The long-time Tongala Fire Brigade volunteer was recently presented with his 50-year service medal, recognising five decades of commitment to protecting the community and supporting fellow firefighters.
Mr Ferguson said receiving the honour was a proud moment.
“I was really pleased. It's a great achievement that I've made over the years, and with the support from the brigade it's been really great,” he said.
Mr Ferguson joined the Tongala Fire Brigade in 1976 after helping contain the widespread flooding.
“At the time I was helping with the sandbagging and I was asked if I'd like to join the brigade,” he said.
“They wanted someone in the running team, which Tongala used to have, so that's where I first started.”
What started as a way to help the community quickly grew into a lifelong commitment.
Over the years, Mr Ferguson completed deployment tours to Queensland, Sydney and the Pakenham and Brighton areas, assisting communities during major emergencies.
“I really enjoyed it because you were helping a lot of people,” he said.
He later rose through the ranks to become captain of the Tongala brigade, a position he held for 14 years.
One of his proudest achievements was bringing together the town's separate urban and rural fire brigades.
“When I was captain, I amalgamated the urban fire brigade and the rural fire brigade together, and that really helped the brigade a lot,” he said.
Since stepping down as captain, Mr Ferguson has remained an active volunteer, mentoring younger firefighters and continuing to respond whenever needed.
“Quite often I get down to the brigade and the truck might already be going,” he said.
“They'll say, ‘We've got a crew, you can stay at the station in case we need you.’
“I still go out with them, but they tell me I'm getting slower. I say, Well, that's what happens when you get older.’’
Looking back over five decades, Mr Ferguson said firefighting had changed dramatically, particularly with advances in equipment and vehicles.
“The biggest difference has been the equipment and the trucks,” he said.
“With the old trucks, you could feel the heat and know when it was time to back off.
‘’The new trucks protect you so well that you can get much closer to the flames before you realise how close you are.”
Tongala Fire Brigade secretary and treasurer Mel Emmett said receiving a 50-year service medal was a rare achievement, particularly for someone who remained so actively involved.
“For every five years of service, members receive recognition, but it's rare for someone to reach 50 years and still be heavily active within the brigade,” she said.
“He still turns out quite often.”
She said the award recognised the time and dedication volunteers gave to their communities.
“It's recognition of the time and effort spent within the fire community,” she said.
Ms Emmett encouraged anyone interested in volunteering to visit the brigade.
“Just come down on a Monday night, or Tuesdays during summer, meet the crew and see what it's all about,” she said.
Alongside his 50-year service medal, Mr Ferguson has also been awarded life membership of the CFA, an honour recognising his decades of dedication to the organisation.
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