More than 350 recipients across Grampians have been honoured with a National Emergency Medal for their contribution to the community during the 2009 Victorian fires.
Three presentation ceremonies were held to recognise the members who served in frontline firefighting, support, and behind-the-scenes roles.
Peter Smithers, Group Officer with the Beaufort Group of fire brigades, said that the formality and scale of the presentations was a fitting reflection.
“It was very nice for them to be recognised for their work, and very nice for that recognition to be coming from outside CFA with a national award,” he said.
“Often when we go out to big fires it’s easy to forget that we do make a difference.”
“The way it was done, and the way families were involved, meant that family members could see that this was a big deal.”
Peter, who assisted with the campaign at Kinglake, said that Grampians crews had performed a whole range of duties in locations across the state including Bendigo, Horsham and Marysville, many away for several days on strike teams.
“Personally I was proud to get the medal and really proud of the way CFA organised the presentation,” he said.
- The National Emergency Medal is coordinated and approved by the Governor General’s office in Canberra, and recognises service to others during an emergency of national significance.
- Further Information on the National Emergency Medal: Refer to the CFA Honours & Awards Manual, available on Brigades Online: Brigades Online > Brigade > Service History & Awards > About the Awards.
- Members of the following brigades were represented at the presentations in Grampians Region:
Sunday 10th November Presented by Mr David Koch, Member for Western Victoria Region
Bacchus Marsh Fire Brigade
Ballarat Fire Brigade
Ballarat City Fire Brigade
Blackwood Fire Brigade
Buninyong Fire Brigade
Cape Clear Fire Brigade
Clunes Fire Brigade
Coimadai Fire Brigade
Creswick Fire Brigade
District 15 Headquarters Brigade
Hepburn Fire Brigade
Invermay Fire Brigade
Kingston Fire Brigade
Learmonth-Addington Fire Brigade
Leonards Hill and District Fire Brigade
Linton Fire Brigade
Miners Rest Fire Brigade
Mollongghip Fire Brigade
Mt Egerton Fire Brigade
Musk Fire Brigade
Myrniong Fire Brigade
Sebastopol Fire Brigade
Smeaton Fire Brigade
Trentham Fire Brigade
Wendouree Fire Brigade
Grampians Region Personnel
Monday 9th December Presented by Mr Don Robertson, CFA Board Member
Amphitheatre Fire Brigade
Avoca Fire Brigade
Barkly & Frenchman's Fire Brigade
Beaufort Fire Brigade
Beazley's Bridge Fire Brigade
Burnbank Fire Brigade
Callawadda Fire Brigade
Carapooee Fire Brigade
Coonooer Bridge Fire Brigade
Cross Roads Fire Brigade
Crowlands Fire Brigade
District 15 Headquarters Fire Brigade
District 16 Headquarters Fire Brigade
Elmhurst Fire Brigade
Gooroc Fire Brigade
Gre Gre Village Fire Brigade
Kooreh Fire Brigade
Langi Kal Kal Fire Brigade
Lexton Fire Brigade
Raglan Fire Brigade
Slaty Creek Fire Brigade
Snake Valley & District Fire Brigade
St Arnaud Fire Brigade
Traynor's Lagoon Fire Brigade
Warrenmang & District Fire Brigade
Tuesday 10th December Presented by Mr Michael Hallowes, Emergency Services Commissioner
Ararat Fire Brigade
Callawadda Fire Brigade
Carranballac Fire Brigade
Chatsworth Fire Brigade
Dadswells Bridge Fire Brigade
Great Western Fire Brigade
Halls Gap Fire Brigade
Langi Logan Fire Brigade
Maroona Fire Brigade
Moyston Fire Brigade
Narrapumelap Fire Brigade
Pomonal Fire Brigade
Pura Pura Fire Brigade
Skipton Fire Brigade
Stawell Fire Brigade
Stoneleigh Fire Brigade
Streatham Fire Brigade
Warrak Fire Brigade
Westmere Fire Brigade
Willaura Fire Brigade
Yalla Y Poora Fire Brigade
Grampians Region Staff Personnel were also recognised.
Author: CFA Media