It was established in mid 1999 by a number of representatives from both
Volunteer Associations within the Tasmania Fire Service.
Prior to that time a number of reports on volunteerism throughout
Australia had indicated that there was little recognition for services provided
by volunteer firefighters. More to the
point volunteer firefighters had indicated that they appreciated recognition
and felt that some type of award system was appropriate.
Our fire service currently administers two National Awards for the
Honours Secretariat based in Canberra. They are:
which is initially awarded for
15 yrs of diligent service and further clasps for 25 – 35 & 45 yrs service
The Australian Fire Service Medal AFSM.
This is the highest award available to fire service personnel in
Australia.
Tasmania’s recommending authority for this award is the Minister for
Health & Public Safety. Tasmania has
an allocation of three AFSM’s per year.
Both of the National Medal and the AFSM, as part of the “Honours
System” are worn
on the left breast as National Awards.
The TFS Volunteer Medal and TFS Volunteer Award.
Both of these awards have
been established:
and with the financial backing of the State Fire Commission for which we are obviously very grateful. The initial year required $20,000 to establish the system
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The TFS Volunteer Medal is awarded to operational brigade members after initially
completing ten years service, as a pre requisite and
then it has to be established by a “statement of support” that the service has
been both diligent and with integrity”. This is
not a “service award” – the Medal is not
awarded simply for years of service, although additional clasps for years of
diligent service with integrity may be added after the initial approval.
The TFS
Volunteer Award is awarded along similar
lines to that of the Medal, other than it is awarded
for non-operational service.
Both the Medal & Award have received “State Award Status” having been accepted by the State Government in September 1999 via a Cabinet Submission.
The TFS Volunteer Medal & TFS Volunteer
Award are worn on the right breast and the lapel badge for the TFS Volunteer Medal is worn on the right lapel of
either a jacket or outer garment.
The TFS Volunteer Medal is made up of
ten alternating yellow and green stripes (Tasmania’s Colors) and a central
stripe of double thickness depicting operational service. Clasps as previously indicated, may be
approved, to be worn for additional diligent service with integrity at 20 – 30
& 40 yrs
The TFS Volunteer Award is either a
nickel chrome or gold lapel badge. A
citation is also provided. This award
is for non-operational persons of a support role.
The TFS Volunteer Medal & Award nominations are reviewed by two
committees and awarded if recommended and subsequently approved.
To date (2004) approx 300 nominations have been received. In the
initial year the Framework received approx 160 nominations.
Nominations re-open each year on the 1st November
and close on the 1st March the next year.
Don Mackrill AFSM OAM
State Co-ordinator
TVFFAF