News Archive

9th July 2025

From the Captain’s Desk – 8th July 2025

Catch on the latest golf news in the latest edition of “From the Captain’s Desk” – click here to read now

26th June 2025

Peter Langridge Receives King’s Birthday Honours

Long time member Peter Langridge has been recognised for his 40 plus years of service and commitment to the CFA and emergency services sector, receiving the prestigious Australian Fire Service Medal in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours.

The award is the Australian Fire Services Medal and is one of the highest awards given to our countries firefighters.

The strong safety culture enshrined in CFA is a reflection of the important contribution volunteer and staff member Peter Langridge AFSM has made over his long career.

Peter has dedicated more than 40 years to CFA and the emergency services sector, demonstrating exceptional leadership and innovation in firefighter health, safety and wellbeing during that time.

A CFA volunteer for more than 20 years, Peter has been a member at Lilydale (1982-1985) and Mooroolbark brigades (2003-2006), and is a current member at Yellingbo. He was also a founding member of the District 13 Headquarters Brigade and its captain for seven years. The first registered headquarters brigade in CFA, its members continue to offer essential incident management and welfare support during major emergency operations.

As CFA’s Manager, Health Monitoring and Rehabilitation, Peter has been instrumental in improving firefighter health practices, establishing health programs, leading innovative research initiatives and advocating for firefighter safety. He has also transformed CFA’s approach to health monitoring and firefighter rehabilitation through the implementation of a health monitoring program for firefighters.

In 2015 he established a network of Firefighter Rehabilitation Units across the state, setting a national standard for real-time health checks in fire and hazardous material incidents. There are now 22 CFA volunteer-led Rehab Units available for dispatch to incidents. They are making a real and tangible difference to members, with a reduction in the number of heat-related incidents. In addition to supporting CFA firefighters, the units provide health monitoring and support to our partner agencies including DEECA, FRV and Victoria Police.

Peter has led large-scale health monitoring operations during significant fires including the 2009 fires, the 2019-20 fires, Kaladbro peat fire, Somerton tip fire, Portland ship fire and Coolaroo Recycling Plant fire. He spent 45 days at the site of the Hazelwood coal mine fire (2014) to ensure the safety of members and fellow emergency services workers. More than 62,000 health tests and carbon monoxide tests were conducted on more than 7,000 firefighters and 1,600 mine staff for the duration of the firefight to ensure their levels were within safety standards.

In addition to managing large-scale health monitoring operations, Peter’s research into firefighter health has seen the implementation and development of new programs, equipment and training:

Health Program innovations: Led the development of HealthWatch, Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Program and Medical Review Program, shaping CFA’s approach to firefighter health.
Health research leadership: Conducted pivotal studies on firefighter physiology, leading to advancements in breathing techniques, heat stress management and cardiovascular risk reduction safety guidelines and training both in Australian and international fire agencies.
Health innovation: Assisted volunteer firefighter Peter Schaede to design and develop Arm Core Coolers in 2016 together to reduce firefighter core body temperature both relieving heat stress and speeding up recovery during fire-related incidents. These are often used by members prior to Rehab Units arriving on the fireground.

An additional article also appeared in the Lilydale Star Mail – click here to read

24th June 2025

From the Captain’s Desk – 21st June 2025

Catch up on all the golf news in the latest edition of “From the Captain’s Desk” – Click here to read now

18th June 2025

Neville Evans Tribute

On Thursday 12th June, friends and family came together at Chirnside Park Country Club to farewell Neville Evans.

Neville joined Chirnside Park Country Club in 1987 (38 years of membership), served as Golf Captain for 7 years from 2005, Seniors Captain for 15 years and was awarded Club Member of the Year in 2008.

Neville also volunteered his term and efforts in many other ways around the Club including managing the Club’s Colts pennant team (which involved very early morning starts to pick up young members and drive them to and from pennant matches) as well as assisting course staff prepare the golf course during a period period when the Club was struggling to support sufficient ground staff.

Life member and close friend Bruce Bower paid tribute to Neville during the ceremony, a full transcript of his tribute is available via the link below.

TRIBUTE TO NEVILLE EVANS

Vale Neville Evans

20/11/1949 – 3/6/2025

10th June 2025