By Victoria Stone-Meadows
SOME 50 staff members from VicForests have been awarded National Emergency Medals for their bravery in fighting the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.
These medals recognise an individual’s commitment and service to their communities during a nationally significant disaster.
There are currently 33 employees at VicForests that are skilled in dealing with bushfires and they work closely with the CFA, DELWP and Parks Victoria to help minimise the risks that major bushfires pose.
Acting Deputy Chief Fire Officer at the Department of Environment Land Water and Planning (DELWP), Matt Potter, presented the medals and acknowledged the recipients for their bravery.
“The VicForests staff and contractors are not only skilled fire managers but they also bring with them exceptional safety practices and experience and knowledge of the forest they operate in every day in their jobs,” Mr Potter said.
“On behalf of DELWP, I would like to thank all VicForests employees for their contributions in the 2009 fires and for their ongoing commitment and support to bushfire management in Victoria,” he said.
CEO of VicForests Robert Green has praised all the staff members that put their community before their own lives that fateful summer seven years ago.
“These are highly-skilled, courageous men and women that often put their lives on the line during a bushfire,” he said.
“Our contractors also play a very critical role in these events by supplying vital equipment and invaluable knowledge of Victoria’s forests.”
Jaala Pulford MP, Victorian Minister for Agriculture, wrote a heartfelt letter thanking VicForests for their bravery on that day.
“Thank you to all VicForests staff and their families,” the letter said.
“A long and intense fire season not only affects those with direct fire roles, but also those who maintain VicForests’ day to day operations. My gratitude goes to all of you.”
The VicForests staff members, past and present, that received a National Emergency Medal are:
Paul Agterhuis, Jeremy Allen, James Anderson, Rebecca Bailey, Kim Barned, Judith Blakeney, Rhodey Bowman, Nicholas Bush, Peter Campbell, Dane Carozzi, Josh Chikuse, Marc Conte, Mark Crouch, Glenn Dooley, Patrick Dowling, Ben Drouyn, Peter Elms-Smith, Adam Green, Adam P. Green, Michael Hansby, Leigh Hender, Tom Hill, Peter Jenkins, Matthew Kavanagh, Darrul Kennedy, Ian King, Paul Kneale, Constatine Kontos, Mikhail Leikin, Jarrod Logue, Basil Lyon, Ray Mackey, Hubert Mapleson, Fiona McDermott, Andrew McGuire, Graeme Mitchell, Liz Monea, J.P. Morice, Bryan Nicholson, Trevor Nicklen, Helen O’Brien, Stuart O’Brien, Emma Orgill, Quinton Pakan, David Pollock, David Potter, Ross Potter, Nigel Reid, Bernard Robb, Ross Runnalls, Craig Rutherford, Michael Ryan, Tim Sanders, Peter Scales, Jason Schaefer, Daniel Sedunary, Mark Shepard, Leigh Smith, Charles Stansfield, Andrew Stanton, Paul Sund, Col Tutty, Rodney Walker, Gregory West, and Vincent White.
