People

On The 25th of June Rod Gaskett celebrated 50 years of membership and service with the CFA and Beechworth Urban Fire Brigade.

Colin Coyle was recently re-elected Wodonga group officer for the tenth year. He’s been in the brigade for 39 years while his father George, 98 years, has been a member for more than 70 years. Their knowledge has been passed on to Colin’s son Ross.

CFA Chief Officer Euan Ferguson visited the State Coal Mine at Wonthaggi at the invitation of Wonthaggi Fire Brigade on Saturday 30 June 2012.

This year marks 10 years of integration in CFA’s Northern and Western Metropolitan Region, District 14.

“I was born and bred south of Kaniva on the Edenhope Road 44 years ago,” says Jacci Rabone. “My parents were CFA through and through. Dad was captain of Lawloit, Mum did the catering as the captain’s wife and I was the tomboy of the family.Talk about local knowledge on the CFA Connect forum

Showing that CFA is more than just a fire service, firefighters from Eltham recently joined in a community celebration to mark Erin Toomey’s final chemotherapy session.

Over 50 years of CFA membership, 30 of these in Ensay, Mack Stagg has built his experience in roles ranging from captain, deputy group officer and group officer. He has “surreptitiously watched how ICCs operate” with more than three solid months as a Level 3 ICC operations officer.Talk about local knowledge on the CFA Connect forum

Wye River Community Volunteers are still reaping the benefits from winning one of last year’s Fire Awareness Awards’ grants, which recognised the great work being done across Victoria to enhance fire awareness and safety.

The CFA radio was a monstrosity in Nevyn ‘Don’t Call Me Neville’ Jones's childhood living room. The crackling information monitored by his parents Bill and Bette gave him a sense of community connectedness that’s never left him. Today, Moorooduc Fire Station, Nev’s home and his work are only 50 metres apart.

Helping people and the mateship within CFA is what has led Larry Pelly to become Bulla Fire Brigade’s longest serving captain.