Bushfire medals

DIXONS Creek CFA was one of the many fire brigades honoured for heroic efforts in the Black Saturday Bushfires of 2009 in the National Emergency Medal presentations last week.
The medals, which celebrate sustained effort by emergency service members and members of the community in national emergencies, such as Black Saturday, were handed out at Yarra Glen Racecourse on 24 September.
Dixons Creek had 10 members receive medals for their efforts during the bushfires, with Drew Adamson, Barry Bangay, John Gilson, Allen Koochew, Michael Meredith, Graeme Miller, Wayne Morrow, Jim Noonan, Peter Petherbridge and Tom Steele all being awarded.
Set on a green ribbon with seven gold stripes, the medal reads “Vic Fires 09” with a wattle seed emblazoned on one side and the member’s names on the reverse side.
Seymour MP Cindy McLeish handed out the medals to the Dixons Creek members, and congratulated all of the involved firefighters on their work to protect the community.
“These award recipients fought bravely to protect lives and property during an extremely long and difficult fire campaign and I want to commend them for their courage and commitment,” she said.
Some 4470 CFA members will receive National Emergency Medals state-wide, with hundreds of members from the Yarra Valley being honoured.
The members of the Dixons Creek Fire Brigade had their names incorrectly published under Coldstream Fire Brigade’s section in the 1 October wrap on the National Emergency Medal ceremonies.
The Mail apologises for any inconvenience caused by this mistake.