Published on Thursday, 29 May 2025 at 12:42:55 PM
The Shire of Capel has formally recognised the extraordinary service of Mr Chris Scott, who retires from his role as Chief Bush Fire Control Officer on June 1, after more than 55 years of dedicated service to the community.
At a special ceremony held to honour his retirement and remarkable achievements, Mr Scott was surprised with the presentation of the title of Honorary Freeman of the Shire of Capel, the most prestigious award the Council can place on an individual.
Mr Scott began his firefighting career at the age of 16, and in 1990 was appointed as Deputy Chief Bush Fire Control Officer. A decade later, in 2000, he ascended to the role of Chief Bushfire Control Officer, a position he has held since.
Throughout his tenure, Mr Scott provided exceptional leadership to the Shire of Capel Bush Fire Brigades, overseeing training and resourcing, maintaining brigade readiness, and liaising with the Shire on fire mitigation and suppression strategies.
As Chief, Mr Scott has been the incident controller for all major bushfires in the Shire of Capel and has also made himself available for deployments across the State and Nation. Mr Scott represented the Shire at key forums and committees, including the Local Emergency Management Committee, Bush Fire Advisory Committee, and many regional committees, contributing to the development of emergency and fire management policy across the region.
In recognition of his lifelong commitment to fire service and safety, Mr Scott was awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal in January 2024 as part of the Australia Day Honours List.
At the retirement ceremony on Friday evening, Mr Scott had the title of Honorary Freeman of the Shire of Capel bestowed upon him by the Shire President, joining just eleven others to have received the prestigious honour in the Shire’s history. The Freeman title is reserved for individuals who have demonstrated exceptional meritorious service to the community over an extended period. In a heartfelt moment, the award was also presented by his brother, Mr Murray Scott, himself a Freeman of the Shire since 2021.
Shire President Doug Kitchen expressed deep gratitude and admiration for Chris’s contribution:
“Chris Scott has given a lifetime of service to the people of the Shire of Capel. His leadership, humility and dedication to duty in keeping our community safe are truly inspirational. The title of Honorary Freeman is a rare and special honour, and it is most fitting we recognise Chris in this way.
On behalf of the entire community, we extend our deepest gratitude and heartfelt congratulations to Chris. Your service is a beacon of dedication, duty and excellence, and we are profoundly honoured by your service.
I would also like to acknowledge Chris’s wife, Christine, and their family – it is often the partners of volunteers that hold the fort together when emergency service volunteers rush off at all hours of the day and night. To Christine, we also thank you for supporting Chris and our volunteers all these years.”
The Shire of Capel extends its sincerest thanks and best wishes to Chris Scott as he begins the next chapter, although even after more than half a century of service, Mr Scott plans to remain an active frontline firefighter, exemplifying the spirit of selflessness and dedication.
Doug Kitchen
Shire President
Pictured above is:
[L-R] Top row – Freeman Murray Scott, Shire President Doug Kitchen, Freeman Chris Scott
[L-R] Sitting – Freeman Margaret Smith, Freeman Julian Sanders
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