BSAR receives Divisional Commendation from Victoria Police Eastern Region

Peter Campbell and Duncan Brookes accepted a Divisional Commendation for BSAR from Victoria Police Eastern Region on 29 November 2017.

BSAR receives Police Commendation 11 Nov 2017

The commendation was presented by Divisional Commander Paul Hargreaves.

For outstanding service, collaboration, commitment and tenacity in support of Victoria Police and the community, during a number of Victoria’s highest profile, challenging and confronting search and rescue response in Eastern Region.

Victoria Police Eastern Region Divisional Commendation for BSAR
Victoria Police Eastern Region Divisional Commendation for BSAR, November 2017

Duncan Brookes awarded Emergency Services Medal

Duncan Brookes, a BSAR member for over 42 years, was awarded the Emergency Service Medal on Queens Birthday, 8 June 2015.

Duncan Brookes

The citation is:

Mr Brookes has been a dedicated member of the Bush Search and Rescue Victoria (BSAR) team for over 42 years. He has been the Lead Training Organiser on 10 BSAR Annual Training weekends responsible for numerous duties including managing the organising groups; developing the training programs; arranging logistics; and providing briefings to instructors and participants. More recently, he has provided vital

leadership in the development of the 2012
to 2016 BSAR Strategic Plan and is following up with implementation of several initiatives arising from it including membership management improvements; safety clothing; and creating and improving operational policies. Mr Brookes has participated in over 34 searches and has provided outstanding service to BSAR as a Field Organiser on 19 of these.

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2013 Bushwalking Victoria Distinguished Service Awards for BSAR members

Four long-serving Bush Search and Rescue members had their contributions to search and rescue, bushwalking and the wider Victorian community acknowledged when they received Distinguished Service Awards from Bushwalking Victoria in July 2013.
2013 Bushwalking Victoria Awars to BSAR members
John and Faye Retchford, Donna and Duncan Brookes, Stuart Brookes, John and Monica Chapman, Beverly and Merv Trease.

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2005 National Bravery Award to members of the Birkebeiner Ski Club

Members of the Birkebeiners Nordic Ski Club received a group citation in the 2005 National Bravery Awards for their contributions to the search and rescue of three men in blizzard conditions on Mt Bogong in August 2004.

The recipients were Jim Gargan, Paul Grusovin, Rob Borland, Jarrod Paine and David Panozzo, together with Gordon Guest-Smith from the Mount Hotham Ski Patrol.

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Stuart Brookes OAM

Stuart Brookes is a keen bushwalker who has contributed much to recreational bushwalking, including long service with Bush Search and Rescue, in Victoria.

Stuart has produced maps of Victoria’s Alpine Area and other popular bushwalking destinations from the late 1940s to the current day.  These maps are regularly updated and provide reliable and detailed information tailored to the needs of bushwalkers.

Stuart was director of Initial Training with the Bushwalking and Mountaincraft Leadership course from 1973 – 77 and chairman of the Bushwalking and Mountaincraft Training Advisory Board 1982 – 85.

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