On Friday 15 May at a gala dinner in Horsham, Halls Gap, Pomonal and Stawell brigades were announced winners in their category of the 2015 Northern Grampians Shire Volunteer Awards. More than 300 people from across Western Victoria attended the dinner.
In March this year, District 16 nominated Halls Gap, Pomonal and Stawell brigades to be recognised through the Northern Grampians Shire Volunteer Awards program that is part of the Western Victoria Volunteer Awards Program. A number of local businesses and individuals provided strong documentary evidence of the positive impact the members of these brigades continue to make in their communities.
In late April, the brigades were announced as finalists in the award category of 'Emergency, Recovery and Rehabilitation' and at the gala dinner in Horsham last Friday they were announced winners of this category. The brigades were not aware of their nomination and only informed when they were publicly announced as finalists on 30 April. Representatives of each brigade attended the dinner as well as District 16 Operations Manager Bernie Fradd.
District 16 which encompasses a rural land mass of 16,200 sq km. In the past year, 1 March 1 2014 to 25 March 2015, Halls Gap, Pomonal and Stawell brigades attended 273, 52 and 27 emergency responses, respectively, making a combined total of 352 emergency call-outs.
The call-outs included the Moyston fire that occurred in January 2015 and, more recently, these brigades attended a fire that occurred in exceptionally difficult circumstances at a Halls Gap tourist park.
"This award is a fantastic achievement and recognition by volunteers who have done outstanding work to protect and serve their communities and never seek recognition or reward," said Operations Manager Bernie Fradd. "To be recognised through this prestigious, community-based award program reflects their respect and standing in the community."
One of the letters of support for the brigades' nomination described the efforts of the three brigades when attending a serious fire earlier this year, stating in part "From all reports, all three brigades acted in a highly professional manner, observing all of the standing orders of the Country Fire Authority. All members of the brigades responding not only extinguished the fire safely, but their conduct was exemplarily in what could have escalated into a highly dangerous situation. These volunteers should be very proud of their conduct. That is why these three brigades should be recognised for this outstanding response, highlighting and promoting community safety."
This award capped off an exciting week of activities celebrating National Volunteer Week in District 16. At the start of the week three CFA members from Ararat and Moyston brigades were nominated by District 16 Headquarters for Individual Recognition Awards through Ararat Rural City Council. At a civic reception on Monday 11 May, Max McLean (Moyston Brigade), David Coad (Moyston Brigade) and Alan Butt (Ararat Brigade) were presented with their awards by the Mayor of Ararat.
Author: Caroline Taylor