Yarra Junction Sergeant Kevin Largue accepted the Bushfire Effort Recognition Award on behalf of the Yarra Junction police members. Yarra Glen Senior Sergeant Bob Raaymakers accepted on behalf of Warburton Sergeant Paul Bell and the Warburton members. 34673
By Kath Gannaway and Monique Ebrington
EASTERN Ranges police and community members were last week recognised by Victoria Police for their response to the February bushfires.
Officers stationed at Yarra Junction, Healesville, Warburton, Yarra Junction, Lilydale and Yarra Ranges Traffic Management Unit were among the 27 units across Region 4, Division 3, who were commended for their outstanding contribution.
Victoria Police Service and National medals were also presented on the day.
The contribution of a number of community members and organisations particularly in relation to their assistance and support of police members on 7 February and in the weeks following was acknowledged.
More than 300 people attended the 2009 Victoria Police Medal Presentation and Bushfire Effort Recognition Ceremony held at the Sebel Heritage Yarra Valley on Wednesday 5 August.
Two of Victoria’s high-profile police identities took to the stage to pay tribute to the officers involved in the bushfire effort — Chief Commissioner Simon Overland, and Yarra Valley resident and Blue Heelers’ top cop, actor John Wood.
Mr Wood spoke of his admiration, after 12 years in the role, of the job police do on a day-to-day basis.
“My reaction as things unfolded during the Sunday was a sense of bewilderment and a sense of gratitude that you guys were out there doing what you were doing,’ he said.
“Thank you.”
Mr Overland said it was overwhelming to see the response of police officers across the force.
“One of the things that happens when you have an event like 7 February is everyone lifts and does their bit,” he said.
“It can be difficult when you single out individuals and it is appropriate that we recognise everyone because everyone did their bit.”
Reefton residents Joe and Chris McCarrell and Red Cross Catering were among those presented with community awards by Mr Overland with commendations read by MC John Deeks.
Yarra Glen Senior Sergeant Bob Raaymakers accepted the Bushfire Effort Recognition Award on behalf of Warburton Sergeant Paul Bell and the Warburton members.
Yarra Junction Sergeant Kevin Largue accepted the Bushfire Effort Recognition Award on behalf of the Yarra Junction police members.
Sgt Largue has been in the police force for 24 years and said that, like everyone else, he first heard about the February 7 fires on the news.
He said after that it was five weeks as police liaison, with Leading Senior Constable Ben Aulich, at the Incident Control Centre.
“They were long days,” Sgt Largue said.
“We were working 14 hour days, six days a week, liaising with control agencies and co-ordinating police response.”
Region 4 Acting Superintendent Andrew Humberstone said the ceremony provided well-deserved recognition, with the awarding of the Victoria Police Service and National Medals to eligible police members for their sustained, diligent and ethical service.
“The ceremony also acknowledged a number of community members who supported us over the course of the Black Saturday bushfire campaign, in the most generous and caring of ways. Words cannot express how appreciative Victoria Police is of the generosity of the community members who assisted us,” he added.
