He was one of the brave men behind the rescue efforts during the Grantham Floods, and the Black Summer Bushfires – Corey Bock has dedicated 28 years of his life to putting the lives and wellbeing of others before himself as a Queensland Fire and Emergency Services officer.

Now the Executive Manager has been recognised for his endless bravery with an Australia Fire Service Medal, one of the highest honours in the country.

Fire and Emergency Minister Mark Ryan said Mr Bock’s professionalism, dedication and desire to go above and beyond earned him the honour.

“In his 28 years with QFES, Corey has shown all these attributes and more, so it is fantastic to see national recognition of his efforts,” Mr Ryan said.

“I’d like to congratulate Corey on this award and look forward to seeing his work continue to benefit Queensland communities for years to come.”

Mr Bock’s service has been at the frontline of some of the southwest’s most devastating disasters, and despite running directly into dangerous, sometimes life-threatening, situations, he has shown astounding bravery.

As a senior officer, Mr Bock has played important roles in co-ordinating volunteer support and bushfire management activities.

QFES Commissioner Greg Leach said Mr Bock was well-respected by his colleagues and those in his community.

“He has been a trailblazer within the organisation, serving as the first Ministerial Liaison Officer from the RFS, representing QFES across all facets of government strategy and relations,” Mr Leach said.

“In addition to his permanent role, Corey is also an experienced RFS volunteer. He embodies the QFES values of respect, integrity and courage, and leads by example.

“Corey’s commitment to sharing his specialist bushfire management knowledge will help ensure QFES can continue to deliver a world-class fire service into the future.”

Originally published as Brave man behind local flood and fire rescues honoured with medal