Barjarg CFA Brigade members and family were on hand last Thursday evening to congratulate Chris Bennetts on receiving a CFA Life Member medal.

The medal acknowledges Chris’ more than 50 years of CFA membership and his exceptional service to the Barjarg Brigade.

Chris joined the CFA in 1974, before Barjarg’s current Captain was born.

He has held most operational leadership positions in the brigade since then, advancing from Lieutenant positions in the 80’s and 90’s to a two-year term as Captain in 2003. During a turbulent period for the brigade in 2008, Chris stepped back into a leadership role as First Lieutenant to support the brigade with his experience.

While he stepped down from active firefighting in 2024, he remains a regular at brigade meetings and events and is always keen to help wherever possible.

Presenting the medal was CFA Commander Paul Scragg, who highlighted the significance of the medal and thanked Chris for his dedication to the CFA.

Chris becomes the first Barjarg CFA member to receive a CFA Life Membership, which is awarded to those with at least 30 years of service and who have made significant contributions to the brigade, community and CFA.

The Barjarg brigade congratulate Chris on this award and hope to draw on his wealth of experience for many years to come.