Month: June 2025

Source: Tasmania Police

Issued: 9 Jun 2025

Fines have been issued and people received warnings during a crackdown on vehicle offences and other compliance issues in the region’s national parks and State forests.

In response to local community concerns around illegal motorbike usage, from the noise nuisance to environmental damage, rangers conducted targeted compliance operations.

Senior Ranger Greg reiterates that people should not think they can break laws including the road rules just because they have entered a State forest or national park.

The public are advised that they are responsible for their conduct.

“We will take appropriate compliance and enforcement action to any illegal and unsafe activities within Queensland’s protected areas,” Ranger Greg said.

“If you wouldn’t do it in the middle of Stanthorpe or the local botanic gardens don’t do it in a national park or State forest.

“Our number one priority is the safety of visitors and staff working on our protected areas, and to ensure all visitors can enjoy these natural spaces safely.

“Illegal riding of motorbikes not only endangers riders but also threatens the safety of visitors, our staff, wildlife, and the environment.

Rangers engaged with a number of people in Broadwater State Forest, Main Range National Park, Durikai State Forest and Girraween National Park in relation to unlawful camping, fossicking and other illegal conduct.

A 56-year-old Stanthorpe man was fined $1288 after he and his teenage son were found riding motorbikes in an area closed to all motorised vehicles. Concerningly, the teenager was riding an unregistered motorbike and due to his age didn’t hold a driver’s licence.

The operation also resulted in fines being issued for camping and fossicking offences, including:

• 1x $322 fine issued at Main Range National Park after a group of 4 were found camping, despite only purchasing a single person camping permit.
• 1x $483 fine issued for a person fossicking at without a valid fossicking licence.

Rangers are reminding all visitors that a fossicking licence for an individual currently costs $9.33 per month, and a camping permit currently costs just $7.25 per person per night with children under the age of five staying for free.

“We encourage the community to report any illegal activity to the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service or local police.”

Unlawful activity and antisocial behaviour in national parks and State forests can be reported anonymously by calling 1300 130 372.

Source: New South Wales – News

The single vehicle collision occurred on Alexandrina Road, Currency Creek just after 9pm on Monday 9 June.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area if possible.

Traffic is being diverted around the scene via Airport Road.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Emergency Services responded to a fatal crash at a property in Girraween this morning.

Around 11:20am, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received reports of an off-road buggy crash at a property, involving two youths and one adult male.

Police and St John Ambulance attended and commenced CPR on the 40-year-old male; however, he was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Both youths were uninjured and did not require further medical assistance.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Our CBR is the ACT Government’s key channel to connect with Canberrans and keep you up-to-date with what’s happening in the city. Our CBR includes a monthly print edition, email newsletter and website.

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Source: South Australia Police

Anna Speirs has been awarded the top honour at the City of Wanneroo Community Art Awards and Exhibition, receiving the grand prize for her captivating painting, Moonlight Solitude.

Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO), with support from Victoria Police, has seized and destroyed over 20 tonnes of illicit tobacco from a property North-East of Shepparton, Victoria.

On Thursday 5 June a search warrant revealed a mature tobacco crop spanning nearly 6 acres, the equivalent of approximately 456 tennis courts. Officers also seized several trays of tobacco seedlings from the property.

The estimated excise value of the illicit tobacco uncovered under Operation Ocean is $4.4 million.

ATO Assistant Commissioner Jade Hawkins commended the results of the operation, with the destruction of tobacco crops showing the ATO’s removing illicit tobacco from the community.

‘Detecting, disrupting and dismantling the illicit tobacco trade is a priority for the ATO.’

‘These operations are run by criminal syndicates, not farmers or producers. They put the Australian community at risk when they use profits from these activities to fund other serious crimes.’

‘Involvement in illicit tobacco production is a serious offence. There are hefty penalties for possessing, selling, buying, manufacturing, or producing illicit tobacco, including jail terms for up to 10 years imprisonment.’

‘This type of activity takes vital money away from the community and places it directly into the hands of organised criminals who mistakenly think they can sail under the radar,’ Ms Hawkins said.

Operation Ocean adds to the 90 completed illicit tobacco operational activities between 1 July 2018 and 30 June 2024.

‘A wave of illicit tobacco has been stopped in its tracks, with this warrant activity surfacing thanks to a tip-off from the community,’ Ms Hawkins said.

Community tip-offs are one of the ATO’s best sources of information as they provide crucial information to assist in the fight against illicit tobacco.

It’s illegal to grow tobacco in Australia without the appropriate excise licence and currently no one is licensed to do so.

