in Iliffe Street, Darwin by (ex) Station Commander Gavin Docherty in 1993. I am missing this patch, and would appreciate being able to add one to my collection.
	The shoulder patch shown on the left was the first "officially issued" shoulder patch, and was obviously based on the pattern and style of the earlier hand-made patch. This same eagle shape was used on the silver cap badge that was introduced to the NT Fire Brigade in 1978. The patch size is quite small at 75mm high by 65mm wide.
	With the NT Fire Brigade officially becoming the NT Fire Service on 1 July 1981, a new patch was issued to show the new title. This patch was still based on the previous patch, and was worn up until 1991.
	To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the NT Fire Service in 1991, a new shoulder patch and cap badge was issued. Both patch and badge included a flaming torch between two crossed axes and also incorporated the tri-service (Police, Fire and Emergency Services) logo "To Serve and Protect". The Desert Rose, the symbol of the Northern territory, was used as the centrepiece. This badge was current until 1994. The torch and axes are very similar to that on the shoulder patch of the Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade, which is quite fitting as the MFB was instrumental in helping to shape the NT Fire Service. The patch size is 115mm high by 82mm wide.
	The Northern Territory Fire Service became the Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service in 1994, and a new shoulder patch and cap badge was again issued. The name "Northern Territory Fire Service" was replaced with the new title of "Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service". This is the current shoulder patch.
	This was the Volunteer Captain's insignia that was worn on the sleeve of the turnout overalls. The 1981-1991 NTFS shoulder patch was worn on the left breast of the volunteer overalls. Similar insignia were worn by Vice Captains (two stripes) and Team Leaders (one stripe).
	This was the Volunteer Vice Captain's insignia that was worn on the sleeve of the turnout overalls. The 1981-1991 NTFS shoulder patch was worn on the left breast of the volunteer overalls. I do not have this patch ... it was digitally altered from the Captains VFS patch above. I would like to add this insignia to my collection if anybody has one available.
	This was the Volunteer Team Leader's insignia that was worn on the sleeve of the turnout overalls. The 1981-1991 NTFS shoulder patch was worn on the left breast of the volunteer overalls. I do not have this patch ... it was digitally altered from the Captains VFS patch above. I would like to add this insignia to my collection if anybody has one available.
	The "Volunteer Firefighter" insignia is optional, and may be worn by volunteer firefighters below the shoulder patch.
	The "Auxiliary Firefighter" insignia is optional, and may be worn by auxiliary (retained) firefighters below the shoulder patch.
	This embroidered badge was made as a baseball cap badge, but was of very limited issue and not generally available.
	NT Fire and Emergency Response groups are a 'hybrid' of volunteers of the NT Fire and Rescue Service and the NT Emergency Service, and are specific to townships in the remote areas of the Northern Territory. 'FERGs' (as they are locally known) are present at Adelaide River, Batchelor, Borroloola, Elliott, Mataranka, Pine Creek, and Timber Creek. Within these smaller communities, the same people were likely to become both Fire and Rescue volunteers and Emergency Service volunteers, so it makes good sense to combine the two organisations, doesn't it? The FERG logo is a combination of the NT Emergency Service insignia, with the NT Fire and Rescue Service logo sitting inside.
	The NT Emergency Service rocker was the first insignia, and was worn at the top of the arm of the sleeve.
	The rocker was replaced with a round woven patch, still worn on the top of the sleeve.
	The woven patch was replaced with an embroidered patch worn on the top of the sleeve. I am missing this patch, and would appreciate being able to add one to my collection.
	The embroidered "Volunteer" insignia was worn under the round patch by volunteer members of the Emergency Service.
	The embroidered "Cadet" insignia was worn under the main NTES shoulder patch by cadet members of the Emergency Service. This patch came to me via my good mate Nathan ... gidday Nath!
	A new shoulder patch was issued, and I have been advised that the first batch were made in error with a fluorescent orange outer border.
	The error patch above was replaced with a patch slightly different in shape, but without the fluoro border.
	This is the present shoulder patch of the NT Emergency Service
	The first shoulder patch of the Chaplain of the Tri-service of Police Fire and Emergency Services (NTPFES).
	The second shoulder patch of the Police Fire and Emergency Services (NTPFES) Chaplain included the insignia of all three services. This is the current Chaplain's patch, and is quite large at 116mm high by 91mm wide.
	The current shoulder patch of the Northern Territory Police. Until the mid 1960s Northern Territory Police wore the Australian Coat of Arms on their cap badges then it was replaced with the kangaroo insignia. The curent shoulder patch was adopted in 1990 and has at its centre a kangaroo, symbolising the Australian Outback, surrounded by a laurel wreath featuring the Territory’s floral emblem, Sturt Desert Rose; and standing beneath St Edward's Crown, the crown used at coronations, symbolising Commonwealth links. Below, a scroll displays the tri-service motto "To Serve and Protect" and the words ‘Northern Territory Police’ are above.

The next group of patches is from the 'sister' fire authority of Bushfires NT, who operate outside the urban areas. Bushfires NT have neither a structural firefighting capability, nor a road crash rescue role.

This third group of patches consists of private fire services and brigade social patches. In 1990 the NT Fire Service took over from Nabalco the responsibility for the provision of fire services in Nhulunbuy, on the Gove Peninsula. Previously Nabalco had provided their own fire protection to the mine and township with the establishment of the Nhulunbuy District Fire Service. The image of the Nhulunbuy shoulder patch below comes from a photograph passed on to me. I would love to be able to obtain a Nhulunbuy patch to add to my collection, if possible. On 1 July 1992, the NT Fire Service took over responsibility for fire protection and safety at Yulara from the Yulara Development Corporation, who until that time had operated their own fire and ambulance service to the resort area. At Yulara, the NT Emergency Service and the Royal Flying Doctor Service combined with the NT Fire Service to form a combined auxillary/volunteer Emergency Response Group (ERG)