Community & Business
10 May, 2026
Obituary: Stephen “Basho” Basham AFSM ~ August 26, 1949 – February 12, 2026
Vale Stephen Basham AFSM
Contributed
Stephen was born in Newcastle, the only child of Audrey and Athol Basham. The family moved to Gilgandra in 1952, living on the Castlereagh Highway on the banks of the Castlereagh River. During the 1955 flood, their home was submerged up to the gutters and Stephen forevermore remembered the loss of their home, all of their possessions, and even his pet ducks, which were last seen floating away on the floodwaters. During this time, Stephen was envious of the kids from out of town who were transported across the floodwaters to school using Army Ducks! The family subsequently re-established at Bundy Street, well out of the flood zone.
Stephen attended Gilgandra Public School and Gilgandra Intermediate High School before continuing his education as a boarding student at All Saints College, Bathurst. Here, he became a School Cadet and completed a junior leaders' course at Holsworthy, being appointed Lance Corporal, Corporal, Platoon Sergeant and Warrant Officer. He discovered an aptitude in the use of military weapons and became an instructor on the Bren Light machine gun and two-and three-inch mortars.
After completing his HSC in 1967, Stephen started work in his parent’s business, AE Basham and Co. He initially cleaned floors and pumped fuel while training and gaining experience to eventually become Parts Manager, continuing in that role when Peter Brook Machinery bought the business in 1977. In 1984, Stephen showed his versatility by becoming a journalist and photographer at The Gilgandra Weekly. He was proud to help the Weekly win numerous awards for best newspaper staffed by one journalist.
Stephen married Marita in 1981 and had two much loved children, Rochelle and Scott.
Stephen was always deeply community-minded and volunteered in many organisations and committees in Gilgandra over the decades, including committees for flood management, local emergency management, road safety, school council and various sporting groups. He was twice nominated for Gilgandra Shire Citizen of the Year and, later, Senior Citizen of the Year.
The following sections include information from family, friends and the tributes delivered at Stephen’s funeral by Bryson Luff (on behalf of Gilgandra Rugby League), Superintendent Dez White (Rural Fire Service), Chief Superintendent Brigid Rice (State Emergency Service), and son Scott Basham.
Gilgandra Rugby League – Bryson Luff
Football was Stephen’s passion. He loved anything football, but especially the local Gilgandra Panthers and Newcastle Knights. Stephen contributed to Gilgandra Rugby League as a player, club man, supporter, writer and photographer for over 50 years. In the earlier years, he wrote a regular column for The Gilgandra Weekly, ‘From the Sideline’, under the pen name of ‘Sideliner’. Players often checked the paper hoping for a positive mention from the mysterious sideliner. He was also prolific with the camera, capturing a huge number of photos of Gilgandra players in action over the decades. Basho was still patrolling the sidelines with his camera up until very recently, taking photos of the play and submitting them to The Gilgandra Weekly and Dubbo Liberal for publication.
Stephen was certainly not the most naturally gifted player; however, his passion, commitment and dedication were unparalleled! He would constantly turn up for training even when he was not selected for the match day team and gave 100 per cent to support the players and club. Basho was usually on the sidelines, but happy just being part of the team. The club recalls the statement “If you had a club full of Bashos you would be going alright!” Stephen was awarded the Clubman of the Year trophy numerous times; such was the esteem that he was held in by all the players and committees. A highlight of his rugby playing career was when Gilgandra won the Group 14 Reserve Grade Premiership. Such was his immense pride in this that he wished to be farewelled in his premiership blazer. Basho personified the spirit of “Bush Footy”, playing for the love of the game and serving as a champion for his club until the very end.
Another rugby highlight for Stephen was in 1978 going on a six-week Kangaroos Supporters Tour of Great Britain. Stephen got to mingle with the players and coaches on this tour, and it is strongly rumoured that, over a few beers, he gave Mick Cronin very good advice on how to set up his wingers!
Rural Fire Service - Superintendent Dez White
Basho was a long-standing member of the Rural Fire Service in both volunteer and staff roles. His service commenced in 1989 when, after a bushfire on the airstrip threatened residents along its edge, Basho and a group of neighbours established the Castlereagh Brigade, now known as the Gilgandra Brigade. In 1993 Basho and fellow volunteers spent over 5000 man hours to build their first station on the corner of Deri and Warrie Streets, which is still the brigade’s home base today. During Basho’s time, the brigade attended many fire and vehicle incidents locally, as well as major operations across the state including the Nyngan floods. The brigade also regularly made the top 3 in the State Championships.
In 1998, Basho became a staff member in the Moree Plains, Cunningham (Bingara, Barraba and Yallaroi Shires) and later Castlereagh Zones, holding positions and titles including Deputy Fire Control Officer, Fire Control Officer, Inspector, Fire Investigator and Superintendent. Basho was also an instructor and assessor, mentoring many volunteers and staff through their careers. In his training courses he was renowned for his wealth of knowledge and his great war stories!
During this employment, he was once asked by a council officer what his policy on fires was and his response was “I intend to put the buggers out!”
In recognition of his skills, Basho was sometimes called outside of his region during major disasters. During the devastating bushfires in the Blue Mountains in 2000, Basho took the role of Divisional Commander, where his rapid decision making and clear command saved many homes and lives.
On retirement in 2014, Basho moved back to his beloved Gilgandra and joined the Deep Creek Brigade, holding volunteer positions in training, investigation and permits. Basho remained Group Captain until his passing.
