Victoria’s Country Fire Authority (CFA) has recognised forestry workers in the Green Triangle for their contributions to battling the devastating bushfires of 2019 and 2020. Source: The Border Watch
The fires, which were named a national emergency, raged across regional Victoria between November 2019 and February 2020.
As thanks for their efforts in fighting the fires, HVP Plantations forestry workers and volunteer firefighters received National Emergency Medals during a small ceremony in Mount Gambier last week.
The ceremony was one of four held across regional Victoria and the Limestone Coast to honour 193 staff for their efforts in fighting the fires.
CFA deputy chief officer (South West) Rohan Luke said the medal highlighted the courage and dedication of each recipient.
“It’s an operations service medal which recognises significant or sustained service to others in a nationally significant Australian emergency, which now includes the 2019/20 bushfires,” he said.
“It shows that your nation recognises your commitment and courageous service you have given during the fires and it is important that you hear the message loud and clear.
“Your fellow Australians appreciate what you have done for your community.”
Mr Luke said he was incredibly proud and honoured to be the one to be presenting the National Emergency Medal.
“With the benefit of time, we can look back and reflect on the true scale of the 2019/20 fire season,” he said.
“Thousands of people were displaced, hundreds lost their homes and property, and some tragically lost their lives.
“In the heat of the firefight, everyone pitched in to do what they could do to help.”
HVP Plantations chief executive Stephen Ryan congratulated all the recipients in the region.
“Everybody played their part in a range of ways through the fires – on the front line, in an incident management team or at a staging area,” Mr Ryan said.
“Each recipient did their bit and did what they could, which made a real difference during the devastating fires in 2019 and 2020.
“Fire has always been foremost in our minds at HVP as we move into summer each year, and we understand the key role we and the communities in which we work play in fighting fires each year.”
