VFBV

Today (Sunday 3rd May) would have been the day this year that the CFA Memorial Service would have been held.

COVID-19 restrictions have obviously made that impossible this year. However I would encourage members to take a moment over the next couple of days to pause, reflect and honour our firefighters who have selflessly given their lives in the line of service in order to protect the lives of other Victorian’s.

The annual memorial is usually held each year on the Sunday closest to St Florian’s Day (4th May).

The event pays special tribute to the 79 CFA firefighters (which includes 11 from pre-1944 who died prior to the formation of CFA under the Country Fire Brigades Board).

This years’ service would have also been a formal occasion to pay our respects to our colleagues from DELWP, NSW RFS and the United States who tragically lost their lives battling this summer’s bushfires.

While we mourn the loss of each precious live lost as a result of these and any fires, I want to acknowledge each of the nine to whom this year we owe a special debt. Victorian firefighters Bill Slade, Mat Kavanagh and David Moresi. New South Wales firefighters Geoffrey Keaton, Andrew O’Dwyer and Samuel McPaul. And North American firefighters Ian McBeth (Montana), Paul Hudson (Arizona) and Rick DeMorgan Jr (Florida) who travelled from the United States of America to help Australia in its time of need.

To all the families and loved ones of those we have lost, we say thank-you and make a solemn promise that their sacrifice will never be forgotten.

While the annual memorial service is always solemn and reflective, it is also an important opportunity to reflect on our history as we pay tribute to those lost – and reflect on the importance of the work we all do in making our communities safer. And while we can’t come together in person this year, we can come together in spirit and thought to acknowledge and pay respect to those we have lost.

On behalf of VFBV and all member Brigades and Groups, our thoughts and prayers are for the families, friends and loved ones of those who have died in the line of duty and for all those that have suffered loss, injury or sickness through their work, dedication and commitment to protecting their communities.

In memory of our fallen firefighters, at each years memorial the CFA Chief Officer would cause the tolling of a bell as each name of our fallen is read out. I ask that you please take time to reflect on each of the lives memorialised in our roll of honour below.

Roll of Honour

COUNTRY FIRE BRIGADES BOARD – ROLL OF HONOUR

COUNTRY FIRE AUTHORITY – ROLL OF HONOUR

About the Annual Memorial

The annual memorial event honours firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of service and is held on the closest Sunday to 4 May, which is St Florian’s Day (the patron saint of firefighters) and International Firefighters Day.

We wear blue and red ribbons to pay tribute to our fallen. The ribbons are linked to colours symbolic of the main elements firefighters work with – red for fire and blue for water. These colours also are internationally recognised as representing emergency service.

St. Florian is the Patron Saint of Firefighters and was an officer of the Roman army who was responsible for organising and leading firefighting brigades tasked to fight fires when Rome needed to protect itself against fire being used as an offensive weapon in the third century.

On St. Florian’s Day, firefighters, families and communities across the world take a moment to acknowledge firefighters commitment and dedication to their communities and their selfless duty to protecting lives and property.

The Annual Memorial Service is a formal and reflective day to acknowledge and remember those that have made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of their communities. It’s a time for reflection and just one of the ways we can remember the lives of 68 CFA members and 11 Country Fire Brigades Board  firefighters (prior to the formation of CFA), who have paid the ultimate sacrifice and given their lives in service to protecting our communities.