Signs that land is being used to grow, manufacture or produce illicit tobacco include:

• construction activities along creeks and rivers on private and public land
• unexplained and potentially unlawful use of water resources
• vans with no markings being loaded with cardboard boxes, at odd hours of the day and night
• the sound of machinery running overnight
• excessive security measures such as cameras, locks or guards.

If you suspect that illicit tobacco is being grown, manufactured, or sold in your community, you can confidentially report it to the ATO online at ato.gov.au/tipoff, or phone 1800 060 062.

Visit ato.gov.au/illicittobacco to learn more about the signs of tobacco plants and what to look out for in your community.

Images

Notes to journalists

• Between 1 July 2018 and 30 June 2024, our Illicit Tobacco team completed 90 operational activities. These included 19 Illicit Tobacco Taskforce (whole of government) operations, 31 ATO specific operations and 40 state law enforcement support operations.
• These operations resulted in:
  • 627 acres of illicit tobacco crops located, seized and destroyed with a total weight of 3,746,240 kilograms
  • 39,224 kilograms of loose-leaf tobacco located, seized and destroyed
  • 21,759,340 cigarettes located, seized and destroyed
  • total estimated equivalent tobacco duty foregone value of above $723 million.
• From July 2018 to January 2025 there have been 30 convictions by the ATO for illicit tobacco with sentences ranging up to 3 years imprisonment.
• A high-resolution headshotThis link will download a file of Assistant Commissioner Jade Hawkins is available for download from our media centre.
• ATO stock footage and images are available for use in news bulletins from our media centre.

Source:

This King’s Birthday four highly regarded CFA members have been awarded an Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM), in recognition of their outstanding service to CFA and their communities.

The AFSM is the highest award for a member of an Australian fire service and as part of the Kings Birthday honours list, is awarded yearly to a select group of dedicated CFA members.

The four members have been recognised for their exceptional bravery, expertise, and leadership, guiding their communities and the wider Victorian population through major natural disasters.

They have all worked on the frontlines as well as providing and imparting valuable knowledge and skills back into the organisation so that everyone in CFA may benefit from their experience.

The 2025 CFA Australian Fire Service Medal recipients are:

Anthony Scicluna – Clonbinane Brigade

Sharon Merritt – Macclesfield Brigade

Colin Brown – Warrandyte Brigade

Peter Langridge – Yellingbo and District 13 Headquarters brigades

Anthony is a volunteer, a frontline firefighter and a courageous leader and mentor. As a Wildfire Instructor he has been instrumental in developing and delivering CFA’s initial core Firefighter training module and most recently championing the Chainsaw Program and the introduction of the General Firefighter Program.

Sharon has been a CFA member for 28 years, initially as a volunteer firefighter and then a staff member for more than 15 years. Since 2003, Sharon has served as captain of Macclesfield Fire Brigade, showing exceptional leadership in a specialised large animal rescue brigade.  

Colin’s longstanding career exemplifies outstanding leadership, innovation and service in firefighting, emergency management, aviation operations and community engagement. Beyond his distinguished service in frontline firefighting, Colin has played a pivotal role in shaping strategic emergency management frameworks, mentoring future leaders, and championing inclusivity. 

Highly regarded as an experienced health researcher and practitioner, Peter has transformed CFA’s approach to health monitoring and firefighter rehabilitation leading to a safer fireground for firefighters. His research into firefighter health has also led to the implementation and development of new programs and training.

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan congratulated the four highly respected CFA AFSM recipients for their invaluable service during their many decades of service.

“CFA is incredibly proud of its volunteers and staff, and it is great to see our members recognised with the highest fire service medal in the country,” Jason said.

“We are fortunate as an organisation to have so many incredible people who devote a large part of their life to the protection of lives and property in their communities, and I thank them for their dedication.”

CFA would also like to recognise AFSM recipient and Assistant Chief Fire Officer Operational Training Andy Waterson who has dedicated more than 35 years to improving the safety of firefighters, with a particular focus on specialist response and training. Andy started as a junior volunteer at Cohuna Fire Brigade in 1985, before becoming a full-time firefighter at Dandenong in 2001. He was instrumental in the establishment of CFA’s urban search and rescue course and heavily involved in the development of driver instructor training before transferring to Fire Rescue Victoria.

Another ten CFA members were also awarded the prestigious Order of Australia Medal for their service to their communities, including Donald Paterson, Roger Sykes, Raymond Pattle, Joy Pitts, Jason Reid, Mancel Giddings, Roslyn Greenwood, Bruce Holland, Christopher May and David O’Donnell. Congratulations also goes to Jamieson Fire Brigade member Andrew Dwyer who was honoured as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his significant service to the community.

