15 March 2011

Community Protection Medal Winners announced

| johnboy
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Simon Corbell has announced the winners of the ACT Community Protection Medal:

ACT Policing – Former Sergeant Steve CORRIGAN

Joined the ACT Police in 1978 and has recently retired after 33 years of sustained diligent service to the ACT community.

Mr Corrigan dedicated his entire career to uniformed operational policing within the ACT, having served at City, Woden and Tuggeranong Police Stations. In addition to his full-time operational duties, Sergeant Corrigan served above and beyond the normal requirements expected of him by actively passing on his exceptional ‘patrol craft’ to less experienced members through his part-time commitments as an Operational Safety Trainer, Operations Support Group Team Leader / Trainer, and lecturer at the Australian Federal Police College on various courses conducted for sergeants, constables and recruits. It is through his unselfish efforts of leading by example in the field and training others that he has been instrumental in developing junior police into excellent and dedicated police officers.

ACT Ambulance Service – Mr Steve MITCHELL

Has been employed with the ACT Ambulance Service as an Intensive Care Paramedic for over 17 years.

During this time he has worked as a Team Leader and has been active as an industrial advocate on behalf of his colleagues.

Over the past five years, he has worked tirelessly to advance the professional status of paramedics within the ACT. He is a passionate exponent of the need for professionalism and was largely instrumental in producing the revised career classification for paramedics within ACT Ambulance Service. His efforts, mostly outside normal work hours, were pivotal in the outcome of the professional rates case handed down in 2010 which recognised the importance of paramedic work value. The result of this determination will have a positive impact of ACT Ambulance Service for many years.

ACT Fire Brigade – Mr Neil MAHER

Has been a member of the ACT Fire Brigade for 25 years, attending diligently to all disciplines of operations within the scope of Fire Brigade business.

For the last eight years, Mr Maher has held the rank of Station Officer, leading and managing teams of firefighters in some of the most arduous conditions in ACT Fire Brigade history, including being at ‘Ground Zero’ with his crew during the ACT Bushfire Emergency in January 2003. Mr Maher always set the highest standards for himself in the diligent discharge of his duties and inspires it in his crews, to affect delivery of consistently outstanding service to the ACT Community.

Over the past two years, Mr Maher has directed his efforts to revamping the ACT Fire Brigade’s Premiere Rescue course and, with the rest of the team, has produced a course that prepares firefighters as never before for the demands of supervising technical rescue operations.

Mr Maher transferred from the Rescue Officer’s position to take up with the Collective Agreement Training Project where his attention to detail and commitment to the highest standards has seen him produce the Senior Firefighters’ Development Program which will be used to provide leadership, mentoring and supervisory skills to the ACT Fire Brigade’s frontline managers. The successful pilot of the course is testimony to Mr Maher’s sustained outstanding service.

ACT Rural Fire Brigade – Mr Robert GORE

Has been a member of the ACT Rural Fire Service for 16 years. During this time he spent five years as the Captain of the Jerrabomberra Volunteer Brigade, being elected as President of the Jerrabomberra Brigade last year.

Mr Gore’s skills and knowledge have recently been acknowledged through his appointment as one of four Group Officers in the ACT Rural Fire Service. This role brings with it a considerable level of responsibility, making Mr Gore a mentor to Rural Fire Service Officers in the field, while being available to take control of incidents should they escalate beyond the capability of the on-ground Incident Controller.

Mr Gore’s dedication to his volunteer work is exceptional. He was among the crews that fought the devastating Canberra bushfires in 2003; he has lead teams on interstate task forces and has dedicated an enormous amount of time to the Jerrabomberra Brigade. It is through his initiative that a major upgrade of the Jerrabomberra station is under way, the upgrade providing significant improvements to the Jerrabomberra Brigade.

ACT State Emergency Service – Mr Walter BLUMENFELD

Has been a member of the ACT State Emergency Service for over 30 years, having joined in March 1979. To remain an active volunteer for such a length of time is an extraordinary effort, something that is only infrequently seen in volunteer emergency service organisations.

During his time as an ACT State Emergency Service volunteer, Mr Blumenfeld has attended many incidents and operations where he has provided assistance to the ACT community. He has been particularly active in response to storm and flood activities, and for searching for missing people in the ACT’s rural and remote areas. He has also attended many interstate deployments in support of emergency operations.

He has held various leadership positions within the Service, and he has also made a significant contribution to the administration and management of his Unit. He has also contributed to developing and enhancing the ACT State Emergency Service capability through guidance and advice to the Chief Officer on many different matters.

Mr Blumenfeld is a very experienced instructor and assessor, having taught on a range of training programs. He is currently one of the few endorsed First Aid Training Officers within the ACT State Emergency Service and he has delivered many First Aid training programs for members from across the Service, not just within his own Unit. Course feedback is always very positive about Mr Blumenfeld’s professional approach to training, and his depth of knowledge on the things he is teaching.

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