Community stalwart awarded AFSM
Photo: Stock and Land
Rodney McErvale has been recognised with the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) for his outstanding service to CFA and the communities of Raglan, Beaufort and surrounds.
Rodney has dedicated 37 years to CFA, responding to over 500 incidents in that time, including 36 incidents in 2025 alone.
Throughout his service, he has held the roles of a firefighter, Lieutenant, Raglan Captain, Deputy Group Officer and Beaufort Group Officer, giving thousands of hours to support local communities and emergency response across Victoria.
Rodney said receiving the AFSM was never on his radar.
“It’s a great honour, but it’s also a reflection of the people I’ve served alongside over many years,” Rodney said.
“CFA is built on teamwork, and I’ve been fortunate to work with so many dedicated people who give so much to their communities.”
Rodney’s leadership was tested during the 2009 summer bushfires, where he served as a Sector Commander in the Healesville area, north-east of Melbourne.
For his leadership and dedication during this deployment, he was awarded the National Emergency Medal.
“The bushfires in 2009 were an incredibly difficult time for so many communities and firefighters,” Rodney said.
“You carry those experiences with you, but they also reinforce why training, leadership and community connection are so important.”
Rodney said one of the most rewarding aspects of his CFA journey has been helping younger members gain experience and develop into future leaders.
“I was lucky to have people who were prepared to teach me, show me things and give me opportunities when I was young,” Rodney said.
“If you’ve got young, keen people, you’ve got to let them have a go under guidance. You can do all the training in the world, but you can’t beat real-world experience.”
Beyond the fireground, Rodney has played an important role in helping communities record and preserve their experiences after major fires.
His strong connection to local communities led him to help facilitate projects documenting the 2019 Lexton fire and the 2024 Bayindeen-Rocky Road fires, capturing the voices of those directly affected.
Those projects led to the publication of two books, Heat, Help and Healing, which documented the 2019 Lexton Fire, and Scarred, which captured community stories from the 2024 Bayindeen-Rocky Road fires.
Through these initiatives, Rodney also helped secure donations for local committee groups, ensuring funds were reinvested directly into affected communities.
“It’s important that these stories are not lost,” Rodney said.
“Fires have a lasting impact, but they also show the strength of local communities and the way people support each other through recovery.”
Rodney said the support of family, fellow volunteers and local communities had been central to his time with CFA.
“No one does this alone,” Rodney said.
“It has been a privilege to serve and to help where I can.”