Source:

Colin Brown AFSM is a dedicated and highly experienced firefighter and emergency services leader with more than 40 years of service to CFA and Fire Rescue Victoria.

His longstanding career exemplifies outstanding leadership, innovation and service in firefighting, emergency management, aviation operations and community engagement. Beyond his distinguished service in frontline firefighting, Colin has played a pivotal role in shaping strategic emergency management frameworks, mentoring future leaders, and championing inclusivity.

Colin is a current volunteer member of Warrandyte Fire Brigade, a fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) Commander at CFA District 13, and a former CFA Deputy Group Officer of Seymour Group. He is also an accredited wildfire and structural fire investigator and has mentored prospective investigators undergoing training in the past.

“As a teenager growing up in The Basin, there was little to do to occupy my time,” Colin said. 

“The local fire brigade was near my home and hearing them regularly respond to incidents prompted me to join. Once I became a member, the camaraderie within the brigade and a sense of helping the community led me to pursue a career as a firefighter.”

Across his more than four decades of service, Colin has made a significant contribution in the protection of life and property at major fires including Dandenong Ranges fires (1967, 1997), Ash Wednesday (1983), Black Saturday Fires (2009) and the Cambarville fires (2019-20).

He also managed emergency response as Incident Controller for complex fires including Dutson Downs Bombing Range (1999), Hazelwood Power Station (2000) and Maryvale Paper Mill (2001), and provided strategic leadership during the Victorian Alpine Fires (2002-03), Emu Track Fire (2003), the 2019-20 fires (in both Victoria and NSW) and numerous other large-scale emergencies. Additionally, he has been involved in multi-agency emergency operations, working alongside Victoria Police, CFA, DELWP and other emergency services.

“One of the incidents that stands out for me is the Longford gas explosion in 1998. It was my first day as a CFA Operations Officer and I was asked to lead the CFA Fire Investigation team in determining its cause,” Colin said.

“I was then privileged to be asked by ESSO Australia to support the Longford team to obtain their licence as a major hazards facility.”

Colin’s expertise and leadership during catastrophic events has led to significant advancements in township protection plans, improvements in Incident Control Centres and the creation of the highly successful Your Emergency Services (YES) program in the Yarra Ranges.

Following the Black Saturday Royal Commission, Colin worked with 21 CFA brigades across the Dandenong Ranges and surrounding areas on an EMV-led project to provide community alert sirens in emergencies through existing CFA and purpose-built sirens. This project is now in place and has been used to alert these communities to emergencies since its implementation, improving public safety outcomes.

Colin is also a champion of diversity in emergency response operations. His commitment to training, mentoring and inclusivity has led to advancements in fire aviation operations and fire investigation, including endorsing the first accredited woman CFA Air Observer and managing the development of a joint agency training manual between CFA and DELWP.

“Receiving the AFSM is very humbling, and I am privileged to be honoured by this significant award,” Colin said.

“CFA is a fantastic organisation. It allows you to challenge yourself and contribute to protecting your community. It provides you with opportunities to develop diverse skills, including leadership and teamwork, outside of your normal day-to-day life.

“I have also made many friends and acquaintances over my 45 years of service to the organisation and the community.”

Colin’s dedication, visionary leadership and commitment to safeguarding communities has enhanced firefighting and incident management in Victoria. His contributions continue to shape best practice, mentor future leaders and inspire excellence in firefighting and emergency management.

Source:

Sharon Merritt AFSM has received the prestigious Australian Fire Service Medal in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours for her outstanding service to CFA and the community.

Sharon has been a CFA member for 28 years, initially as a volunteer firefighter and then a staff member for more than 15 years. Since 2003, Sharon has served as captain of Macclesfield Fire Brigade, showing exceptional leadership in a specialised large animal rescue brigade.  

Sharon is a qualified sector commander, strike team leader, crew leader, and Level 3 fire behaviour analyst and safety officer. She has responded to many significant incidents at the local level, interstate and overseas deployments. She was a Level 3 incident management team safety officer during the 2019-20 Victorian fires and was a strike team leader and sector commander during the 2009 fires. 

“I spent most of the 2019-20 fire season away from home,” Sharon said. “I was everywhere and saw all of Gippsland. I was surprised by the scale of the fires. They covered huge areas over a long period of time. It was incredible. 

“As a safety officer I was in the field and in incident control centres. My role was to look after the safety of firefighters, both physical and psychological. It was a challenge dealing with a wide range of safety issues. A particular challenge was making sure crews could safely get to Mallacoota on a single road that was impacted by hazardous trees.”    

