Keep on truckin’

By EMMA SUN
A FORMER Mount Evelyn CFA captain has become one of four in Victoria to have a fire truck named after him.
Ken Reed, 70, received a 55-year service award at a CFA awards ceremony last Friday and was surprised with the news by CFA District 13 operations manager David Renkin.
Current captain Jim Armstrong said there was a standing ovation from those present, who witnessed a rare sight – a tear in Mr Reed’s eye.
“There was a little bit of a tear in Ken’s eye I think – he was suitably impressed and humbled and honoured,” he said.
“We planned this without telling him and he was very, very surprised and a little bit lost for words, which was an unusual moment.”
Mr Reed said he was very moved by the news and confirmed his emotions got the better of him that night.
“I was very touched, I just couldn’t believe it and it was very overwhelming,” he said.
“I appreciate the thought, you don’t expect it but just for them to think I’m worthy of it, is an honour and I really thank the members for giving me that honour.”
Mr Reed has lived in Mount Evelyn his whole life and joined the brigade at the age of 14.
He captained the brigade for 28 years, stepping down about 11 years ago and now holds many roles within the CFA as well as his current position as the social club president at Mount Evelyn.
He has been the group officer of the Maroondah Group, which incorporates 11 brigades, since 1977 and is the chairman of the District 13 Board.
In his time he has seen four major fires, including the Ash Wednesday fires, the 1962 and 1964 fires and Black Saturday, for which he was divisional commander.
While he has seen more than many other volunteers combined, Mr Reed said he never let anything affect him negatively and it was the people that kept him going for all this time.
“It’s not just me, it’s a team and the team effort has been just unbelievable,” he said.
“The camaraderie of the guys and the great friendship I have not just in Mount Evelyn but throughout the CFA are what keep me going.”
Mr Reed also was also a recipient of an Australian Fire Services Medal (AFSM), the highest fire services award an individual can get, which he received 10 years ago.
Mr Armstrong said there as no-one better suited for such recognition than Mr Reed, who has been a mentor for all past and present members.
“Ken has pretty much experienced everything there is to experience and he’s got a great wealth of knowledge for me to draw on when issues crop up, which gives me a lot of guidance,” he said.
“We are very lucky to have him and h he’s a cut above the rest – there’s no doubt about that.
“He’ll say it’s a team effort but I couldn’t do the job without him and the brigade wouldn’t be what it is without him.”
The comments are fitting, as Mr Reed said he had no intention of leaving the brigade any time soon.
“I’ve got no intention of quitting, I’ll get too old before they kick me out,” he said.
“Even if I can’t go to the incidents, I’ll always be part of the brigade.”