GARRY Cook, who was appointed operations anager of District 23 in mid-1995, helped establish the Mt Buller CFA Brigade and has been awarded the Queen’s Honours' top service medal.

Garry’s 35-year career and dedication to CFA and the broader emergency services and his exceptional strategic leadership has seen him recognised with an Australian Fire Services Medal (AFSM) in the 2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours list on June 14.

During Garry’s time in the District 23 role he helped establish the Mount Buller Fire Brigade and led some of the largest multi-agency exercises in the district.

He was also heavily involved in the response to the devastating 2002/03 Alpine fires.

In 2005 he was appointed to lead the Integrated Fire Management Planning Project, established to act on recommendations from a report into the Alpine Fires.

Garry joined Edi Fire Brigade in North East Victoria in 1981 at the age of 16.

He joined CFA’s permanent ranks in 1986 as an assistant regional officer based at headquarters, before moving to the training college as a guest instructor in early 1987.

In 1994 he returned to headquarters as a district officer and was part of CFA’s Strategic Planning Group, a new and dynamic team whose role was to shape the future of the organisation.

The foundations set by Garry through this project influenced change for the betterment of the community and led to the development of programs such as Safer Together where agencies and the community work closely together to manage fire risk and community safety.

In September 2014 he was appointed as assistant chief officer for the North East region.

Garry’s exceptional strategic leadership skills, operational knowledge and commitment to CFA has seen him entrusted with the role of acting chief officer on several occasions, including in 2020 at the beginning of Fire Services Reform – a critical time for CFA and its people.

He is currently deputy chief officer specialist services responsible for areas including operational communications, specialist response, structural fire planning, fire investigation, and marine and technical rescue.

He also remains active in both state agency commander and state response controller roles.