Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority
Over four decades, Peter Irving has consistently shown operational leadership, and an unwavering commitment to volunteerism and public safety, recently earning well-deserved acknowledgement of an Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM).
Peter was recognised in today’s King’s Birthdays Honours for his distinguished service of over 41 years with Edenhope Fire Brigade and his broader contribution to community and firefighter safety.
Throughout this time, Peter has worn many hats and currently serves as their 1st Lieutenant and has held a continuous appointment as Edenhope Group Officer since 2006. Previously he has been a 2nd and 3rd Lieutenant.
“When I got told the news, I was shocked, and very humbled by it. It took me a fair while to comprehend it. Volunteering is just something that I have a strong passion for,” Peter said.
“I am just very, very passionate about the red fire truck and where it sits in the community and the need for it.
“Our communities are so vulnerable, and I see the damage that fires do. You can see what happens in a matter of half an hour – like what we saw in Natimuk this year.
“I’m a retired farmer, and it was just a done thing when I was growing up, to join CFA. As farmers we contend with losing stock, sheds, properties, farming assets – there can be so much destruction.”
As a Group Officer, endorsed Strike Team Leader and Sector Commander, Peter has managed responses to numerous large-scale fire events across Western Victoria. He is regularly the first to arrive at incidents, and if not required in a command role, he is hands-on, on the fireground.
Peter has earned the respect of his peers and emergency services counterparts for his calm and courageous leadership under pressure, his expert coordination of complex fire responses, and his strong professionalism and adaptability.
A fire that remains front of mind for Peter was the blue gum plantation fire that broke out near Kadnook, just 15 kilometres southeast of Edenhope in 2024, where he contributed greatly.
“I remember it clearly, it was the Edenhope show day, and we always take a pumper down there. I was there with our Captain and the next thing we knew the pager went off,” Peter said.
“We spun around to head to the fire shed right next door and saw a massive column of smoke. It extremely challenging conditions that day, with a strong northerly wind on a Total Fire ban day.
“One home was imminently going to be impacted, before it headed straight into the blue gum plantation, and traveling close to four kilometres – I couldn’t believe it.”
With the arrival of more volunteers, Peter quickly transitioned from asset protection duties to incident management as Incident Controller, coordinating a growing response with limited communications due to poor mobile and radio reception.
Despite many challenges, Peter successfully directed strike teams, air support, and heavy machinery through difficult and steep terrain, leveraging his local knowledge to strategically contain the fire.
His timely communication with the Horsham Incident Control Centre enabled critical warnings to be issued to communities in the path of the fire.
‘We knew it was going to make a sizeable run with a westerly wind change which would have pushed it towards Harrow and Connewirricoo.” Peter said.
“The fire remained active for seven weeks with persistent flare-ups due to mouldering red gums and burning peat.”
His leadership and commitment were again highlighted in his roles during the confronting Dadswells Bridge fire in the Grampians in February 2024, and the 2022 fires in Langkoop-Poolaijelo.
As a Group Officer for more than 20 years, Peter has seen both Victoria and CFA evolve, and although the regional population is declining and impacting volunteerism across many organisations, he has seen first-hand how major enhancements have helped the fire service.
“When I first started, the notion of aircraft was a bit of a novelty, but now they are a critically important part of fighting fires. Aircraft has changed how we do things, and we just need to continue having alternative methods to fighting fires,” Peter said.
Peter has actively contributed to brigade governance and training, also serving as Brigade Secretary and Treasurer since 2014, and Brigade Training Officer since 2010, roles which require substantial time and commitment to the development of volunteer capability.
“It all stems from that passion, and safety is so important in the work that we do. We just need to be on our guard for risk assessment all the time – especially for things like entrapment and hazardous trees,” Peter said.
“We just need to keep drumming it in. You just have to be so aware of what goes on. What is a red gum for us is another obstacle in another area of Victoria.”
In addition to his brigade responsibilities, Peter has contributed significantly to the advancement of CFA volunteers through his involvement as a delegate with Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria (VFBV) since 2008, and in May 2022, he was elected President of the District 17 Branch.
“We just need to always be recognising our volunteers and what they do,” Peter said.