CFA volunteers names stripped from trucks, career names to stay
Commemorative names of CFA volunteers will be removed from all trucks transferred to the Andrews Government’s new career-only Fire Rescue Victoria service.
CFA brigades will be forced to remove commemorative names of volunteers from trucks they will have to transfer to Victoria’s new career-only Fire Rescue Victoria service.
An email last week from the CFA’s deputy chief officer Gregg Paterson to staff stated “volunteer names will be removed for FRV transfer appliances and this work is now about to commence”.
The memo goes on to call on all “districts to ensure brigades affected by this process have been engaged along with the relevant families of commemorative names notified”.
As of last Wednesday four commemorative volunteers’ names had been identified for removal.
A CFA commander, who did not wish to be identified, told The Weekly Times he was “gobsmacked” by the decision, given that the same rule did not apply to career staff.
The MFB, which will merge with the CFA’s 38 integrated stations to form FRV, will not be required to remove the commemorative names of its career firefighters, written on the doors of its pumpers and other appliances.
The CFA first began the process of culling volunteers’ names from appliances back on May 22, when a memo went out to all assistant chief fire officers, asking them to audit trucks earmarked for FRV.
One of those volunteers whose name will be removed is Melton CFA veteran Alan Squires, whose whole family has served the community as firefighters.
“It’s disappointing,” Mr Squires said.
“But at the end of the day it’s just a name on a truck and I know what I’ve done and so does the community.”
But the CFA commander who contacted The Weekly Times said it was an insult to the local community, given the truck would be staying at the Melton station and simply brought under FRV’s control.
“So the Melton community, which he (Mr Squires) served, are denied the opportunity to honour him,” the commander said.
The CFA is yet to determine what it does to placate volunteers and the families of those who have died, once names are removed.
Last week’s email states: “CFA remain committed to honouring CFA members and the cause of their specific commemoration, and will be developing a consistent and equitable organisation-wide approach to member recognition.
“As part of this, a business rule will be created in the future in liaison with Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria, districts, affected brigades and members’ families, along with CFA Honours/Awards representatives to accommodate names removed as a result of reform appliance transfer”.
MORE
CFA IN CHAOS AS STAFF, CONTROL LOST
‘No one knew it was coming’: Tongala cow abattoir shuts
The livestock industry and local community have reacted to Greenham’s closure of its Tongala cow processing plant.
Victorians want to feel guilt-free about eating meat
Research – to guide a Victorian Government-funded pro-agriculture campaign – has revealed how consumers feel about the state’s farmers and what issues need to be addressed.