Medals for bravery

By Danielle Galvin
THREE senior police officers have received bravery awards three years after their efforts in Marysville on Black Saturday.
Leading Senior Constable Kenneth Dwight from Woods Point police station was honoured with a silver medal by The Royal Humane Society of Australasia on Friday alongside Leading Senior Constable Ian Hamill and Leading Senior Constable Peter Lee Collyer.
The officers went to the aid of residents in Marysville as the firestorm hit the town.
Leading Senior Constable Ken Dwight said it was a great honour to be recognised, and it was one of the worst events he had seen in his seven years at the station.
“The fires in 2006 were just as bad, but the big difference was that no one had died,” he said.
“In 2009, the fires conspired to burn in the wrong place.”
The officers worked into the night on Black Saturday. In the evening, they went to check on a colleague’s wife and children to make sure they were safe from the impending firestorm.
At the football oval, more than 200 people had gathered in a desperate bid for more information.
Senior Constable Hamill was awarded for his bravery after he told residents to seek refuge at Alexandra Secondary College. He promised them he would get them out safely.
Warburton police officer Paul Bell was also awarded for his bravery at the award ceremony at the Melbourne Town Hall.
The police officer was given a bronze medal for his efforts on Black Saturday.
Victorian Governor Alex Chernov presented the awards.
He said it was an extra special ceremony to honour the brave men and women who risked their lives in February three years ago.
“The awards honour the selfless acts of bravery by those who have risked their lives for others,” he said.