General News
7 February, 2024
National recognition
COBDEN'S Peter Rohan has received a National Emergency Medal for his high-altitude role in battling the devastating bushfires of 2019-2020.
The National Emergency Medal is awarded by the Governor-General to those who rendered service in protection of lives and properties during nationally-significant emergencies in Australia, including bushfires, floods and cyclones.
The 19-20 fire season was among the worst in Australian history, burning more than 1.5 million hectares, 450 homes and killing five people.
Then-Premier Daniel Andrews declared a State of Emergency as tens of thousands of Victorians were forced to evacuate their communities, or were trapped from leaving as the raging fires encroached.
Mr Rohan was stationed out of Corryong, a town roughly similar in size to Cobden located in north-east Victoria near the New South Wales border.
On the ground members of the community issued pleas for emergency supplies or information on their missing loved ones, while others fled to protect their families from seeing the aftermath the fires had wrought on their homes, pets and livestock.
“They were horrific fires,” Mr Rohan said.
“Five people lost their lives.”
While families beneath the orange haze skies were implored to evacuate, Mr Rohan was tasked with direct attack bombing from above.
“It was prolonged dump campaign which went for three weeks,” he said.
“We (air fire fighters) were working out of Corryong, Bairnsdale and Mansfield – we would fly up in to the mountains and drop the loads on to the fire strategically to assist the ground crews.
“That’s our primary goal, to provide ongoing assistance to the ground crews and support them.
“When you’re up in the air, you get a great perspective of what the fire is actually doing but you do have to be careful because visibility with so much smoke becomes hazardous, especially in high country or steep valleys.”
Despite the accolade earned through his actions in the face of danger, Mr Rohan said nobody battling the bushfires was there for a medal.
“I’m humbled,” he said.
“A lot of people put in a lot of work during the bushfires.
“There were people on the ground who were in support with us - fuel, meals, accommodation – it took a lot of people behind the scenes to make it all possible.
“In saying that, I’m thankful that we’ve been recognised for our work because I believe we do a great job in what we do.”
The Cobden-Timboon Coast Times caught up with Mr Rohan last week at the Cobden Aerodrome before he took off to Colac for a training exercise – a flight which takes only around 10 minutes.
His plane, currently around two years old, is the largest single-engine plane, or SEAT (Single Engine Air Tanker), with a value of around $4 million.
The airtanker is propelled by a 1700 horsepower engine and can carry 3.2 tonnes of retardant, foam or water.
“Our local CFA crews are trained to refill from the on-site water tank here in Cobden,” Mr Rohan said.
“We have to land to reload, but they can have the bomber refilled in three minutes.”
Mr Rohan has been flying since he was 17-years-old, acquiring his license to take up crop-dusting, but has over a decade of experience fighting fires from above.
“AGAIR from Stawell called me one year and asked if I would be interested in doing some firebombing,” he said.
“I had a bit of a think about it and it seemed like it could be rewarding, so I’ve been doing that since about 2010.”
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