27/03/2026
This week Foster Unit lost a much loved and respected member of our orange family, David Bartley.
If you reached out for assistance over the years, chances are David was one of the volunteers who turned up to help. You might have found David scaling rooftops to make emergency repairs, responding to call-outs for floods and tree hazards, or coming to your rescue when injured or lost in the thick scrub. A Foster local, David never hesitated to chuck on his boots and get out there day in and day out to support the community he knew and loved.
Beyond his volunteering, David dedicated 16 years as a staff member, most recently serving as Operations Manager supporting units across Gippsland. In that role, he worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure teams had what they needed to do their jobs safely and effectively. His leadership, experience and steady presence made a lasting impact across the region, and his commitment to supporting others never wavered—whether he was on the ground, on the end of the phone, or coordinating from afar. David was a trainer and mentor; incredibly skilled, and he always gave his time and knowledge freely.
David gave so much of himself to others, and that’s how he’ll be remembered; his legacy lives on in the people he trained, the lives he helped, and the communities he strengthened. He will be deeply missed, but never forgotten.
Vale David Bartley.
