Vic: First funeral held for dead firefighters

AAP General News (Australia)
12-11-1998
Vic: First funeral held for dead firefighters

By Heather Gallagher

GEELONG, Vic, Dec 11 AAP - Stoney faced volunteer firefighters farewelled the first of five
colleagues killed in the line of duty at a service at St Marys Catholic Church in Geelong
today.

Chris "Barney" Evans, 27, and his four fellow CFA volunteers died in the Linton bushfire
near Ballarat last week.

The large bluestone church was filled to capacity to farewell the man they called Barney
who was described as a loved son, friend and workmate.

Among the guests were Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett, Police and Emergency Services
Minister Bill McGrath, and numerous CFA members in full uniform.

The Reverend Paul Downie told the congregation Mr Evans had spent most of his short life in
Geelong.

"For Barney, all he wanted to be was a fireman, that was his passion and today he became a
hero," he said.

Although Mr Evans began firefighting in 1991, he had only been with the Geelong West
CFA since September.

But in that short period he had been well liked as an enthusiastic member of any crew.

Barney was the youngest of four children and was separated from his wife Heather.

Mourners walked from the church to the sad strains of My Heart Will Go On from the hit
movie Titanic.

Some CFA volunteers formed a guard of honour while others walked alongside a procession
with a military style band.

A 1938 Dodge pumper, originally from Geelong West in 1884, was driven by two firemen in
complete uniform with shiny gold helmets.

The procession was led by Geelong Wests captain Bruce Pickett and other senior CFA
officers.

The All Welcome Ten Pin Bowling League plan to make an award in honour of Mr Evans, who was
a keen player.

A funeral for Garry Vredeveldt, 47, will be held this afternoon.

Stuart Davidson, 28, will be buried tomorrow, while Matthew Armstrong, 17, and Jason
Thomas, 25, will buried next week.

AAP hmg/sp/jlw/mk/de

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRE FUNERAL

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