I have recently been fortunate enough to spend a few weeks out of the busy loop travelling through Europe and visiting family with my wife. It gave me a great opportunity to recharge the batteries, mend some old bruises and reflect. Certainly, I needed a holiday and I am grateful for Adam Barnett who took over as CEO and along with the rest of VFBV leadership did a tremendous job as always.

I know I needed the rest and I am sure there are many volunteers feeling the same. I don’t think any of us have enjoyed the games being played with Victoria’s Fire Services over the past few years and I certainly have been very disillusioned with the way volunteers have been treated and the way many people who stoodup to support us have been (and in some cases still are) being treated.

My first reflection is simple – make sure you are looking after yourself and your loved ones. If you are tired or feeling fed up with the way things are, take a step back recharge and come back to the task energized and focused. But don’t give up. A rest will give renewed energy for the challenges yet to come and we still have some serious work to do if we are to ensure CFA continues as an organisation we love and respect.

I went away hoping there would be some magic and perhaps the Victorian State Government would abandon its flawed plan to dismantle CFA. Returning, I see the same games are still at play, perhaps more by stealth and back room deals than in public.

Although some of you may have been lulled into hoping it isn’t the case, the risk of CFA being torn up for some secret deal or political or industrial agenda is still a problem as real and large as ever, probably with the key determinant now being more dependent on who wins Victorian State election later this year.

So, this is my second reflection and I have to say it is a sad one - the problems we were dealing with last year and back at Easter time this year as legislation to carve up CFA was considered and defeated by the Victorian parliament, have not gone away, and they aren’t likely to go away unless there is a distinct policy change.

My third reflection came as I looked back from countries I have just visited, that had recently experienced war, corrupt process or lived under dictatorships to our own state of Victoria.

When I think about what has been going on in Victoria regarding the CFA carve up, secret deals, sackings/bullying out of good people, payback and intimidation I can’t believe this is actually our country; our modern supposedly transparent government process at work.

If we were observing the dodgy decision making; the secret deals; the dismissal of an ever-growing list of good people just because they tried to call out foul play; inappropriate industrial interference; and the political spin and false information being thrown about to drag down the reputation of CFA, and CFA volunteers, just to serve some other hidden political agenda, we would probably say it looked like another world corruption or a broken democracy.

This reflection troubles me and I feel we need to find a way to call out the poor behaviours even louder.

On a positive note comes a fourth reflection, and it comes on the back of watching and listening to various reports about our ex Fire and Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett’s recent pre-selection. Like many of you I watched and read the media coverage around the attack and retribution attempted to be dished out on Jane just because she had the courage, integrity and values to stand strong for truth and fairness on the CFA issue.

I can’t believe these attacks were not called out as unacceptable by some people in positions of leadership.

The extent of propaganda, secret deals and intimidation of people who dared to speak up since Jane’s departure as Emergency Services Minister in my view is the worst I have witnessed in my 35 years involvement with any Government.

My reflection is an admiration for Jane’s integrity and values and courage plus a flip side reflection of how much the display of these attributes by Jane exposes and calls out those who don’t have them.

Finally, I reflect on what we will say if CFA is dismantled, or if we give up and walk away or withdraw; or if we stop trying to voice an argument. What we will say if one day when CFA is needed most - some of its core capability, that exists because of the current arrangements, isn’t there.

It won’t be good enough, even if we can pin point the culprit, to make them stand in the witness box and accept responsibility – it will be too late. I reflect that although I am tired, like many of you are, of the feeling of trying to hold back a machine hell bent on rolling CFA over, it is important that we maintain our energy and our voice and our values.

The organisation we have built and loved is about partnering with our communities, putting them first and making sure we are there for them in times of emergency. Our intent is a pure and moral one, and our commitment to our communities is unshakeable.

Imagine what would have happened on Black Saturday or Ash Wednesday without a well prepared, motivated and well led army of volunteers working as one with our paid staff, instrumentalities and other emergency services in protecting Victoria.

I remind myself about the fundamental principle that we shouldn’t let the stubborn might and secret deals of people in power destroy our spirit or wear down our energy to stand for what is right.

Ask yourself – what can you do? Who can you speak to? What influence can you exert?

To help ensure that the policy platform that will determine the future for CFA is right and sustainable and beyond political interference. Everyone can do something as an individual and combined our efforts will make a difference – as long as we act rather than sit and hope someone else will fix it.

I want to close by extending sympathy to the individuals, families and communities who have been affected by the recent tragic fires across the world, particularly to those who have lost loved ones, homes and livelihoods. In my travels on the other side of the world, I watched in horror as the power of mother nature tore through parts of Greece and more recently through California. The fires in Greece in particular, are a stark reminder to us that major fires will happen and a reminder of the sad fact that these infrequent but major fires ultimately have the most devastating consequence to people, to communities and to society.

It was a poignant reminder for me about how important the work we do is, and why it is just too important that we don’t give up on it.

Stay safe and be proud of what you are doing to build a safer Victoria.