Veteran Sassafras-Ferny Creek fire brigade volunteer Richard Cromb has been awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours.
The AFSM recognises distinguished service by men and women in Australia’s fire service organisations.
Richard has been a volunteer member of the brigade since he was a teenager and is well-known and respected throughout the Hills community.
Joining the brigade in 1970, he served in various roles for 20 years before becoming Captain in 1989.
He performed this leadership role with distinction for over a decade, relinquishing it when he joined the staff of the Country Fire Authority as an instructor in 1999.
Richard oversaw the response to the tragic 1997 fires which tore through Ferny Creek and other parts of the Dandenongs on 21 January that year.
It was his passion for training and preparation that meant the brigade was able to respond safely and skilfully, ensuring that all crews came home without significant injury.
“I am still a bit shocked by this award to tell you the truth,” Mr Cromb said. “But I am also both appreciative and very humbled.”
“The brigade and the CFA have been such a huge part of my life…this honour belongs just as much to my brigade friends and colleagues.”
Richard’s service has previously been recognised through a National Service medal.
He is a Life Member of both the brigade and the CFA.
Next week he will receive a CFA service medal marking 50 years as a member.
Richard has lived locally for most of his life, originally apprenticed and working as a plumber with Geo. Clarkson and Sons in Sassafras.
He was also involved in Scouting at 1st Ferny Creek for several years.
Richard’s initiative in pushing for the creation of a junior fire brigade at Sassafras in 1971 recognised – in a very different era – the limited social opportunities available to young people in a small, then semi-rural community. More importantly, it led local youths to become engaged in a community service and to learn about fire in a locality with a significant bushfire risk and history.
In over 20 years as a CFA staff member, Richard has continued to develop and demonstrate with enormous passion the skills he first showed as a volunteer. As an instructor he has specialised in driving and pump operation, developing extensive training packages for new CFA firefighting vehicles.
His knowledge and dedication to this role have seen more than 100 new CFA drivers trained across the local CFA district and beyond over the past three years alone.
