General News
25 January, 2025
Gunning's dedication sees him honoured with Australian Fire Service Medal
Mark Gunning AFSM is dedicated to protecting the community.
A household name across Australia this summer, Horsham's Mark Gunning was awarded an Australian Fire Service Medal for his work with Fire Rescue Victoria.
The FRV's Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Mr Gunning, was beamed into tens of thousands of households as he provided updates from the Horsham Incident Control Centre during the Grampians National Park bushfire.
However, he is more than just a spokesperson for Fire Rescue Victoria.
For almost four decades, Mr Gunning has been at the coalface of firefighting.
Coming from a family of CFA volunteers, you could say it is in his blood.
He began his volunteer career at 14 and fought the Ash Wednesday bushfires for many days as a teenager.
While he completed a Bachelor of Law at Deakin University, he became a career officer at 22.
For 37 years, he has worked in CFA Districts 4, 5, 6, 11 and 17, working fire stations from Ballarat to Shepparton.
A leader who remained cool during crises, Mr Gunning, was an incident controller or deputy at many significant emergencies, including the 2014 Grampians bushfires, the 2015 Portland Ship Fire and the 2018 St Patrick's Day bushfire.
His wealth of experience has seen him receive the CFA's National Medal (two bars), a National Emergency Medal for his work in the 2009 Black Saturday Bushfires, and he was bestowed with a CFA life membership for 35 years of service.