CFA staff honoured for service during Black Summer fires

The National Emergency Medal is part of Australia’s Honours and Awards system and recognises significant or sustained service in a nationally significant emergency. 

At a ceremony on Sunday 6 April, 58 medals were presented to a mix of former and current CFA personnel. They join more than 5,500 CFA recipients who have received the honour for their service during the 2019–2020 fire season. 

CFA Board Chairperson Jo Plummer presented the medals alongside CFA Chief Executive Officer Greg Leach AFSM and Chief Officer Jason Heffernan. 

Jason paid tribute to the recipients and reflected on the magnitude of their contribution. 

“The 2019–2020 bushfires had a profound impact on communities across Victoria and beyond,” Jason said. 

“In the face of extreme conditions, CFA members and staff stood tall, supporting each other and protecting communities with unwavering commitment.” 

Among the recipients was CFA Manager of Incident Management Systems Luke Heagerty, who described receiving the medal as a humbling experience. 

“It’s a great honour to be recognised for the work that people at the State Control Centre (SCC) and other headquarters-based staff did during such a long and testing summer,” Luke said. 

Throughout the 2019–2020 fire season, Luke served as a key spokesperson for the SCC, appearing on both national and international TV and radio. 

“I remember crossing live to BBC Breakfast on the morning Mallacoota was impacted. Standing there, waiting to speak to the UK about what was unfolding in Australia, that was surreal.” 

Luke estimates he took part in more than 300 interviews during the height of the fires between December and January. 

“I was a regular voice on ABC Gippsland, particularly in the aftermath of the fire reaching Mallacoota. It was a time of real concern for that community, and I think being a familiar voice on air helped provide some reassurance,” Luke said. 

Reflecting on the ceremony, Luke said it was especially meaningful to share the moment with loved ones. 

“It meant a lot that they were both invited and acknowledged as part of the ceremony.” 

Former CFA staff member Kate Conway, who worked in a support role during the 2019-2020 fire season, was also among those recognised.  

At the time, Kate was a junior member of the CFA workforce, providing real-time social media intelligence to support field operations both at the Wodonga Incident Control Centre and in the SCC.  

“Being able to go up to Wodonga and be one of the people deployed was humbling, I was quite proud to do it,” Kate said. 

“Driving up past the impacts and spot fires into Wodonga, that’s when it hit. You were right in it.” 

Kate said the recognition came as a surprise, but one she’s deeply grateful for. 

“To put it plainly, I was quite chuffed when I got the email. I didn’t think I did anything remarkable, but I’m proud they considered what I did helpful enough to be nominated.” 

“You don’t do it for the awards, but being recognised all these years later gave me time to reflect and realise, ‘that was pretty big.’” 

Kate has since gone on to become a paramedic, but she is still connected to CFA.  

“I loved being part of CFA so much that when I left to become a paramedic, I joined my local brigade as a volunteer.”