Elsie Lange
Captain Peter Daley, ex-Sunbury Country Fire Authority (CFA), dedicated his life to service as both a volunteer and an employee, and his sad passing in early May will be felt throughout the community.
Mr Daley – or Pete as he was known around the station – joined Sunbury CFA in 1979 as a junior and is said to have shaped, through hard work and dedication, what the brigade is today Sunbury Fire Department.
Sunbury CFA captain Paul Brown said Mr Daley “has been there forever”.
“He started life in the brigade 41 years ago, he held just about every officer position in the brigade, but eventually became a captain,” Capt Brown said.
“Being able to follow in the footsteps of people like Pete is an honor.”
Mr Brown said Mr Daley was a ‘cornerstone’ of the brigade and everyone knew or knew him.
“He was a larger than life character, he wore his heart on his sleeve and said it like it was,” Captain Brown said.
At a meeting of Hume council on May 9, councilor Jarrod Bell paid tribute to Mr Daley and said he ‘did everything’ to keep the community safe in times of emergency and crisis , not just locally, but across Victoria.
Mr. Daley held the positions of CFA Communications Officer between 1994 and 1996, Fifth Lieutenant from 1996 to 1998 and Fourth Lieutenant in 1999. He was later elected Second Lieutenant from 1999 to 2001 and, in 2001 , was elected captain of the Sunbury Fire Department.
“A position he held with great pride until June 2003,” said Cr Bell.
After his Captaincy, Mr Daley became Brigade Commander, as well as fifth Deputy Group Officer for the Hume Group. He received his CFA long service badge in 1991, the CFA clasp in 1999, and his national medal for 15 years of service in 2001.
He was also a life member of the Sunbury Fire Brigade and his main passion with the brigade was his involvement with the urban firefighting competition team, Cr Bell said.
Mr Daley’s funeral will be held at Sunbury Uniting Church at 11am on Friday May 20.
Captain Brown said all Sunbury CFA officers and members sent their deepest condolences to Mr Daley’s family.
“Rest easy Pete, you answered your last call, we’ll take it from here,” Captain Brown said.
