Local volunteers acknowledged

By Lachlan Ellis

Over 200 National Emergency Medals have been presented to CFA members from the Ballarat area, with dozens of those awarded being from Moorabool Shire.

The National Emergency Medal (NEM) recognises significant or sustained service to others in a nationally significant Australian emergency – in the case of those awarded on Sunday 30 April, the 2019/20 bushfires.

At ceremonies held at Ballarat, Horsham and Stawell, members from CFA’s West Region became the latest of more than 5,500 CFA members to receive the honour for the 2019-2020 fires.

CFA Board Members Peter Shaw and Dawn Hartog presented the medals and said they were an important recognition of the valiant efforts of CFA members.

“The National Emergency Medal is a formal recognition that Australia appreciates the efforts and contributions of CFA members during the 2019-2020 bushfire crisis,” they said.

“It is a great honour to receive this medal and we hope it goes a small way to thanking our members for their service.”

CFA Deputy Chief Officer Brett Boatman spoke of his pride for the CFA members’ efforts.

“The 2019/2020 fires devastated East Gippsland and the North East of Victoria,” 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.”

Sebastopol Fire Brigade Captain Steve Burgess was Master of Ceremonies, as well as being a medal recipient himself, and said it was an honour to be formally recognised.

“CFA volunteers aren’t paid for their firefighting efforts, and we are only able to respond to major incidents for extended periods of time with the support of our employers, and of course the support of our families,” he said.

In a ceremony held on 30 April, 49 NEM recipients belonged to brigades within Moorabool Shire.

For privacy reasons, the CFA could not provide a full list of the NEM recipients.

D15 NEM Moorabool recipients

• Bacchus Marsh Fire Brigade – 9
• Ballan Fire Brigade – 3
• Balliang and District FB – 2
• Blackwood FB – 8
• Coimadai FB – 6
• Gordon FB – 3
• Greendale FB – 8
• Millbrook FB – 1
• Morrisons and District – 1
• Mt Egerton – 5
• Mt Warrenheip FB – 2
• Rowsley FB – 1