Queensland Fire Services personnel recognised for distinguished service in King’s Birthday Honours

• Three Queensland Fire Services personnel have been awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) in today’s King’s Birthday Honours List.
• Auxiliary Captain Ashley Cupitt, Acting Superintendent Graeme Hall and First Officer Waine Scott have been named as Queensland’s AFSM recipients.
• The AFSM recognises the distinguished service by a member of an Australian fire service and is awarded to both paid and volunteer personnel.

Queensland Fire Services personnel have today been named in the King’s Birthday Honours List and awarded the prestigious Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM). 

Auxiliary Captain Ashley Cupitt, Acting Superintendent Graeme Hall and volunteer Firefighter Waine Scott have been awarded the AFSM for their exemplary service and dedication to their communities.

Captain Cupitt has served as an auxiliary firefighter for more than 46 years and was awarded the AFSM for his outstanding leadership and commitment to enhancing the auxiliary firefighter workforce throughout Far Northern Region.

Acting Superintendent Hall commenced as a professional firefighter in 1989.

He was awarded the AFSM for his leadership, critical expertise and commitment to building Queensland’s and Australia’s urban search and rescue capability, mentoring international teams and establishing the highly regarded damage assessment methodology in Queensland.

First Officer Mr Scott has provided distinguished service to the Rural Fire Service (RFS) for more than 37 years as a respected member of the Cooberrie Brigade. 

He was awarded the AFSM for his exemplary leadership in numerous fire events and for his contributions towards operational capability through training volunteers.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Mark Ryan:

“Across Queensland, Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) and RFS personnel continually put themselves on the frontline in order to keep Queenslanders safe,” Minister Ryan said.

“They don’t seek recognition or praise, but the outstanding work they do should never be underestimated.

“The three outstanding Queenslanders who have been honoured today have put themselves in harm’s way to protect others and they exemplify the qualities that make our State special.

“They should be proud of this special recognition and of the significant contributions they make every day.”

Quotes attributable to Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) Commissioner Greg Leach:

“Each AFSM recipient has consistently gone above and beyond in the line of duty for their communities and should be proud of this well-deserved recognition,” Mr Leach said.

“I am incredibly proud of the three firefighters who thoroughly deserve this prestigious medal and I want to thank them on behalf of QFES for their decades of service to this state.”

Further information:

The AFSM recognises the distinguished service by a member of an Australian fire service and is awarded to both paid and volunteer personnel.

Auxiliary Captain Ashley Cupitt

Mr Ashley Cupitt is a role model to his peers and has provided exemplary service and dedication to QFES for more than 46 years as an auxiliary firefighter. He is an inspirational leader and a highly respected community member. 

Mr Cupitt has consistently displayed outstanding leadership and commitment to enhancing QFES’ auxiliary firefighter workforce throughout QFES’ Far Northern Region and has been a dedicated, operational member providing firefighter response services during numerous natural disaster events including cyclones and bushfires.

His most recent disaster response entailed firefighting operations in Mareeba during the 2019-20 bushfires. He is a passionate Peer Support Officer helping QFES members in their time of need. 

Mr Cupitt is passionate and dedicated to enhancing community resilience through supporting the local community and promoting community education and safety at every opportunity, delivering fire education to schools and kindergartens, as well as Road Accident Awareness Programs to Year 11 and 12 students.

For many years he represented QFES on the Eacham Shire Council and Tablelands Regional Council's counter disaster planning committee.

He has dedicated time to conducting fire evacuation drills at schools, addressing many community groups, including Lion and Lioness Clubs, the Country Women's Association, and local businesses on fire safety.

Mr Cupitt has manned information stands at local shows and events to share his wealth of knowledge. 

Mr Cupitt has spent considerable time conducting hazard reduction burns in the interests of public safety and protecting the environment.

His outstanding dedication, prolonged service and compassion are an asset to both QFES and the Queensland community.

Acting Superintendent Graeme Hall 

Mr Graeme Hall commenced with QFES as a professional firefighter in 1989, and throughout his career has demonstrated distinguished service here and abroad. 

He is recognised for his leadership, critical expertise, and relentless commitment to building Queensland's and Australia's globally recognised Urban Search and Rescue capability, mentoring international teams in the region, and more locally establishing and embedding the highly regarded damage assessment methodology in Queensland. 

Locally, Mr Hall has provided operational response service in many disasters and emergencies, including the 2011 Christchurch earthquake and the 2019 Townsville floods. Internationally, he has had active participation and success in leading International Search and Rescue Advisory Group training courses in Singapore, the United States of America and China.

He has served in a range of appointments and has formed trusted relationships with key external partners to ensure the best outcomes for communities experiencing loss in the immediate aftermath of natural disasters. 

Mr Hall is acknowledged as a Fire Officer who strives for excellence and exemplifies the QFES values in the delivery of preparedness, response, and recovery services to local, national, and international communities.

First Officer Waine Scott

Mr Waine Scott has provided distinguished service to the RFS over a 37-year period. 

He is a respected member of Cooberrie Brigade and has provided exemplary leadership during multiple fire events in the local area as both an Incident Controller and Operations Officer, and has deployed to New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory to assist during the 2020 bushfires.

Mr Scott has a strong drive and determination to improve operational capability through training volunteers.

He sees training as an opportunity to build resilience and develop future leaders of the fire service.

Mr Scott started training volunteers in his local brigade and community more than 30 years ago. 

His passion for training and education has brought together local brigades and volunteers to enhance skills and build comradery, develop leadership and build trust amongst crews and brigades.

Mr Scott continues to train new and existing volunteers within his local brigade and other brigades in the Rockhampton area. 

He supports the members to enhance and develop their skills to ensure their safety in every job they attend.

He encourages and supports new members in their journey with the Rural Fire Service.

Media Contacts

Minister Ryan’s Office: 3035 8300

QFES Media: 3635 3310