This King's Birthday four highly regarded CFA members have been awarded an Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM), in recognition of their outstanding service to CFA and their communities.
The AFSM is the highest award for a member of an Australian fire service and as part of the King’s Birthday honours list, is awarded yearly to a select group of dedicated CFA members.
The four members have been recognised for their exceptional bravery, expertise, and leadership, guiding their communities and the wider Victorian population through major natural disasters.
Collectively, the four recipients have contributed more than 115 years of service to CFA and fire services.
They have all worked on the frontlines as well as providing and imparting valuable knowledge and skills back into the organisation so that everyone in CFA may benefit from their experience.
The 2026 CFA Australian Fire Service Medal recipients are:
Jason Heffernan has provided distinguished leadership in fire and emergency management across New South Wales and Victoria for more than two decades. Appointed CFA Chief Officer in 2020, he has held senior roles within the NSW Rural Fire Service, including Acting Deputy Commissioner and has played key operational roles in major emergencies such as the 2019-20 NSW fires and the 2024 Grampians fires. He has strengthened Victoria’s emergency management arrangements, led CFA through significant organisational reform and championed an inclusive, volunteer-focused culture.
Peter Irving exemplifies leadership, service and commitment, making a significant and lasting contribution to CFA and his community. As a long-serving volunteer, he has held key leadership roles at Edenhope Fire Brigade and served as Edenhope Group Officer since 2006. He is widely respected for his calm and decisive leadership during major fire events, including his pivotal role in managing the 2024 Kadnook plantation fire.
Fiona Macken demonstrates exceptional dedication to her brigade, CFA and the wider Victorian community through her sustained professional and volunteer service. She has served as a CFA volunteer since 2008, holding leadership roles at Diamond Creek and responding to more than 1,260 incidents. As CFA’s Fire Medical Response Program Manager, she led the development and statewide rollout of the program in partnership with Ambulance Victoria.
Rodney McErvale’s long-standing dedication, service and commitment to Victorian communities are exemplary. He has dedicated 37 years of distinguished service to CFA, serving in key operational and leadership roles across Raglan Fire Brigade and Beaufort Group. He provided outstanding leadership as a Sector Commander during the 2009 Black Saturday fires and made significant contributions to community recovery by documenting the experiences of communities affected by major fires, resulting in two published works.
CFA Chief Executive Officer Greg Leach AFSM congratulated the four highly respected CFA AFSM recipients for their invaluable service during their many decades of service.
“CFA is incredibly proud of its volunteers and staff, and it is great to see our members recognised with the highest fire service medal in the country,” Greg said.
“Their achievements reflect the best of our organisation. We are fortunate to have so many incredible people who devote a large part of their life to the protection of lives and property in their communities, and I thank them for their dedication.”
CFA would also like to recognise and congratulate another six current and former CFA members who were awarded the prestigious Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for their service to their communities, including Patricia Crosbie, Colin Gerrard, John Greenwood-Smith, Christine Oliver, Barry Sneddon and Darren Wallace.