Service in the line of fire

By Kath Gannaway
WHEN other 15-year-olds were kicking goals with the local footy club, young Frank Colverson joined the Yarra Junction CFA.
That was in 1961 and he’s been kicking goals for the CFA and for his local community ever since.
Mr Colverson’s contribution to the CFA as a volunteer fire fighter was recognised on Friday when he was awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal in the Australia Day Honours.
The citation praised his unselfish attitude and passion saying he had been a campaigner and initiator of improvement at all levels from juniors at Yarra Junction to the CFA Regional Planning Committee.
Now secretary of the brigade, Mr Colverson served nine years as captain and is deputy group officer for the Yarra Valley Group of brigades.
His father, Frank Snr., was an inaugural member of the brigade and his son, Daniel, who died two years ago in a car accident, was also a member.
While Mr Colverson has been at the fire-front of major fires, at Healesville in 1962, Ash Wednesday in 1983 and in Sydney in 1994, he says it is the work volunteers do on a day to day basis that over the years adds up to helping the community.
“I do it because I enjoy working with people and I have what you might call a socialist philosophy that if we all band together and do something we can probably get some positive outcomes,” he said.
“I believe if there is a need people will respond.”
Mr Colverson said his achievements had always been as part of a team.
“While someone like me gets the credit, you couldn’t do this without a team working with you.”
He said the long-standing friendships he had made over the years were his reward.
“I’ve always got back as much as I’ve put in.”
Mr Colverson said he was proud to be Australian and to accept the award, but was also humbled.
“I know it’s an old cliche,” he said, “but a lot of people say it and they say it because that’s how it feels.”
“Recognition of peoples’ efforts is one of those values we all have as Australians and we like to see those values keep going,” he said.
“It’s not something you look for, but when it happens, it happens,” he said.