Thursday, 30 November 2023

 Bridget VALLENCE (Evelyn) (09:48): Prestigious Country Fire Authority honours and awards have been bestowed upon many local volunteer firefighters in our community recently. The rare and prestigious Unit Citation for Service was awarded to members of the Mooroolbark fire brigade and Chirnside Park fire brigade for their courage in going above the call of duty at an exceptionally challenging Mooroolbark house fire on 5 May 2022, a confronting and traumatic scene, with a mother and children unconscious in separate rooms and a roof caving in. Intricate skills were displayed by brigade members in a distressing situation. Working together with FRV station 26, the rapid response led to the two children being resuscitated and taken to safety. I pay tribute to members from Mooroolbark fire brigade, captain Mark Drennan, former captain Tony King, Daniel King, Ashleigh Bowen, Bruce Allen, Katherine Heinz, Jackson Evans, Marcel Jasper, Nigel Jones, Dave Kells, Barry Roberts, Paul Williamson and Kris Linley; and from Chirnside Park fire brigade, captain Ben Cash, Angela Fleay, James Gammell, Kurt Pukownik and Neil Thompson. Alongside chief officer Jason Heffernan at the Mooroolbark fire station we congratulated these firefighters for their exceptional service. Also the prestigious CFA Outstanding Service Medal was bestowed upon Robert Bethell, former captain of Coldstream fire brigade, for exceptional service throughout his long and distinguished volunteer firefighting service. All of these CFA members epitomise the spirit of the CFA at the highest level and are true heroes.