She recognised the specialist response needed for large animals in distress, including during bushfires and floods, and she was integral in developing the brigade’s large animal rescue unit, one of only two in Victoria. This type of rescue needs specialist knowledge and understanding of large animals as well as considering the needs of the surrounding community.  

“Our brigade had responded to horse rescues for the past 15 years, as there are a large number of horses in our area and they can get stuck in a lot of places,” Sharon said. “The number of rescues increased over the past 10 years, but we didn’t have the correct equipment to deal with them. Luckily, equipment was donated to the brigade by riding schools.  

“Brigade members were trained in large animal rescue by overseas’ experts, we did accredited training, and it grew from there.”  

In addition to large animal rescue, Sharon has been an advocate for educating horse owners about effective management practices during bushfires. Moreover, her work has played a significant role in mitigating the risks associated with the interaction between emergency services and the equine community in the challenging and dynamic conditions of a bushfire.  

Sharon was the first woman in District 13’s Dandenong Ranges Group to become a captain. Under her leadership, the number of women firefighters in Macclesfield Fire Brigade has doubled. 

She is passionate about mentoring women in CFA, providing operational training (including one-on-one General Firefighter training) to women staff in District 13.  

Sharon led the brigade during the planning and construction of the new Macclesfield Fire Station, which was completed in 2010, and was instrumental in acquiring the land for it.  

As a qualified trainer/assessor, Sharon is endorsed to train members in General Firefighter, Suppress Wildfire, Respond to Isolated Structure Fire (Low Structure), Hazmat Awareness, and Crew Leadership.  

She is also a volunteer structural and wildfire fire investigator and was recently part of the team that investigated the significant Yering Golf Club fire.  

“I started investigating fires in 1998 and I have conducted more than 600 investigations as a volunteer. I’m fascinated by the science and determining the cause – I’m interested in why things happen. I’ve also been to court several times as a witness.” 

For 12 years, she worked as a CFA staff member as a vegetation management officer, focusing on bushfire risk management through prevention and mitigation efforts. Her expertise in developing and implementing fuel management plans across District 13 included cultural and ecological fire management. As a qualified Level 3 burns controller, she played a crucial role in community preparedness. 

“I conducted burns every year for 12 years in District 13,” Sharon said. “I remember a planned burn near Silvan Reservoir that was particularly effective. About two years after the burn there was a lightning strike on the burnt ground. Although it caused a fire, it was brought under control quickly. Also, if the area hadn’t been previously burned, the fire would have showered Monbulk with embers and caused more fires. The planned burn worked and there were no embers.”      

Source:

Peter Langridge’s legacy is one of dedication, innovation and an unwavering commitment to protecting those who serve on the frontline.

His leadership and commitment to research have transformed CFA’s approach to firefighter health, safety and rehabilitation, and has earned him an Australian Fire Services Medal in today’s King’s Birthday Honours. 

“When I found out I was receiving an AFSM I was surprised at first and then when it sunk in, I felt honoured to have been nominated and to be receiving this award,” Peter said.  

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 and distinguished career at CFA as both a volunteer and staff member.

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. 

“I joined as a volunteer after moving to a CFA area in 1982. One of my neighbours was a CFA member and he told me about the brigade at Lilydale, so I went along to have a chat with the captain and decided to join,” Peter said.

“In hindsight, it was probably not the best year to join as I went straight into a very bad fire season being the year of the Ash Wednesday fires. But being thrown into the deep end, I learned a lot very quickly – and I did stay on as a volunteer.”

With 11 years as an Ambulance Victoria paramedic and highly regarded as an experienced health researcher and practitioner, Peter’s genuine interest in CFA volunteers and their health and safety has led to many significant changes at CFA and in the fire and emergency management space.

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.

“The Hazelwood mine fire in 2014 stands out as a key moment of my time at CFA,” Peter said.

“We learned many lessons during the 2004 and 2008 Hazelwood mine fires and each time had to modify how we managed these incidents.

“After 2008 we developed a plan for any future fires of this kind, and this helped immensely in our management of the 2014 fire. This plan is now part of EMV’s State Smoke Framework.”

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. 

Peter’s expertise, commitment and forward-thinking approach were also pivotal to CFA’s successful pandemic response, reinforcing his reputation as a leader in firefighter health and safety. Central to this was the training he developed and delivered across the sector to ensure members were kept safe whilst on the fireground. He also facilitated cross-agency training for CFA, VICSES and EMV on key COVID-19 roles to ensure firefighters and emergency responders could continue operations safely.

His work continues to shape best practice at CFA to safeguard the lives of those who protect our communities.