THE tireless volunteers of the Gembrook Fire Brigade received some well-earned recognition at their presentation night at Forest Edge restaurant recently.
Awards were presented to those ranging from five years of CFA service, to brigade secretary Ian Bennett’s staggering 50 years. Greg Harry, Sam Scalora and Captain Ross Mackay were honoured with brigade life membership – having served at Gembrook for at least 25 years; while Steve Marriott, Mick Nolan, Chris Pearsall and former Captain Ian Robbins were presented with CFA honorary life membership for contributing an aggregate of 30 years or more to the organisation.
Mr Marriott, Mr Nolan and Mr Robbins received their 30-year service medals, while Mr Pearsall received a 35-year medal and was presented with his National Emergency Medal for his work fighting the Black Saturday fires. He became the 18th current or former Gembrook CFA firefighter to accept the award.
Gembrook MP Brad Battin was one of a number of dignitaries who attended the event – including Cardinia Shire Ranges Ward councillors, and CFA officials.
He brought up a simply staggering statistic – that the 445 years of combined service by Gembrook brigade members doubles the years of Australian white settlement.
A special round of applause on the night was reserved for former long-serving captain, Stan Marriott, who passed away in April at the age of 94.
Capt Mackay praised Mr Marriott as “a thoroughly decent family man who served his community with courage and conviction”. He was a Gembrook brigade member for 51 years and served as captain for 22 – one of just seven captains in the brigade’s 72-year history.
In addition, he was also the brigade’s secretary for 10 years and was a recipient of both the Queen’s Fire Brigade Long Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal.
