Paul Denham AFSM: Awards Presentations (20/04/2024)
CFA Life Membership
This evening Captain Paul Denham AFSM was recognised for his extensive service and ongoing commitment to CFA, over many years, through his memberships of four brigades and as a VFBV State Councillor.
Paul has a continuous length of service of service of a little over 45 years across four CFA brigades. He first became aware of the local fire brigade when his family lived in Bayswater, along the Dandenong Creek, and the local brigade “lost control” of a burn-off behind the old Vulcan factory.
Shortly after, in 1975, the family moved to Barmah on the Murray River. At the time, there wasn’t a separate brigade at Barmah but Picola Fire Brigade had a “little shed near the Barmah pub with a small trailer unit” and Paul got enlisted. He recalls towing the trailer unit behind his 1970’s XW Ford Fairmont on a number of occasions once he had obtained his license. Something that has spurred his drive for better vehicles and equipment over the years.
According to CFA’s records, he was a member at Picola from July 1978 until January 1987 although the brigade at Barmah was formed before that in something like 1979. On starting university in Melbourne, Paul joined the Boronia Urban Fire Brigade in July 1980 and served with both the Barmah Rural Brigade and Boronia Urban Brigade throughout his university years. Having joined the Navy as an engineering officer, he remained a member at Barmah while he served interstate and overseas.
Upon being posted to the Marine Engineering School at HMAS Cerberus, he reconnected with the brigade at Boronia where he served until 2020. During this time he served as a Deputy Group Officer for nearly 10 years.
Officially he joined Buxton in June 2013, although he responded with the Brigade and supported Brigade activities from late 2009 after he and Carmel purchased a vacant fire impacted block of land in Ballina Court.
In 2023, Paul was awarded the AFSM for his distinguished service to CFA and, according to his award’s citation, as an ambassador for all that is good about the CFA. Paul is a Life Member of Boronia Fire Brigade.
Paul Denham is a worthy recipient of CFA Life Membership.
Second and Third Clasps to the National Medal
Earlier in the evening, when Paul was bestowed with CFA Life Membership, details of his long and distinguished service to CFA was outlined.
With over 45 years of service to the CFA at present, he received his 40 years CFA Service Medal in 2022. He was first awarded a National Medal in 2001, well after the date he qualified for the awarded, and was then presented the First Clasp to the National Medal in 2012.
Paul is the recipient of the National Emergency Medal through his efforts with Boronia Fire Brigade and the Knox Group of Fire Brigades during the 2009 Victorian Bushfires. He was presented the 2019-2020 Fires Clasp to the National Emergency Medal for his efforts with the Buxton brigade.
Following Paul’s nomination for the Australian Fire Services Medal, the brigade identified an error in his service history which CFA subsequently corrected. Having continuous service for more than 45 years, Paul is now being correctly recognised for his continued long and distinguished service to the people of Australia with award of both the Second and Third Clasps to the National Medal.
Paul Denham a worthy recipient of the Second and Third Clasps to the National Medal.
