By Callum Ludwig
A Yarra Junction local has been recognised for his commitment to fire management with an Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) awarded on King’s Birthday.
Nigel Brennan is the Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) District Manager for the Yarra District and leads the team responsible for maintenance, fire reduction works and fire response in the expanses of forest in the region.
Mr Brennan said he felt proud to receive the accolade.
“But I also feel that my achievements really reflect the achievements of all the people that I’ve worked with over the years,” he said.
“I really enjoy working in the forest, I recreate in the forest, and I value everything that the forest has to offer.
Mr Brennan wasn’t the only FFMVic representative to be honoured in the King’s Birthday Honours list, with Chief Fire Officer Chris Hardman also receiving an AFSM.
Mr Brennan said he first studied forestry at university in the 80s.
“My employment as a forester involved fire management and firefighting right from the start but over the years has become more strongly focused on fire management,” he said.
“In Yarra District, we have our major work centre based at Powelltown and we also have staff operating from ParksVic work centres at Woori Yallock and Gembrook. Our job includes planned burning, road and track maintenance, and of course training and preparation so that when we need to respond to bushfires we’ve got the capability to do that safely and effectively,”
“We are really highly trained and committed to forest and fire management.”
In total, Mr Brennan has spent 36 years working in forest and fire management, including working for the former Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands measuring trees and 14 years in forestry in east Gippsland.
Mr Brennan said Black Saturday in 2009 drove home to him the importance of fire management.
“In those serious fire events, you can really see how the risks that exist in the forest areas that surround communities can have massive impacts in terms of loss of life, property destruction and all the other consequences that come from major bushfires,” he said.
“Every summer, when the forest dries out and hot windy weather occurs, those risks become a reality and it’s very important that we as an emergency service have got the ability to be able to do something about that,”
“Preventing fires and reducing the impacts of fire through our planned burn program is vital and once fires start, being able to respond to those fires in partnership with other agencies becomes really critical.”
