General News
17 April, 2023
Local CFA brigade members awarded
Local CFA firefighters provide an outstanding service to their communities and others around the country when called on — and more incredibly, they are volunteers. To celebrate and thank volunteer firefighters across the region, 23 Central...
Local CFA firefighters provide an outstanding service to their communities and others around the country when called on — and more incredibly, they are volunteers.
To celebrate and thank volunteer firefighters across the region, 23 Central Goldfields Shire brigade members alongside others from CFA’s District 2 were awarded National Emergency Medals for their efforts in the 2019-2020 bushfire crisis this month.
The medals recognise significant or sustained service to others in a nationally significant Australian emergency.
Brigade members who received medals in the Goldfields area included Tony Mortlock (Bealiba CFA), Barry Bryant (Bowenvale), Tracy Allender (Mount Cameron), Nathan Ward and David Charles-worth (Carisbrook), Daniel Carless, Lisa Mahon and Cheryl Renfrew (Dunolly), Troy Greenwood, Gary Gregor, Ian Burt and Malcolm Solomano (Talbot), Robert Durbridge, Rhys Hendrickson, Matthew Ipsen,Rodney James and Timothy Scobie (Wareek and Bung Bong), Samantha Collins, Peter Higgins, Bradley Costelow, Bradley Lockhart, Timothy MacDonell and Matthew Sinclair (Maryborough).
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said he was proud for the CFA members’ efforts.
“While these 2019/2020 fires devastated East Gippsland and the North East of Victoria, it’s important to acknowledge local response,” he said.
“But from that crisis arose the most remarkable human spirit of generosity and lending a hand.
“Our medal recipients have exemplified that spirit, and I am incredibly proud of each and every one of them.
“Whether they joined a firefighting strike team, worked in an Incident Control Centre or provided other assistance to affected communities — every contribution was valuable and made a real difference.”
