Ms Short received a long service medallion from Liverpool Range District group four captain Owen Tydd at her farewell party last week.

The firefighter is moving to a small property in Stanthorpe next week and plans to join a brigade up there.

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However, it was the SES, not the RFS, that Ms Short first joined when she moved to Tambar Springs in 1996.

"I lived across from the SES shed and it happened to be flooding at the time and I went over with some home cooking and ended up joining the SES, then a few years later I joined the RFS," she said.

"I was told it's a great way to meet locals and get to know the community."

Ms Short has also taught students in the area since 1992 and received a medallion from Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell at the end of term four last year.

"I absolutely love [the RFS] because it's so different to teaching, a different skill set," she said.

"I stayed in the RFS because it's a great mob of people you go out with and work with.

"I think it's just the camaraderie and the mateship you get from working as part of a unit - I think that's the main thing I'll take away from being in any organisation - and helping out your local community."

Ms Short finished up with the SES a few years ago but said when she was in both organisations, there was crossover and she'd be "putting on both hats at the same time"

"You challenge yourself with different skills you previously wouldn't have had and realise you can actually do that sort of thing," she said.

"I wouldn't call myself a mechanical person, but little things like starting up the generator or the pump on the back of the truck, I can do now. Connecting hoses - something as basic as that but not something I would have considered myself confident in doing, but you get confident."

Ms Short has formed friendships with people in Tambar Springs, Mullaley, Premer and Spring Ridge over the years and said it was "a bit emotional ... a bit teary" saying goodbye.