Like most members who served during the summer of 2009, Julie Winzar felt that she was just doing her job.
But after attending one of the recent National Emergency Medal ceremonies, held to recognise CFA members who served during the 2009 Victorian Fires, Julie appreciated the opportunity to share this experience with her family.
“It was wonderful to be acknowledged in such a public way - my family really enjoyed the day,” she said.
“I really felt that all people attending the event felt very honoured.”
Julie, a HR Manager, was one of more than 170 members from CFA’s Barwon South West Region who received a National Emergency Medal at one of the recent presentations in Geelong, Hamilton and Warrnambool.
The ceremony at Warrnambool was attended by Premier Denis Napthine.
CFA has worked together with the Governor General’s office in Canberra, which has responsibility for approving and coordinating the medals. Award sets are being presented to CFA members who not only served in frontline firefighting roles but those who worked behind the scenes in support roles.
Each brigade will receive a full disc of photos, with the discs for BSW members to be sent out in the next few weeks.
The following brigades were represented at the three award ceremonies held in Barwon South West.
Geelong event: Barwon Heads Fire Brigade; Belmont Fire Brigade; Connewarre Fire Brigade; Elaine Fire Brigade; Freshwater Creek Fire Brigade; Geelong West Fire Brigade; Grovedale Fire Brigade; Highton Fire Brigade; Inverleigh Fire Brigade; Lara Fire Brigade; Leopold Fire Brigade; Mannerim Fire Brigade Maude Fire Brigade; Ocean Grove Fire Brigade; Queenscliff Fire Brigade; Wallington Fire Brigade.
Hamilton event: Ardachy Fire Brigade; Ardonachie Fire Brigade; Bainbridge
Fire Brigade; Bochara Fire Brigade; Branxholme Fire Brigade; Broadwater Fire
Brigade; Buckley Swamp Fire Brigade; Burn Brae Fire Brigade; Byaduk Fire Brigade; Cavendish Fire Brigade; Croxton; Fire Brigade; Gazette Fire Brigade; Grange Fire Brigade; Hamilton Fire Brigade;
Macarthur Fire Brigade; Melville Fire Brigade; Mooralla Fire Brigade; Narrawong Fire Brigade; North Balmoral Fire Brigade; North Hamilton Fire Brigade; Penshurst Fire Brigade; Pigeon Ponds Fire Brigade; Strathkellar Fire Brigade; Tarrington Fire Brigade; Vasey Fire Brigade; Victoria Valley Fire
Brigade; Warrayure-Moutajup Fire Brigade
Warrnambool event: Allansford Fire Brigade; Bessiebelle Fire Brigade; Cudgee
Fire Brigade; Framlingham Fire Brigade; Grassmere Fire Brigade; Hawkesdale Fire
Brigade; Kirkstall Fire Brigade; Koroit Fire Brigade; Mepunga Fire Brigade; Mortlake
Fire Brigade; Naringal Fire Brigade; Nullawarre Fire Brigade; Port Fairy Fire Brigade; St Helens Fire Brigade; Toolong Fire Brigade; Warrnambool Fire Brigade; Winslow & Yarpturk Fire Brigade; Woolsthorpe Fire Brigade; Yambuk Fire Brigade
A number of personnel from the Barwon South West Region also
received a National Emergency Medal.
For more information on the National Emergency Medal:
Go to on Brigades Online: Brigades Online > Brigade
> Service History & Awards > About the Awards
Author: Sonia Maclean