None
Thursday, 20 October 2016

Earlier this year, our dear colleague Kathy Fenwick lost her husband Ross who passed away in January after falling ill while attending a fire near Two People’s Bay east of Albany.

On the 29 September a special ceremony was held by the City of Albany to honour long serving Bush Fire Brigade Volunteers and to present a posthumous Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authorities Council Memorial Medallion for Ross Fenwick.

Ross Fenwick was a Volunteer Bushfire Brigade member for 30 years having joined the Kalgan VBFB in 1986. Ross held various brigade ranks and other positions in the bush fire sector including six years of service to the community as the City of Albany’s Chief Bushfire Control Officer.

Ross was also a Committee Member of the Association of Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades and was elected its President only a few months before his untimely passing.

Kathy accepted the award and thanked the people who had nominated Ross for the honour.

“This medal means so much to myself and my family,” Mrs Fenwick said. “When Derek called me a couple of months ago to tell me Ross was receiving this significant award, I had a stabbing thought that pierced my heart; I would rather be holding Ross than holding a medal.”

“But now this evening, I am so honoured and humbled to hold this medal as it is a symbol of the living hope and memory that Ross’s life was so very significant.”

On behalf of the School, we express our support to Kathy and her family. We also express our gratitude to firefighters like Ross Fenwick for their dedication in keeping our community safe during challenging times.

Media references

Siaw Chai         Marketing and Communications Officer         +61 (08) 6488 2382

Tags

Groups
Graduate School of Education