Ocean Grove’s Alistair Drayton, who joined CFA as member and volunteer 40 years ago, has been recognised for his dedication with the prestigious Australian Fire Service medal (AFSM) in this week’s Queen’s Birthday Honours.
Alistair is an accredited Level 3 Incident Controller, one of only a handful of CFA volunteers with that accreditation. He has also participated in multi-agency Incident Management Teams both interstate and internationally, to provide relief during extended periods of crisis.
Alistair said that receiving the AFSM was a very humbling experience.
“Every member at CFA contributes in their own way, and it’s also the collaborative support of our communities both big and small, and in every location, that makes it such a rewarding experience,” he said.
“I’ve seen enormous transformation over the past 40 years, none more so than in the past decade.
“Victorian communities are the backbone of the country. It’s here that we form and develop willing volunteers who come together and undertake the appropriate minimum skills for the benefit of their fellow neighbour. There’s something warm
and great about that.
“To see a community come together in a time of need and structure up into a well-oiled machine, is very satisfying and we’re good at doing it.”
Alistair’s exceptional fire and emergency management expertise and abilities with CFA have enabled him to be included on the duty roster for Regional Controller, a senior position in the state’s emergency management arrangements.
Alistair began his service with the Highton Fire Brigade in 1982. Since 1996 he has been a member of the Wallington Fire Brigade and in July 2000 he became Deputy Group Officer at the Bellarine Group.
Four years later he rose to the position of Group Officer, the most senior volunteer role in CFA. Alistair now holds the position of Group Manager of Bellarine.