Basho was known for his teamwork, mentorship and support of his colleagues and community, and his communication skills – albeit also known for his “long story short” and “do you have 5 minutes?” conversations, which were anything but short! Everywhere he went he was highly respected and his knowledge and advice always valued.
Throughout his RFS career, Basho received numerous State and Long Service Awards. In 2002 he was awarded the prestigious Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM), presented by the Governor General, Marie Bashir, at Government House. It was a very proud moment for Basho and his RFS community.
Basho was made a Life Member of the Deep Creek Brigade in February 2026. He passed before he could be notified of this, but he would have been extremely honoured to become a Life Member of his beloved brigade.
‘Long story short’…. you will be deeply missed Basho!
State Emergency Service - Chief Superintendent Brigid Rice
After almost 20 years with the RFS, in 2007 Basho joined the SES as Deputy Region Controller in the North West Region, an area stretching from east of Tenterfield and Glen Innes, across the Great Dividing Range to Moree and Mungindi in the west. This is a vast and rugged area with diverse natural hazards that Basho seemed born to deal with. Basho was responsible for planning and flood intelligence across western and northwestern NSW, including managing significant floods in the Border, Gwydir, Mehi and Horton Rivers. Basho was held in genuine esteem by emergency services personnel and committees, and earned this respect through integrity, competence and the way he treated every person as a partner in the work. He deeply believed in the power of community, and helped people understand their risks, prepare for storms and floods, and build the confidence to recover.
Basho was also an instructor, assessor and mentor to volunteers and staff across the state. He shared his comprehensive knowledge freely and generously and was renowned for his ‘100 per cent accurate bullshit meter’ – he could spot a questionable statement a mile off! This often helped cut through confusion in emergency situations when tensions were high and timing critical.
Basho was awarded the Commissioner’s Commendation for Service – the highest honour awarded within the SES. The commendation reads: ‘for exemplary leadership, exceptional service and dedication to the NSW SES’.
Basho retired from his paid role in 2014 but continued to volunteer with the SES until 2022. Basho leaves behind a legacy of knowledge shared, crises navigated, and people uplifted. He will be remembered as a steady hand, a trusted mind and a generous soul who made the world safer simply by showing up every day with dedication, humility and heart.
Scott Basham
Dad said he didn’t want much of a fuss made over his funeral, but too many people cared about Dad for it to ever be small. He would have loved the honour guard, bagpipes, SES, RFS, footy club and so many of his mates being there, and the two fire trucks! And every single person who attended would know that when Dad started a sentence with “long story short…” you were in for the longest story of your life!
Dad’s mind was brilliant for remembering facts and history. Flood zones, at risk areas if the wind shifted during a fire, or if the rain landed in the wrong spot. It seemed like he knew every possibility and outcome of a natural disaster before it happened, and how to most effectively get a crew there to respond.
My earliest memories of Dad involve him playing touch footy, me playing with the microfiche at The Gil Weekly, and the smell of the ink in the air near the printing press. Dad spent years there as a journalist and photographer while volunteering as a firefighter. He moved to Moree for his RFS career around 1998. Despite his absence from home over the years to follow, he always managed to make it home when I had a game of cricket, driving hours some days just to pull up at the field and fall asleep reading his papers. But his presence became a constant. I’d always search for his car before I started my first run up just to know where to look when I got a wicket. A simple thumbs up out the window meant the world to me.
When Dad retired and moved back in 2014, it took me about a year to get him to the pub. He was sure he’d have no friends left in town who’d want to catch up with him. I think it took about a week before I realised he had more friends than me! Everybody shouting ‘Bashooo!’ from every angle whenever he arrived. Like he’d never left. Dad was widely loved not just by his own mates, but by mine too. The generational gap meant nothing because he was just genuinely the best.
Dad’s constant true love throughout everything, apart from Mum, was footy. Until recently, I had no idea what he was like as a sportsman, but I had my suspicions. I saw him swing a golf club once and he didn’t strike me as an athlete! I never asked him to try again. Once was enough! But Dad wasn’t a quitter and it wasn’t long until Mum convinced him to go on a walk up the airstrip together for fitness. Dad rolled both ankles in the same fall. Mum carried him home. My suspicions confirmed, Dad’s athletic career was now over. But he still loved his footy, watching either on the lounge at home shouting at the referees, or down to the local Panthers games enjoying a sneaky pie or running the sidelines taking photos. That’s where Dad was truly in his element. Talking to everyone, smiling, cheering, loving every second of it. Then checking the paper each week to see which of his photos they printed. Dad won Clubman of the Year not by being the best player, but by being the man that showed up. Week in week out regardless of selection. Never missed a training session or a chance to be on the sideline. Just to be around the game he loved with his mates.
When I was younger and Dad would get called out to a fire, my friends and I would joke he was like Batman the way he’d rush off into the night. Peeling sideways out of the driveway in his Batmobile the second the call went out and the Batsignal lit up. Dad officially retired in 2014. But two nights before he passed away, as the ambulance came to take him to the hospital for what turned out to be his final ride, he was reaching for his fire control radio to take with him just to keep an ear out, in case he could help. That was the level of dedication my father had for what he loved. His duty to his crew and his craft. He always put others above himself. When Dad found out he had cancer there was no complaining, just what do we do next? And when he found out that he wasn’t going to beat it, he turned to Mum with his trademark charm and simply stated “oh… well I guess I’m cactus”.
We’ll miss you, Dad. We love you. So long Batman.
