The firefighters who lost their lives while serving their communities were remembered and honoured today at the CFA Annual State Memorial Service.
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The service, which was held at Healesville, paid tribute to the 79 firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty.
CFA Acting CEO and Chief Officer Gavin Freeman said today was a time for solace and reflection of our members who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
“This annual service is an important day for our members and the affected families to gather to recognise the extraordinary dedication of those CFA members who died while protecting the community,” he said.
“We also honour the personal sacrifices and commitment our firefighters make each and every day.
“We will continue to carry the memories and heroism of those fallen firefighters and reflect on their legacy that lives on in CFA.
“This year also marked the 10th anniversary of the February 2009 bushfires which claimed the lives of 173 people, including one firefighter, and destroyed thousands of homes across the state.
“We reflect on the incredible courage and bravery shown by CFA members, their families and the affected communities across the state as a result of those devastating fires.”
This year’s memorial service also looked back on the 1939 fires which led to the establishment of CFA, the 1943 Tarrawingee fire where 10 firefighters lost their lives and the devastating fires of 1969 where two volunteers perished.
Ceremonial banners embroidered with each firefighter’s name are taken to every Memorial Service to represent the names commemorated on the Memorial wall
The CFA Annual State Memorial service is held on the Sunday closest to International Firefighters’ Day and St Florian’s Day (4 May). St Florian is the Patron Saint of Firefighters.
The service has been held in various centres around Victoria since 1998. Once the new Victorian Emergency Services Memorial is built at Treasury Gardens in Melbourne’s CBD, it will become host to some of CFA’s future Annual State Memorial Services.
