Ex-Sunbury Country Fire Authority (CFA) Captain Peter Daley dedicated his life to the service as both a volunteer and employee, and his sad passing in early May will be felt across the community.
Mr Daley – or Pete, as he was known around the station – first joined Sunbury CFA in 1979 as a junior, and is said to have shaped, through his hard work and dedication, what the Sunbury Fire Brigade is today.
Sunbury CFA Captain Paul Brown said Mr Daley “had been around forever”.
“He started brigade life 41 years ago, he held pretty much every officer’s position within the brigade, but then he finally became Captain,” Captain Brown said.
“To be able to follow in people like Pete’s footsteps is an honour.”
Mr Brown said Mr Daley was a “cornerstone” of the brigade and that everyone either knew him or knew of him.
“He was a larger than life character, he wore his heart on his sleeve and said it as it was,” Captain Brown said.
At a Hume council meeting on May 9, councillor Jarrod Bell paid his respects to Mr Daley, and said he “gave his all” to keeping the community safe in times of emergency and crisis, not only locally, but across Victoria.
Mr Daley held the roles of CFA communications officer between 1994-96, as Fifth Lieutenant from 1996-98 and as Fourth Lieutenant in 1999. He was then elected as Second Lieutenant from 1999-2001, and in 2001 was elected as the Captain of the Sunbury Fire Brigade.
“A position which he held with great pride until June 2003,” Cr Bell said.
After his Captaincy, Mr Daley became brigade manager, as well as the fifth deputy group officer for the Hume group. He was awarded his CFA long service badge in 1991, the CFA clasp in 1999 and his national medal for 15 years of service in 2001.
He was also a life member of the Sunbury Fire Brigade and his major passion in the brigade was his involvement in the Urban Firefighting Competition team, Cr Bell said.
Mr Daley’s funeral will be held at Sunbury Uniting Church, at 11am on Friday, May 20.
Captain Brown said all the officers and members of Sunbury CFA passed their heartfelt condolences to Mr Daley’s family.
“Rest easy Pete, you have answered your last call, we will take it from here,” Captain Brown said.
