Quiet achiever

By EMMA SUN
FERNTREE Gully CFA volunteer Bill Watson is one of 34 recipients of an Australia Fire Service Medal (AFSM) in yesterday’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List – but don’t expect him to tell anyone.
Mr Watson, who has been in the authority for more than 40 years, was humble and very pleased to receive the award, but was quick to praise the efforts of the team he worked so closely with.
“I’m so proud that my work is being recognised but my work is a reflection of a team who have been there for everything I’ve done,” he said.
“I feel a fantastic sense of achievement and I am very humble to accept it.”
While he has received other accolades in the past, including a National Medal in 1987 for diligent service to the community in hazardous circumstances, he said the AFSM was by far the most prestigious.
“This is probably the pinnacle for your career as a firefighter.”
He also thanked his family for their long-term support.
Getting recognition for his work wasn’t the reason Mr Watson signed up for the CFA.
He initially joined at the age of 18 because his friends did and the friendships he maintained throughout his time are the reasons he has stayed on for so long.
“I love the people and I really enjoy the camaraderie,” he said.
“It is a disciplined organisation – I like that part of it too because I think it helps people with leadership skills and the skills you learn there are transferable into business and industry.”
It’s difficult not to hear the pride in Mr Watson’s voice when he talks about the service.
Firefighting may not always been enjoyable, but he makes the most out of every situation.
In the end, Mr Watson credited it to working well as a team.
“Being a volunteer firefighter is probably one of the most rewarding non-paid professions that you get – it’s been fantastic,” he said.
“While it has its downsides, you pull together as a team and that’s the beauty of it – when things are really tough you come out together at the other end to overcome whatever difficulty that’s in front of you.”
Mr Watson, who is 62 years old, said he is close to being ready for retirement, but has no intentions of letting firefighting go anytime soon.
He has already considered his options, and hoped to remain with the service for as long as he could.
“There are plenty of other things to do as well, you don’t have to be at the end of the hose putting water on the fire,” he said.
“There are a lot of other skills needed in other areas that are needed such as incident management so I think that’s probably where I’ll go, if they want me.
“I want to stay there so I’m not a liability or burden to anyone, but an asset.”