Selfless CFA service recognised
THE SERVICE of CFA District 9 Fire Brigade members during the Black Summer bushfires of 2019/2020 was recognised during a major awards presentation at Lardner Park, with the issuing of National Emergency Service Medals. Those honoured were deployed...
THE SERVICE of CFA District 9 Fire Brigade members during the Black Summer bushfires of 2019/2020 was recognised during a major awards presentation at Lardner Park, with the issuing of National Emergency Service Medals.
Those honoured were deployed to locations around Victoria during that horrific season.
As the ceremony got underway, CFA Board member Peter Shaw highlighted the fact that while District 9 is someway from the fire fronts of East Gippsland and the North East, members from that district’s many brigades rose to the occasion to help other communities in a time of need.
He reflected on the tragedy of lost lives and homes, but also noted the positive changes implemented in the decade between the Black Summer fires and 2009’s Black Saturday.
Mr Shaw made it clear those receiving the National Emergency Medal served in a variety of ways during Black Summer.
“Whether you jumped on a strike team, managed rosters and resources, worked in the district office or ICC, or provided other assistance, formally recognising that service is what today is all about,” he said.
The National Emergency Medal was established by Her Majesty the Queen in 2011 and is an operational medal recognising notable or sustained service to others in a nationally significant Australian emergency.
Deputy Chief Officer Trevor Owen also spoke prior to the presentation of medals.
“For CFA, every so often there is a fire season that enters into the legend of our organisation, that shapes what CFA is and what CFA means to our members and our communities and the 2019/2020 summer was one of those seasons,” Mr Owen said.
He recalled November 21, 2019, a day on which Victoria’s first Code Red in almost a decade was declared and on which lightning strikes in the mountains of East Gippsland triggered one of Victoria’s worst fire seasons on record.
Mr Owen spoke of the impact on towns such as Sarsfield, Buchan, Mallacoota and Corryong and of the prolonged firefighting campaign.
“Our people worked alongside our emergency service and community partners for months on end, doing whatever it took to care for lives and property,” he said, noting the final fire ground at the Snowy Complex was not declared contained until February 27, 98 days after the first fire started.
