By Tanya Steele
A “one-of-a-kind” community member has passed away and left behind a legacy in Hoddles Creek.
The force with a smile, CFA Captain Leonie Turner will be celebrated by family, friends and the community as they continue to mourn her recent passing on 20 July.
Hoddles Creek fire brigade members were devastated by the recent loss of their Captain and the unit have found it hard to express their heartache but posted to social media “Leonie, we will take it from here.”
1st Lieutenant and Acting Captain Graham Boyd said that Leonie has left a very big hole.
“She’s helped so many people in her time with us,” he said.
“She was a strong leader – very, very quiet, but strong.”
The unit gathered informally on Sunday 27 August to remember their Captain for her long term commitment and outstanding service to the community.
Mr Boyd said that her calm presence has helped many members over the years.
“This is how she leaves her imprint,” he said.
Leonie has received National Emergency Medals both in 2014 and again this year for her service at significant fire events in Victoria over the past ten years.
Hoddles Creek Junior Brigade member, Scott Woolf, accepted Leonie’s medal on her and her family’s behalf on 23 July.
Pat Bigham from Gruyere CFA said she recognised early on that Leonie’s unique links to her brigade and community could be well placed in the CFA.
“We asked her to become involved in our peer program – which is a welfare program for firefighters and she became a very popular peer,” she said.
Leonie also created the Hoddles Creek emergency catering crew which provides food and refreshments to CFA, Victoria Police, SES, and other first responders when they are on the scene of emergencies.
Leonie transferred to Hoddles Creek Fire Brigade in 2008 where she soon took up the role of Junior Leader, a role she filled throughout her time at Hoddles Creek.
She led the CFA junior member program for the Yarra Valley area, which is based out of Hoddles Creek CFA, which gives young people in the local area an opportunity to be involved with emergency services.
Ms Bigham said she thoroughly believed in younger members.
“Quite a few members in the Yarra Valley that were part of her junior program – they’re now in leadership roles in the brigades,” she said.
The juniors program will continue and Ms Bigham said it is likely “they’d be hit with a bolt of lighting” if they let it go by the wayside.
Leonie was also a dedicated member of the Yarra Junction Ambulance axillary.
“She worked really hard to get the new station put in equipment for paramedics, she was always fundraising,” said Ms Bigham.
“She always had the welfare of the CFA and then ambos uppermost in her mind.”
Leonie joined CFA in 1992 firstly with Yarra Junction Fire Brigade and during her time there she held roles of Secretary, Treasurer, 2nd Lieutenant and Junior Leader.
She also held the positions of 2nd and 1st Lieutenants at various times at the Hoddles Creek Brigade before becoming Captain in 2018.
Leonie was awarded CFA Life Membership on reaching 30 years’ service with the CFA in 2022.
Ms Bigham said Leonie was no pushover but always greeted everyone with a smile.
“She had a fair strong fighting spirit. And she used to call it as she saw it,” she said.
The occasional discipline was dolled out by Leonie and Ms Bigham said it didn’t matter whether if you were the local policeman that had gone away on camp, an ambo driver or one of the commanders.
“If you said or did the wrong thing – you got 20 Push Ups,” she said.
The Hoddles Creek CFA recently had their first meeting without Leonie and Ms Bigham said the volunteer brigade community are still keenly feeling the loss – “it just wasn’t the same”, she said.
Mr Boyd said the community response to Leonie’s passing has been overwhelming, responses reaching statewide levels.
“It really touched the brigade, it keeps us strong – we look after the community and they look after us,” he said.
“We’re a family when the bricks are down,” Ms Bigham said.
“We’re getting through supporting each other and Leonie would want us to get along,” Mr Boyd said.
Leonie leaves behind family, friends, community and a legacy – a force with a smile.
