CFA firefighters from across the region were celebrated for their efforts during the 2019\/2020 Black Summer bushfires as part of an awards ceremony at Civic Hall on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The event saw 258 CFA members from the West Region\u2019s District 15 awarded with National Emergency Medals.<\/p>\n
Gavin Hope, the district\u2019s Assistant Chief Fire Officer said the medals was an acknowledgement of the effort of the region\u2019s firefighters during that time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a recognition for our volunteer firefighters and our career personnel,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s reflecting back to the 2019 and 2020 campaign fires for New South Wales and Victoria into Mallacoota and East Gippsland through to Bairnsdale.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe criteria for this medal is roughly four days\u2019 activity whether on the frontlines or being in incident management control teams.\u201d<\/p>\n
Recipients with a medal acknowledging their service during the Black Saturday were presented with a clasp to add to the existing accolade, while those who didn\u2019t serve during that crisis were given new medals.<\/p>\n
District 15 covers about 62 brigades from Bacchus Marsh up to Daylesford across towards Smythesdale and down to Elaine.<\/p>\n
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Hope was one of the CFA members to receive the 2019-2020 medal, and said it was nice to get the nod alongside his colleagues.<\/p>\n
\u201cProbably like everyone else, you don\u2019t sign up to get medals or recognition, but at the same time it\u2019s nice to get recognised,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy role was sending people away a lot, and I did go down to the Traralgon centre for a four-day period to assist in amalgamating the different agencies like council and ambulances.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
CFA firefighters from across the region were celebrated for their efforts during the 2019\/2020 Black Summer bushfires as part of an awards ceremony at Civic Hall on Sunday. The event saw 258 CFA members from the West Region\u2019s District 15 awarded with National Emergency Medals. Gavin Hope, the district\u2019s Assistant Chief Fire Officer said the […]<\/p>\n