MEDIA ALERT
Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board
456 Albert Street, East Melbourne 3002
Tel (03) 9662 2311 Fax (03) 9665 4244
20 November 2009
12.00pm
Firefighters to receive the highest of MFB honours
The MFB will be awarding the first Valour Medals since 1959 at a ceremony in Melbourne at the
MCG on Monday 23 November 2009.
MFB President Adrian Nye and CEO Ken Latta will be presenting the Medals, as well as Board
Citations of Service and Chief Officer Commendations acknowledging the bravery and dedication
displayed by MFB firefighters at an incident at Yarraville in 2007.
The Valour Medal is awarded for outstanding bravery in the course of operations and is the highest
honour to be awarded by the Metropolitan Fire Brigade.
This occasion will recognise the bravery displayed by three MFB firefighters, who on 12 October
2007 put their own lives at risk to save the life of a colleague.
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
WHAT:
Presentation of MFB Valour Medals
WHO:
MFB President Adrian Nye and CEO Ken Latta
Chief Fire Officer Tony Murphy
Valour medal recipients
WHEN:
10.10am
Monday 23 November 2009
WHERE:
MCG
Concourse, outside Gate 3
Melway: 2G D6
For further information please contact:
Jennifer Roberts
Communications Coordinator
0400 919 778
jroberts@mfb.vic.gov.au
MEDIA ALERT
Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board
456 Albert Street, East Melbourne 3002
Tel (03) 9662 2311 Fax (03) 9665 4244
Background Information
The MFB
All MFB firefighters are full time career firefighters and serve an area covering more than 1,000 square
kilometres incorporating Melbourne’s CBD, inner and middle suburbs. The MFB protects almost four million
residents, workers and visitors and more than $200 billion of assets and community infrastructure.
Yarraville incident and acknowledgement
On 12 October 2007, MFB Leading Firefighter Richard Zapart sustained life-threatening burns while battling
a fire at a furniture business in Yarraville. Leading Firefighter Mark Fincher, Leading Firefighter Brian
O’Connell and Senior Firefighter Russell Johnson re-entered the burning building at considerable personal
risk to rescue Leading Firefighter Zapart following total fire engulfment of a compartment that trapped
Richard.
MFB Firefighters and paramedics revived Leading Firefighter Zapart on scene and then returned to fighting
the blaze with oncoming crews.
These actions were undertaken in the most professional manner and with little concern for their own
personal safety.
Although these firefighters sustained their own injuries from the engulfment and were dealing with the
stress of an injured colleague, they never once wavered from the task at hand and displayed immense
courage.
This incident – both horrific in nature and lasting in impact - has displayed the very best qualities of MFB
staff: camaraderie, dedication and bravery.
This Valour Medal ceremony will recognise the bravery displayed by LFF Mark Fincher, LFF Brian
O’Connell and SFF Russell Johnson for their actions on 12 October 2007.
The ceremony will also recognise a number of other firefighters who worked tirelessly and diligently to
provide care for LFF Zapart and in mounting the attack on the fire.
The MFB Valour Medal
The MFB’s award system is in place to recognise acts of service which go beyond the call of duty and the
Valour Medal is awarded for outstanding bravery in the course of operations.
The Valour Medal is the highest honour to be awarded by the Metropolitan Fire Brigade and this is the first
time since 1959 it has been awarded (the last recipient was H.A. Stirling in 1959).
NEWS 
