Remembering our fallen firefighters

CFA remembers its fallen firefighters

CFA held its annual memorial service for fallen members on Sunday 2 May 2021 at the Sofitel Hotel in Melbourne’s CBD. CFA Board members and Executive, Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria members and Victorian Government representatives joined family and friends of the fallen to lay wreaths, light candles, remember lives and honour the personal sacrifices and commitment firefighters make each and every day. Following the service, attendees visited the new Emergency Services Memorial in Treasury Gardens. CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said it was an important day to remember the 80 CFA members who had died in the line of duty since the organisation’s inception 76 years ago. “Every day across Victoria, our firefighters selflessly give their time to serve and protect their communities,” Jason said. “Tragically, too many members have lost their lives doing so, and today we pause to remember them. They are forever in the hearts and minds of everyone at CFA and the Victorian community. “We honour them today and every day by continuing their vital firefighting work, and learning, innovating and constantly improving the safety of our members.” CFA Chair Greg Wilson gave the official welcome to about 170 attendees. “Today’s event is an important date in our calendar to recognise the selfless sacrifice that our members have made in service to their communities, and I would especially like to add my acknowledgements to the families and friends of those we have lost,” Greg said. “You know more than any of us the bravery and contribution that your loved ones have made, and it is my privilege to be with you in remembering and celebrating them today. “I don’t doubt that for many here last year’s fires would have been a painful reminder of your own loss, because regardless of the passing years the shadow of that tragedy stays with us. It stays with the mothers, fathers, siblings, partners and children who are left behind. And I assure you, it stays with CFA too.” During the service, Tod Strike, one of the original members of The Ten Tenors, sang three songs – The National Anthem, Amazing Grace and The Lord is my Shepherd. Paul Edbrooke, Parliamentary Secretary for Police and Emergency Services, was invited to give one of the readings, CFA CEO Natalie MacDonald said the new memorial in Treasury Gardens was a fitting tribute to emergency services personnel who had lost their lives. “CFA and the families of our fallen members contributed to the design and development of the new site,” Natalie said. “It’s a beautiful, public tribute to those we have lost, which all Victorians can visit and pay their respects.” Norma Sumner, whose father Norman John Robinson died in the Tarrawingee fire in 1943, attended the service. “Thank you so much for the beautiful service. I have no memory of my father and the circumstances in which he died, but our mother kept his memory alive each year and made sure we knew of his sacrifice,” Norma said. “We now live in Canberra and made the journey here. “Thank you for keeping alive the memories of the 80. We are so honoured and proud that we are a piece of Victoria’s history and that CFA continues to recognise these brave firefighters for their sacrifice after so many years.” The CFA memorial service was cancelled in 2020 because of COVID-19, so Sunday’s event also paid tribute to the firefighters lost in the devastating 2019-20 fires where we tragically lost three of our colleagues from Forest Fire Management, three members from New South Wales Rural Fire Service and three firefighter colleagues from the US.