Friday, 29 March 2024
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Buchan policeman rewarded for bushfire courage

Buchan policeman rewarded for bushfire courage

Buchan residents, Gwen and Ian Strobridge, aged in their 80s, admit they would have probably perished in the Black Summer Bushfires, if not for the quick thinking actions of local police officer, Ray Moreland.
The out of control bushfires had turned towards the Buchan township late on the afternoon of December 30 and Leading Senior Constable Moreland was mentally checking through a list of people who he knew would be vulnerable in the fire’s path. 
Senior Constable Moreland was in the police 4WD with visiting police officer, Leading Senior Constable, Andy Trace, when he noticed flames racing through the grass of Craig Woodgate’s property, just outside the town, and up toward the Strobridge’s house. 
After observing the flames on the ridgeline of the Strobridge’s property, Senior Constable Moreland decided to drive up to the home to ensure they had evacuated.
Upon arriving, he was surprised to see their vehicle still parked in the drive and witnessed Mr Strobridge attempting to put out the spot fires with a firefighting pump.
The house was in darkness after the fire had taken out the power and the flames were hungrily devouring the carport as it edged closer to the house.
Directing Senior Constable Trace to go inside and find Mrs Strobridge, Senior Constable Moreland negotiated with Mr Strobridge to abandon his battle with the fire and leave the property.
After packing a couple of bags, Mrs Strobridge walked out of the house with Senior Constable Trace and jumped in the car with her husband who was behind the driver’s wheel of his 1971 Holden sedan.
“There was fire everywhere,” Mrs Strobridge recalled.
“I’d never been through anything like it in my life and I don’t want to go through it again,” she told the Advertiser.
Not long after the Strobridges drove off to the safety of the recreational reserve their house erupted in flames.
“Thank god, they came and found us, we would have been gone otherwise,” Mrs Strobridge said.
As they drove away, Mrs Strobridge said to her husband, she didn’t want to look back at the house.
“I didn’t want to see it explode,” she said.
The Strobridges said they had been taken by surprise by the speed and intensity of the fire’s presence.
It had been a hot 43-degree day with just two per cent humidity and the couple had remained inside most of the day to stay insulated from the searing heat outside.
“It was too bloomin’ hot to do anything”, Mr Strobridge said.
Both were aware the fires were burning around them in the distance, but thought they would only have to deal with spot fires.
“We didn’t realise the fire was ready to take Buchan,” Mr Strobridge said.
“We were watching out for it but we didn’t realise it was going to be a threat.”
Mrs Strobridge was looking outside the bedroom window when she noticed the pine trees catch alight.
While her memory of the exact events is sketchy due to the speed with how they unfolded that day, she remembers Senior Constable Trace walking in the door and saying she needed to go.
“The next thing they’re giving me water and checking me over,” Mrs Strobridge said.
The couple remained at the Buchan recreational reserve through the night watching the fire “burning around the hills”.  
The following day after returning to their property, Mrs Strobridge said it was “all gone”.
She was non-plussed.
“What’s gone is gone,” she shrugged.
The two police officers had checked on the Strobridge’s neighbors that night, Jim and Ros McCole, who had decided to stay and defend their property.
Senior Constable Moreland says the Strobridge’s house was well alight when they returned from that check a mere 10 minutes later.
While Senior Constable Moreland brushed off the rescue as all in a day’s work, the officers’ bravery has been recognised by Victoria Police with the Medal of Courage to be awarded to them both.
In addition, the Royal Humane Society of Australia has too recognised their heroic efforts and will award the men Bravery Medals.
The police officers are expected to receive their awards at formal ceremonies later this year, with the coronavirus pandemic having played a role in delaying the recognition.  
Senior Constable Moreland has been stationed at Buchan for three decades and admits the fire on December 30 was “frightening”.
Two kilometres to the north of the Strobridge’s, 67-year-old Mick Roberts perished in the fires while defending his burning property.
The Strobridges are now rebuilding their house and have been living in a unit while the build gets underway.
Mrs Strobridge is “excited” about her new fireproof home and the couple visit their property regularly to tend to the vegetable garden and oversee the rebuild being undertaken by Blay Builders.
The two-bedroom house is positioned to overlook the garden and the rolling hills to either side.
The Strobridges can’t wait to move in and remain grateful to the two police officers who decided to check on their welfare almost 18 months ago.

IMAGE: Ian and Gwen Strobridge chat around the vegetable garden at their property with Buchan’s policeman, Leading Senior Constable, Ray Moreland. K133-707


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