Hot teamwork helps win medal

By Sarah Schwager
A TOORADIN firefighter has received Australia’s top honour when it comes to fire service.
Ted Clay has volunteered with the Tooradin Fire Brigade for more than 50 years, was captain for more than 20 years and is group officer of the Cranbourne Fire Brigade Group, now called the Casey Group.
On Monday he was announced as one of the country’s dedicated firefighters to receive an Australian Fire Service Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
“I joined the CFA in February, 1956,” Mr Clay said.
“At that time people joined the CFA for self preservation. If you wanted people to help fight fires at your place you needed to help others as well.”
Mr Clay was instrumental in developing and leading the Cranbourne Group of fire brigades some 20 years ago and continues to be at the forefront of change, with the Cranbourne Group now aligned with the City of Casey.
“My role is to coordinate brigades at major fires, manage people on the ground and make sure they have the resources and equipment they need to suppress the fire,” he said.
“It has its moments. It can be difficult.”
But Mr Clay said he has stayed on board for so long because of how much he had got out of it as well.
“I have learnt a lot from the CFA, about leadership and caring and giving back to the community.
“The CFA is very community-minded. It’s the same with Rotary, Lions, local school and other volunteers, it’s not all work, you learn a lot and get a lot done.”
Mr Clay also works as a farm manager and has since he left school.
He said he would not have been able to do what he had done through the CFA if it were not for his family and a great crew. “Everyone has been very happy that I won the medal. I’ve had lots of congratulatory phone calls,” he said.
“But any of these things you don’t do on your own. Whatever I’ve done in the CFA has always been as part of a team.
“If you don’t have good people around you it doesn’t happen.
“You need a lot of good people with a similar mindset as your own. Any volunteer at any organisation would say that.
“Also you can’t do it without the support of your family.
“My wife (Jane) totally supports me even to the extent that up until a month ago she was also secretary of the Cranbourne Fire Brigade Group.”
Mr Clay thanked all firefighters who he said also deserved a medal.
“Heaps of people do as much if not more than me.
“A lot of people deserve it,” he said.