By Ewen McRae
Sunshine Leading Firefighter Colin Campbell has devoted much of his life to serving the community, and last week he was officially recognised.
Mr Campbell was awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal as part of the Australia Day Honours, recognising decades of dedicated service, professionalism, leadership and innovation.
The medal recognises distinguished service by members of Australia’s fire services and is awarded by the Governor General. It is awarded to both paid and volunteer firefighters.
The MFB citation on Mr Campbell said he is a well-respected Multicultural Liaison Officer (MLO) who has worked to improve the lives and safety of vulnerable community members throughout his career. His efforts have helped prevent fires and promote positive relationships between emergency services and the community.
While he lives in Laverton, Mr Campbell is based in Sunshine and has served the western suburbs for nearly 30 years. He said he was particularly proud of his work in multicultural communities and in educating the broader community about fire safety.
“I see my role as bridging the gap between firefighters and the community,” he said.
“I love helping people overcome their fears and feel confident to call triple-0 knowing we’re here to help.”
