By Callum Ludwig
Warburton CFA stalwart Ray Lynch has been recognised at the Spirit of the CFA awards held in Ballarat on Sunday 17 July.
Mr Lynch has been a CFA member since he was 17 and received the 2020 highly commended individual Senior award after the 2020 ceremony was delayed due to Covid.
Mr Lynch said he was blown away at having received the award.
“It was easily the biggest award presentation I’ve ever been invited to be a part of. When you think of how many senior volunteers there are across the state, to be chosen as a finalist, that was a win just in itself,” he said.
“It’s obviously an incredible honour and very humbling, it’s pretty stellar to have been chosen out of a statewide pool of nominations.”
The Senior Award is presented to CFA members over the age of 60 who inspire and mentor
others through their commitment to their brigade and community, and consistently demonstrate
collaboration, initiative, and leadership.
Mr Lynch said he started at CFA in 1974.
“The older brother of my best mate at school was a volunteer at Dandenong CFA and he lived for it, and when I started as a linesman, two brothers had us enthralled with stories of fires and turnouts which was heavy stuff for a 17-year-old,” he said.
“When I transferred to Warburton, I was invited to join and that’s where it all began. It was an easy decision to make and I’ve been at Warburton the whole time and seen the changes over the years.”
This year marks Mr Lynch’s 48th year of volunteering at Warburton CFA and he doesn’t look like stopping short of the half-century in 2024.
Mr Lynch said CFA is like a family.
“I live on my own at the moment, retired and the family is all grown up and I’ve been able to spend a bit of time taking on different roles,” he said.
“I’ve seen people start at a young age and follow through with that interest and become captains and remain with brigades. If I can impart a little bit of skill and experience, you never know what impact you’ll have on someone.”
In his spare time, Mr Lynch enjoys working on his model trains or four-wheel driving his ex-British Army Land Rover with the CFA 4WD Club.
Despite appreciating his time with the CFA, Mr Lynch said it’s not always easy.
“That’s the hardest part of responding in town, it’s not just an address, it’s Ray’s place so it becomes really personal. There’s a 99 per cent chance its going to be a local on their way home or their house but at least you get to try and help them in their lowest moment,” he said.
“Putting so much time into work and CFA also often added up to more time than at home, and one of my personal little regrets was hearing that growing up my little daughter would stay up looking through her bedroom window waiting for me to come home. There are only so many hours in a day.”
