By JESSE GRAHAM
FIREFIGHTERS from the Yarra Ranges and surrounds were recognised for their heroic efforts during the Black Saturday Bushfires in 2009, being awarded National Emergency Medals last week.
The medals recognise sustained work done by emergency service members and members of the community during national emergencies, such as the Black Saturday Bushfires.
Medals were handed out to Yarra Ranges firefighters in ceremonies on 22 September and 24 September after functions for firefighters in the Murrindindi Shire Council area on 15 September.
Set on a green ribbon with seven gold stripes, with a medal emblazoned with a wattle tree and “Vic Fires 09”, the medals were handed out to hundreds of CFA members at the ceremonies.
Seymour MP Cindy McLeish handed out many of the awards to recipients and congratulated the members on their work to protect the community and the lives of others.
“Members from the Eastern Metropolitan Region provided sustained service and support to protect communities during a period of great destruction and loss,” she said.
“These award recipients fought bravely to protect lives and property during and extremely long and difficult fire campaign and I want to commend them for their courage and commitment.”
Ceremonies are being held around the state to confer medals on 4470 CFA members nominated for their work during the bushfires.
Award recipients for the Yarra Valley and Murrindindi areas:
Badger Creek
Lauren and Philip Croxford.
Coldstream Fire Brigade
Julie Asquith, Peter Bigham, Matthew Bouma, Graham Brown, David Cherry, Peter Cochrane, David and Paul Dent, John Fenton, Phillip Giddens, David Harrop, Paul Janssen, David McCellan, Paul Pickett, Jurgen Schnepf, Catherine Snowden, George Taylor, David and Penelope Timms, Nick Van Leeuwen, Drew Adamson, Barry Bangay, John Gilson, Allen Koochew, Michael Meredith, Graeme Miller, Wayne Morrow, Jim Noonan, Peter Petherbridge and Tom Steele.
Healesville
Darren Adams, Kenneth John Alexander, Faye Bates, Damien Beeby, Allan Bryant, Gregory Chapmanm Paul Couzens, Jim Cox, Kenneth Edmunds, Kenneth Glenn, Robin Jefcott, Zach Lockwood, John Mackenzie, Douglas Marriott, Lynne Murray, Cheryl and Ronald Poole, William Poppins, Peter Smith, Ross Timms and George Trumble.
Yarra Glen
Peter Albert, Clint Borthwick, Glenn and John Bosua, Asleigh Boyd, Tony Cawte, Les King, Cameron Laird, Greg Newlands, Matthew Oataway, Neil Page, Roger Purser, Dean Putting, Travis Ryan, Ash Skillern, John Sutton, Steven Teear, Darren Thompson, Frank and Peter Wood.
Gruyere
Sam Atkinson, Alan Berry, Andrew Bigham, Donald Bigham, Peter and Terrence Burgi, Tim Crossman, Anthony England, Bradley and Graeme Finger, Phillip Garratt, Tony Haverkort, Shaun Henchley, William Irvine, Chad Kuipers, Andrew Middlehurst, David and Silas Miller, Rowand Milner, Rick Oliver, David Paulin, Jason Richardson, Frank Roche, Richard Roe, Matthew and Raymond Sartori, David Westbury, Gary Westwood.
Hillcrest
Michael Balfour, Trent Buller, Fiona Burns, Ken Burrows, Alan Cousins, John Deboer, Sharon and Zenon Gawronski, Adam Grimsley, Pat Laws, Lee Mottrom, Hans Petry, Tim Reid, Rick Shaw, Peter Shotter, Andrew Smith, Ed Stamp, Colin and Kate Warne, Bree Woolf.
Hoddles Creek
Bernie and Carolyn Cole-Sinclair.
Little Yarra
Dennis and Yvonne Cope, Martin and Pamela Dartnall, Brian Eagle, Robert Eagle, Robert Hadj, Clive and Ina Halls, Adrian Hansen, Leslie Hart, Peter Jennings, Kevin and Robert Sanders.
Wandin
Andrew Austin, Robert Bull, Gayle Burgi, Andrew Cakuls, Brett Davies, Ainslie and Elaine Day, Mick Dillema, Chloe Gawronski, Darren Goss, Marv Hearne, Dan Lowrie, Tim Michelson, Jirah Nankivell, Peter Polovinka, Robert Potter, Andrew Radmanic, Lesie Sharp, Phillip Smith, Bill Ter Harr, Michael Walsh, Andrew Webber.
Warburton
Hazel Clothier, Timothy Dracup, Jeanette Harris, Toby Harty, Andrew Irvine, Michael Lazarus, Barry Marshall, Brendan Smith, Warren Unthank, Emma, Matthew and Tony Van Meurs and Michael Walden.
Wesburn-Millgrove.
Thomas Allman, Michael Belling, Andrew Bennett, Maxine and Paul Burke, Timothy Coster, Craig Feeney, Brain Halit, David Hutchinson, Richard Ireland, Ashley Kenneth, Tony Lewis, Henry Meldrum, Adam Pelling, Adam and Barry Powell, Keith Ryan, John Tarpkos.
Yellingbo
Paul Beutelschiess, John Clark, John Christie, Andrew George, Adam Gierlicz, Gary Nixon, Michael O’Connor, Neville and Ryan Sargeant, Neil Shankly, Paul Spinks, Anthony Straub, Paul Tripovich, George Vassilopoulos, Katie and Sue Williams.
Murrindindi Shire Council municipality (Marysville, Yea)
Kenneth Ross Aitken, Leisa Arrowsmith, Gail Jane Atkins, Gemma Barnes, John William Beadle, Peter Dennis Beales, Jennifer Jane Beales, Christine Brandon, Jenny Celle, Corey Dewhurst, Paula East, Gian Grech, Lyn Gunter, Marion Hedger, Ron Hedger, Gaye Kimberley, Jeff Lampard, Raymond Mathieson, Peter Richard McKernan, Annette Mook, Michelle Nash, Matthew Noonan, Frank Philp, Sue Porter, Mark Portman, Jodie Puchall, Ingrid Risa, Sue Rudd, Kenneth Smedley, Anthony Harold Smith, Anne Whitmore, Kim Williams, Sue-Anne Witnish, Kim Woodman, Frank Arendse, John Brown, Kenneth Davies, Mark Dods, Chris Edwards, Noleen Griffiths, Rita Guenzel, Carol Harvey, Ian Hewitt, Gerard Laws, Elizabeth McMahon, Huong Van Nguyen, Fred Storey and Kim Whitten.
Eastern Metropolitan Region Personnel
Ian Cross, Kate Davy, Kate Grasby, Wendy Holdridge, Lisa Keedle, Virginia Lister, John Munday, Hannah Sky, Evan Thomas, Don Tomkins, Rose Cerra, Wendy Cormack, Warren Fuller, Trudi Pitches, Sam Ryan (Sutherland), Karina Walton, Peter Anliker, Dave Baker, Mark Barrile, Tim Holland and Dave Renkin.
