Left: Mr Les Donaldson from Donaldson Real Estate presented the Dorothy Balcombe Award to firefighter Michael Koevoets at the Narre Warren CFA annual dinner.NARRE Warren Fire Brigade held its annual dinner dance and awards night late last month to recognise the service and dedication of its members.
Held at the Timbarra Community Hall in Berwick, the evening’s presentations consisted of brigade service and turnout awards, CFA long-service awards, the Dorothy Balcombe Award, Firefighter of the Year Awards (junior and senior) and the Captain’s Appreciation Award.
Captain Noel Collins performed the traditional toast to members’ families and presented brigade service awards to firefighters Sam Cassar, Gary Grace, Daniel Kraan and Paul Smith (five-year awards) while Lieutenant Travis Carter and Lieutenant Paul Hardy received 10-year awards.
Firefighter Andrew Bartels and brigade member Salli Painter were presented with their 15-year service awards and ex-captain Colin Booth and brigade member Hazel Booth both received 25-year awards for service to the Narre Warren Fire Brigade.
Mr Cassar, James Conquest and Shannon Davey were then presented with pewter mugs marking 500 turnouts for the brigade.
The 1000-turnouts pewter mugs were then presented to Clayton Bryant and Leigh Phelps and the 1500-turnouts mug to Paul Little.
Mr Booth presented the Junior Firefighter of the Year award to Michael Presta and operations officer Cliff O’Connor presented the following members with CFA Long Service Awards: Adrian Jones, Michael Koevoets and Paul Smith (12 years) and Colin and Hazel Booth their 25-year service awards.
Captain Collins presented the Captain’s Appreciation Award to the Warren Opportunity Shop of Malcolm Court, Narre Warren for their support and dedication to the brigade.
Mr Les Donaldson from Donaldson Real Estate presented the Dorothy Balcombe Award to Mr Koevoets in memory of Dorothy Balcombe, who perished in the Ash Wednesday fires.
The last presentation was of the Firefighter of the Year to Mr Bryant.
