VIC: Geelong loses five heroes to fire

AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-1998
VIC: Geelong loses five heroes to fire

By Heather Gallagher

MELBOURNE, Dec 3 AAP - The first fire of the summer robbed Geelong of five heroes.

The firefighters, the youngest only 17, volunteered to put their lives on the line for
their community - and yesterday paid the ultimate price.

The men were engulfed by flames when a routine mopping up of a bushfire at Linton in
western Victoria went horribly wrong.

While the Australian flag was lowered to half mast at the Geelong Town Hall and people
donned red ribbons in recognition of the dead, the focal point for grief was the West Geelong
CFA station.

Those who died - Matthew Armstrong, Stuart Davidson, Chris Evans, Jason Thomas and another
whose name has not been released - were all from the West Geelong CFA. They were aged between
17 and 48.

The grief was palpable as family, friends and CFA members laid floral tributes in front of
the glass doors of the station and signed a condolence book.

Bruce Pickett, captain of the Geelong West Fire Brigade, said the CFA had been a great
source of support providing emergency counselling last night.

"Our brigade suffered a tragedy that will live on in the memories of our comrades," he
said.

"Well never forget them."

A tearful Sarah Birch, 17, said her cousin, Matthew Armstrong, had just finished Year 11
and had applied to get into a Year 12 course.

"I still cant believe it, I went into his room and he had all his trophies lined up," she
told reporters outside the Geelong West CFA.

"Im trying not to put anything else into my head, just remembering his smile, he was
always laughing."

Supported by her siblings, Ms Birch said her 17-year-old cousin, an only child but with
step brothers and sisters to whom he was devoted, never expressed a fear of firefighting.

"He loved what he did. He loved getting out there and saving everything - he loved it."

With the grief came anger.

Angus Robertson, who has lived in Geelong most of his life, said he feared the families of
the men who lost their lives would not be adequately compensated.

"They (the politicians) were all on the telly this morning giving their deepest condolences
now whatll that do, what does that do? Theyve given their lives," he said.

He became emotional as he spoke of his friend "Dutchie" - a man in his 30s also killed in
the fire, who he had spoken to only yesterday.

"He was always joking and being a big man he was always flexing his muscles and thought he
was indestructible, thats the way he looked," he said.

Geelong mayor Ken Jarvis said shock waves had filtered right through the city and he was
amazed at how many people in the region had known the deceased.

"Geelong is a very quiet city today, were shocked by whats happened," he said.

"The loss of these five heroes of our community has deeply affected us."

AAP hmg/jlw/it

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRE VIC GEELONG NIGHTLEAD

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