General News
5 May, 2023
Inspired to serve - Captain's award fires up student
PULLQUOTE 'I want to serve like them in the future if I get the chance Isabella Orszulak STORY Warracknabeal fire brigade captain Cameron Whelan has earned a prestigious award - and inspired a local schoolgirl to follow in his footsteps. CFA brigade...
Warracknabeal fire brigade captain Cameron Whelan has earned a prestigious award - and inspired a local schoolgirl to follow in his footsteps.
CFA brigade captain Cameron Whelan is a proud recipient of the National Emergency Medal for his role in fighting the 2019-20 NSW bushfires.
He was one of 55 District 17 emergency response officers presented with medals at a ceremony at Horsham Town Hall on April 27.
“This award is just the adaption of my ability to be in a position to give something back to the community,” he said.
Over the course of the bushfire season, Capt Whelan was positioned in the NSW town of Shoalhaven.
“We were deployed there for seven days in December 2019," he said.
“We flew from Melbourne to Canberra and then bussed to Batemans bay near Shoalhaven.
“There were 25 people in the group, and most of whom were from District 17 - two of us were from Warracknabeal, and others came from Gisborne and Ballarat.”
Cap Whelan also worked in Victorian towns during the crisis.
"I went to Walwa in northeast Victoria in January 2020, and it was more like helping the community at the ground after the devastation,” he said.
“It was a highly exciting experience, filled with 'roller coasters' in both Victoria and New South Wales.
"We engaged with the locals and they appreciated the efforts and gave us great hospitality.
“My family and the community is always supportive of the CFA, and they were so happy that I went there and helped those people.”
Capt Whelan said locals at home also had contributed money for other towns in the state.
“Within five days we raised money in the Warracknabeal and distributed it through Walwa Bush Nursing Home to the deserving households,” he said.
“In addition, Wimmera residents generously donated money and livestock.”
The stories recounted of his experience in the bushfires, and those of his colleagues, proved to be an inspiration for Warracknabeal student Isabella Orszulak.
As a young brigade member and Year 11 student at Warracknabeal Secondary College, Isabella was chosen to help host the awards.
“I was assistant MC (Master of Ceremonies) of the awards function," she said.
"I read the names and announced the medals and brigades of the awards winners.
“I had such a positive experience, as it was my first time speaking in front of an audience.
“The stories in the ceremony inspired me and I want to serve like them in the future if I get the chance.”
Isabella said she was looking forward to continuing her work as a firefighter.
“I joined the brigade in November 2019 as a volunteer and became a senior member of the brigade in February 2022 at the age of 16,” she said.
“I did some training and studied online modules through the years, and after the practical training in October 2022, I got recognition as a firefighter and operational member of the brigade.
“I plan to be a firefighter for as long as I can, then I want to study Paramedicine at Monash or ACU Melbourne after high school.”