Bega police Chief Inspector Peter Volf provided invaluable leadership during the 2018 Tathra district bushfire disaster and again throughout the devastating fires of summer 2019/20.
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For this, along with his "dedicated and exemplary service to the NSW Police Force, and to the community, for over 36 years", Chief Inspector Volf is receiving the Australian Police Medal in Tuesday's Australia Day Honours List.
He said he was "deeply honoured and humbled" by the acknowledgement.
"But everyone says that don't they!" he added with a chuckle.
The APM is the highest honour that can be bestowed on a police officer and Chief Inspector Volf said he was surprised to hear only one per cent of officers ever receive the award.
Chief Inspector Volf joined the NSW Police Force in 1984 and was first posted to the Redfern Police Station before transferring to Eden in 1985 as a general duties officer and part-time officer with the Water Police.
In 1992, he transferred to Bega, and then in 1996 to Condobolin, where he performed supervisory duties prior to his promotion to the rank of sergeant in 1997 and return to the South Coast of NSW at the Moruya Police Station.
In August 2000 he was promoted to the rank of inspector as a duty officer attached to the Far South Coast, and continues his duties as the officer-in-charge at Bega Police Station.
He is the recipient of significant praise for his leadership, mentoring and encouragement of his staff and command, and is widely acknowledged as a role model in professional policing practice.
During the 2018 and 2019/20 bushfire emergencies, his work as a LEOCON (local emergency operations controller) assisting the Eurobodalla and Bega Valley Emergency Operation Centres, and subsequent involvement with government and community representatives in the recovery period, exemplifies his skill and community relationship building.
On Monday Chief Inspector Volf told ACM he was very proud and appreciative of everyone around him, both under his command and in the wider community.
"It's alright for me to go charging in, but you need the people behind you backing you up as well.
"The people I've worked with over the years have been the real highlight. Without them I'm nothing.
"This [APM] is recognition of not just me but all the people around me, my family as well."
Chief Inspector Volf's thoughts on family are particularly apt in light of his Australia Day Honours citation's reference to the recent bushfire disaster.
"The word that stood out for me last year - and still resonates today - is 'resilience'. The resilience of this community, the emergency services, volunteers, and the families behind those volunteers - they can sometimes be forgotten, but the sacrifices they make are just as important.
"When I was at work leading the emergency response, my wife had to evacuate our home, packing up everything and evacuating with my mother, who lives with us, and our dogs.
"So while I was at the operations centre my own house was under threat - and I wasn't the only one.
"It's the family left behind that has to deal with all those crises. All the sacrifices they make.
"I think of my boys who would say, 'it's Friday night so we know Dad's not going to be around'. Or to see me come home battered and bleeding - it takes a toll.
"All police families are the same."
Chief Inspector Volf said he's not certain on who nominated him for the APM, but that he'd narrowed it down to two!
"I want to thank all my workmates for their support and comradeship. It's a great honour to serve for this length of time.
"It's a job I have loved coming to every day, but without that support it would be a great deal harder to get through it."
Ben Smyth
I have worked as a journalist since 2005 and am now Editor of Australian Community Media mastheads in Bega, Merimbula and Eden
I have worked as a journalist since 2005 and am now Editor of Australian Community Media mastheads in Bega, Merimbula and Eden
