As part of both unveiling the naming of the appliance and presenting Ken with a 55 year service award, District 13 Operations Manager summarised Ken’s service history. Ken joined the Mt Evelyn Fire Brigade in October 1956. By 1961 he was the Apparatus Officer and 1st Lieutenant by 1967. In 1973 he became the Captain, a position he held until 2001. Ken is still very active within the brigade and is the Maroondah Group Officer, a position he has held since 1977. Ken is also the Chairman of the District 13 Board.
Ken has formerly been recognised with the Australian Fire Services medal (AFSM), the National Medal and is an Honorary Life Member of both CFA and the Mt Evelyn Fire Brigade. Ken was honoured to receive the award and somewhat lost for words, but said that being part of CFA is a team effort.
Ops Manager Renkin believed that it was very fitting that Ken Reed be the first person in District 13 to receive this honour, with Mt Evelyn pumper thought to be one of only about four in the CFA fleet that have been officially named.
Photo courtesy of JJ Photography, Shop 7b York Rd, Mt Evelyn.
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