Victorian Emergency Services Memorial
The Annual Memorial Service will be held on Sunday 2 May in Melbourne to honour firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Nearby, the new Victorian Emergency Services Memorial offers another opportunity for people to pay their respects.
After a pandemic-related cancellation of last year’s event, CFA is pleased to again pay tribute and respect to its fallen firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
This year’s memorial service will mark the 33rd event, which has been held since 1987.
Location: Sofitel On Collins, Melbourne CBD
Date: 2.00pm on Sunday 2 May
The 2021 Annual Memorial Service for Firefighters is a free event, to attend please send an email to memorial@cfa.vic.gov.au by Wednesday 21 April. Tickets are limited due to the venue’s capacity and the event’s Covid-19 safety regulations.
Family members and friends, CFA and Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria (VFBV), executives as well as government representatives will come together to lay wreaths, light candles, remember lives and honour the personal sacrifices and commitment firefighters make each and every day.
The ceremony will include incredible performances from one of the original singers of The Ten Tenors, Tod Strike, who will undoubtedly give the ceremony a fantastic musical touch.
Junior CFA members will also attend the memorial service and will be actively involved throughout the ceremony by assisting wreath layers and patrons.
CFA Chief Executive Officer Natalie MacDonald will attend the service together with CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan.
“The Annual Memorial Service is a time when we honour, recognise and reflect on the personal sacrifices made by our firefighters, their families and colleagues," Natalie said.
"We at CFA continue to adapt and evolve to deliver the same vital services to our community, with our number one priority the health of our volunteers and staff," CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan added. "But we never forget all of our fallen firefighters; forever remembered with love and respect."
VFBV CEO Adam Barnett spoke about the importance of the annual memorial service for not only the families, friends and loved ones of the fallen, but for all members.
“The annual memorial service is a time for us to come together either in person or in spirit to remember and honor the 79 CFA firefighters (including 11 from pre-1944) who have selflessly given their lives to protect the lives of other Victorians.
"And while the service is always solemn and reflective, it is also an important opportunity to reflect on our history as we pay tribute to those lost and reflect on the importance of the work we all do in making our communities safer.”
This year’s Memorial Service will give attendees the opportunity to visit and view the new Victorian Emergency Services Memorial.
Completed in 2020, the memorial site is situated in a quiet and peaceful section of the Treasury Gardens and honours fallen members from CFA, MFB (now FRV), VICSES, Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMV), Ambulance Victoria, Life Saving Victoria and Marine Search and Rescue (MSAR).
The section of the memorial which is dedicated to CFA shows the names of all 79 fallen firefighters and includes the original plaques from the firefighter memorial at Fiskville.