Medals
for fire crisis efforts
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Deserved
reward: ACT Emergency Services Commissioner Peter Dunn presents
a boxed medal to Spr Alene Arends, who drove a 130G Cat
Grader during the Canberra bushfire emergency. Photo by
Bill Cunneen, Army newspaper
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By
Pte Shannon Joyce
ACT Emergency Medals have been awarded to 116 regular and reserve
soldiers in recognition of their assistance to the ACT community
during the fires of January 2003.
At a ceremony hosted by the Incident Response Regiment (IRR) at
Holsworthy Barracks last month, ACT Emergency Services Authority
(ESA) Commissioner Peter Dunn, a retired major general, presented
representatives from IRR, 17 Const Sqn, 8CER, and 26 Tpt Sqn with
medals for their roles during the bushfire disaster.
Commissioner Dunn said the Army Land Command Contingent undertook
a wide range of important tasks, including C2 support, construction
of .rebreaks and a causeway, back-burning, clearance of .re trails
and public information operations.
“When life and property is threatened, there’s a system in place
where ADF personnel can be released into the command of a civilian
authority,” he said. “And they were more than happy to do this
for us.”
The Army contingent that attended the disaster comprised a C2
and .re.ghting element from Emergency Response Squadron (ERS)
of IRR, and chainsaw crews from 17 Const Sqn, 5CER and 8CER. 17
Const Sqn also contributed plant, bulk water and fuel distribution,
with heavy lift and bulk fuel and water transport supplied by
26 Tpt Sqn.
The recognition of Army assistance through the medal presentations
originated from an application by OC ERS Major Paul Murphy to
the Commissioner.
The medals acknowledge the soldiers’ contribution in responding
to the disaster and its aftermath, Maj Murphy said.
“Some of the soldiers from 17 Const Sqn were in the thick of it
[on January 18, 2003] when the .re went through,” he explained.
“They were out in the forest cutting .re breaks when they had
to abandon three bulldozers, which were later recovered. One of
the plant operators had his hair singed while withdrawing from
the task after clearing an area around his dozer to protect it
from the fire.”
Six members of an AHQ were also recognised for their assistance
during the fires.
Commissioner Dunn said the AHQ staff liaised with the Emergency
Services and provided additional and urgently needed supplementation
and advice to operations, plans and logistics.
“We are very grateful for their help in our time of need,” he
said.
The remaining medals requiring presentation are being forwarded
by the ERS to the respective units of the soldiers at the time
of the support to the ACT.
To receive their medal, members are recommended to contact their
units at the time of the fires.
The ACT Emergency Medal is not authorised to be worn with military
uniform, but the ACT ESA has written to Defence requesting authorisation.
