Firefighter’s award

By Vaughan Hinton
A MONBULK firefighter has been awarded the National Medal for more than 30 years of volunteer work and exceptional leadership in local emergency services.
The award, created by Royal Warrant, was presented to John Draffin on Saturday, 24 June.
Mr Draffin is a former officer and current executive manager of Monbulk Fire Brigade.
The award was presented during the Brigade’s annual dinner and was given by Deputy Chief Officer of the Country Fire Authority, Victoria, Greg Esnouf.
The award, granted in special circumstances for exceptional service to members of Australia’s emergency services, is the most prestigious granted in this area.
Region 13 Country Fire Authority operations officer Tony Bearzatto spoke about Mr Draffin’s time as a volunteer firefighter.
Mr Draffin, who was unaware he was to receive the honour, joined Monbulk Fire Brigade in 1975.
His active leadership saw him elected a lieutenant a year later.
Concerned at the slow responses by emergency services to car accidents in the area he, together with other brigade members, began to train in rescue operations and rescue equipment was purchased with Monbulk Fire Brigade funds.
Today, 25 years later, Monbulk Brigade Rescue Unit is responsible for rescues throughout the Dandenong Ranges from Upwey to Silvan and from Kalorama to Belgrave South.
He was brigade captain for eight years from 1984 before returning to operational firefighting.
In this period he initiated and led the first Monbulk Junior Brigade, which continues to this day.
Some former members of the junior brigade are today officers and one is a career firefighter.
The citation for Mr Draffin’s National Medal reads ‘for continual diligent and dedicated service to the Country Fire Authority’.
During his 30 years of voluntary service, Mr Draffin fought more than 1000 bush and house fires in and around Monbulk and assisted in rescuing people from hundreds of road accidents.
Other awards given at the brigade annual dinner were Firefighter of the Year which went to Ben Rogers, service medal – 25 years to Ross Lever (current brigade captain), service medal – 25 years for Leon Creighton, and service medal – 12 years to Barry Megee.
During the dinner Captain Ross Lever revealed that last year the brigade was called out on 139 occasions, a 13 per cent increase over the previous year.
Monbulk Fire Brigade is a volunteer service and is maintained by the service of men and women from the community.
Local fund-raising activities provide specialist equipment and vehicles.
In recognition of the often-unsung contribution of the families of brigade volunteers, special bouquets were presented to Anne Draffin and Leigh Lever.