Thursday, 20 September 2018

 Ms McLEISH (Eildon) (09:51): Ron Philpott passed away in Yea surrounded by loved ones on 8 September. A large group of Murrindindi locals attended his funeral service at the Murrindindi-Woodbourne Community Hub, which included a Country Fire Authority (CFA) guard of honour. A passionate CFA volunteer since 1986, Ron was a member of the Highlands, Glenburn and Murrindindi-Woodbourne brigades, becoming captain of Murrindindi in 2002.

Living hundreds of metres from where the Marysville fire started on Black Saturday, he was first to call in the blaze over the radio. But despite evidence of electrical faults, within a week of the fire, police claimed that arson was the cause and began investigating Ronnie. Political leaders were shamefully quick to latch onto the investigation, with Kevin Rudd speaking of ‘mass murder’ and John Brumby and Mike Rann declaring arsonists to be terrorists. For two and a half years Victoria Police doggedly pursued their theory, which they dumped in 2011.

A small statement exonerating Ron was issued years later, but no public apology on behalf of the government was ever forthcoming. In 2014 Ron was awarded a National Emergency Medal for his service during Black Saturday. Fittingly, at his funeral he requested donations to the CFA in lieu of flowers.