A GROUP of Swan Hill’s hard-working Country Fire Authority volunteers was recognised at Swan Hill’s annual brigade dinner and award presentation night.
While the event briefly paused when members responded to a fire at Riverside Park, the interruption couldn’t extinguish the night of celebration.
Dennis ‘Nipper’ Turner was named the brigade’s champion firefighter for the second year running.
The champion firefighter award goes to the volunteer who responds to the most call-outs and brigade activities over the previous 12 months.
Turner, who was made a CFA life member alongside Gerard Scholtens, said while he strongly appreciated the recognition, the awards weren’t why he joined the brigade.
“As I said on the night, I don’t do it for the awards – I do this because I want to help our community,” he said.
“But it is nice to be recognised for the hard work that I’ve put in over the years.
“Everyone down here is a volunteer, so they go above and beyond in their own personal time to assist the community in their time of need.
“I think there is nothing worse than seeing someone’s house go, or a farmer’s crop be lost and have nobody do anything about it.
“That’s why I’ve been doing this for as long as I have. It’s been 35 years and I’ve loved every minute of it.”
A trio of former members – firefighter Tommy Baldwin, captain Brendan Matthews and captain Michael Howard – were inducted as life members of the local brigade.
First lieutenant Harold Jochs and third lieutenant Gerard Scholtens presented the life memberships, with Mr Jochs congratulating the three volunteers on their efforts.
“Life membership is awarded to CFA members after 30 years of exemplary service to our local fire brigade,” he said.
“That includes time with both Swan Hill Rural and urban brigades and continuing on to when it became the Swan Hill Fire Brigade.
“I can talk from experience – 30 years is a long time with a brigade, it’s a very big achievement.
“These members would have seen a lot of changes, all the new equipment, a lot of people coming and going and a lot of old faces still around the brigade.”
Nineteen-year-old Henry Smith received the local brigade’s encouragement award, Brittany Bickford received her 10 years of service award and Hunta Lindsay and Amity Scott were recognised for their five years of service.
Mr Jochs said local firefighters always looked forward to celebrating one another at the annual presentation night.
“Everyone on the night was a very worthy recipient. Without any of these members the Swan Hill Fire Brigade wouldn’t be where it is today,” he said.
“There are many facets of being involved with the CFA, it’s not just fighting fires – there’s also the community engagement side of things.
“Like getting along to the show and putting up stands, going to schools or kindergartens and inspiring the next generation of local firefighters.
“You see the younger members of our brigade prepared to put the time and effort into doing the work, and then they see the recognition that the older people get.
“It gives them that insight that if they stick around and remain involved, this is what they can achieve.”
