By Renee Wood
Gruyere CFA has awarded its medals of service to many outstanding members at an awards night at the Healesville RSL, ranging from five years of service to an incredible 60 years.
The highest honours on the night went to fire fighter Peter Burgi with a 60 year service medal and fire fighter Frank Roche was presented with a 50 year service medal.
Both men were grateful to receive the acknowledgment and have been part of protecting the community in dire times of need, including historic blazes from Ash Wednesday and Black Saturday.
Peter Burgi first joined the CFA in Wandin and later came over to Gruyere in the ’70s.
Mr Burgi said it’s been a phenomenal learning experience and his captains have moulded him over the years, with on the job training vital.
“It’s a bad day when you don’t learn something,” Mr Burgi said.
The 60 year medal recipient has seen dramatic changes throughout the CFA and communication and truck upgrades have been a benefit to health and safety.
Mr Burgi said the friendships he’s made over the years have been a true highlight and the Gruyere brigade is certainly a community brigade.
“I think one of the things that really gets to you is the friendships that you make and unfortunately, a lot of the older ones have now passed on.
“We’d like to think we’re a family orientated brigade here and I’m pretty certain we are.”
Mr Burgi has helped many people in various emergency incidents from house fires to car crashes, one example is when he saved a lady from a house on Hill Road from her burning house during Black Saturday.
He was also there after the event, looking after the Gruyere people by making the effort to continually check in with residents asking if they were ok.
“All those people did suffer and you don’t realise…It’s not until you started talking to people.
“Nowadays after a fire you come back here and there is normally a cup of tea, often courtesy of Frank, and you sit around talk about it.”
Frank Roche first started out in the CFA at the Coldstream Fire Brigade before moving to Lilydale then Gruyere.
Mr Roche can always be counted on for his support whether he’s on the fireground or providing food and drinks to members.
“You just turn up and say do you want a hand?” Mr Roche said.
Mr Roche has been involved in many call outs and has also been instrumental in supporting fellow fire fighters by joining the Peer Team.
He’s been there for volunteers to assist them mentally and help them if they may be suffering through PTSD.
“You know three or four years later, I’ve had people come up from other brigades that I’ve dealt with over years before and they say I remember you,” Mr Roche said.
“People as old as I am on the ground still, coming up and saying thank you – forget about everything else, forget about your medals and everything else, that to me, that’s what it’s all about.
“…But it is nice to be acknowledged.”
Both Mr Roche and Mr Burgi have been commended for their dedication to self sacrifice and community.
Another example of their community spirit was when they worked together on the goods drive for the 2020 Gippsland fires.
First Lieutenant Andrea Bigham said they both have an attitude of ‘If I can help, I will’.
“They always both find the time and have never just been there for the siren,” First Lt Bigham said.
“Self sacrifice is the highest thing anyone can give to a fellow human being and these two are a guiding example of that – they’re just an inspiration they’re constantly giving up their lives for others.”
Captain Jason Richardson gave out the awards on the night with awards for a total of 430 years of service due to members.
“The 50 and 60 year awards, were something that I wanted to put a lot of preparation into and do the award and the service justice. But it’s something that we may never see again, a 60 year service award at Gruyere. It’s the first of it’s kind at Gruyere as well,” Cpt Richardson said.
Cpt Richardson also received his 15 years medal, with his first strike team being to attend Black Saturday fires.
“You join the CFA thinking that you’re going to put out house fires not choose which house is able to be saved and drive past unfortunate ones that were a bit past saving.”
The highlight for the captain has been building and training the team, as he was first the training officers.
“Ensuring the brigade was up to date with their training and minimum skills and that’s a role that I really enjoyed.”
Cpt Richardson is a first generation CFA member and would love to invite Gruyere community members to join the local CFA.
“You’re doing a good thing for the community but what you can get back that you can take to your personal life as well.
“You can get your truck license, you can get your chainsaw training, first aid training, personal development and leadership skills.
Any interested potential recruits are encouraged to contact Gruyere Cpt Jason Richardson on 0422 241 428.
