Malmsbury Fire Brigade’s captain has been honoured in the inaugural Spirit of CFA Awards.
Anthony Stephens received the state Inclusion and Fairness award at a ceremony in Ballarat at the weekend.
Mr Stephens said the award was representative of the work of his entire local CFA brigade.
“It’s not just recognition for me, but for the brigade as a whole,” he said.
Mr Stephens said the group had done a lot of work to increase its diversity and be reflective of the whole community.
He said the brigade had stepped up its community engagement to get the message out that there was a role for everyone in the CFA.
Having volunteered for the organisation for 12 years, Mr Stephens said he believed fostering a diverse and inclusive brigade had benefits for the community as a whole.
He said about 40 per cent of Malmsbury CFA’s 35 members were women, and about five were aged under 25.
The Spirit of CFA Awards was launched this year to recognise the outstanding achievements and significant contributions made by CFA staff and volunteers to both the organisation and local communities across the state.
