Award for fire cops

By Kath Gannaway
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 of Police 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.”
John and Michelle Marshall of Toolangi Tavern and Vic and Jan Williams of the Singing Gardens Tea Rooms, Yarra Valley Racing Club CEO Brett Shambrooke and Badger Creek CFA members captain Kerri Rodway, ex-captain Nic Rodway, Len Martin, D’arne Martin, Roger Allison, Matt Thomas, Wayne Veermann, Naomi Veermann, Melissa McGuinness and Mike Thomas, were among those presented with community awards by Mr Overland with commendations read by MC John Deeks.
Yarra Valley Racing Centre responded quickly to the crisis on 7 February providing a refuge for the more than 500 men, women, children and pets who poured in from the Murrindindi and Yarra Ranges communities devastated by the fires.
For the next month, the centre provided a base for police operations.
“Brett and his staff were actively engaged in managing the facility to cater for the thousands of police shifts from that location.
“In times of such devastation it was refreshing to have such facilities,” his commendation reads.
Working with teams of local volunteers Vic and Jan Williams and John and Michelle Marshall provided meals and moral support for hundreds of police and other emergency and support services members for weeks after Black Saturday.
Their commendations recorded the personal hardship of being isolated for an extended time and acknowledged the practical way they responded with hospitality, companionship and support.
The special effort of the members of the Badger Creek Fire Brigade was recognised with heartfelt applause from the many police members and their families.
Two police officers in their endeavour to save lives were trapped in a house in Chum Creek in what the commendation described as “a hopeless situation” in the face of the fire front.
They had no water or fire-fighting equipment.
“Calls for assistance appeared fruitless, as all resources were exhausted.
“The Badger Creek CFA crew who had earlier retreated from the area, became aware of the situation and with scant regard for their own safety, re-entered the area and rescued the police crew,” their commendation reads.
In a moving response, captain Kerri Rodway spoke of her crew’s empathy and determination knowing there were fellow emergency services members in danger.
Region 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.