February 8th, 2026Musk CFA lending a hand and raising funds

Putting their local area to good use, the Musk CFA brigade recently transported 50 rolls of hay to the Harcourt Relief Station. CFA secretary John Franklin said the majority of the grass was donated by Rijk Zwaan of Musk from one of their surrounding paddocks with farmer Trevor Brown cutting and rolling it with help from Jed Neville and the rest of the brigade.

Four trucks driven by CFA members were loaded and the hay was moved to Harcourt. The Victorian Farmers Federation got involved too, donating a fuel subsidy for the trucks driven by Wayne Orr, Greg Orr, Trevor Brown and Aaron Orr. But wait, there’s more.

John said the Musk CFA was an active brigade and had just recruited seven new members from the area as part of succession planning.

“They’re living locally and they’re not farming or part of the farming community. They’re people who are working from home or doing some trades and so forth. It’s been good that when we’re broadening it we’ve got younger ones and now they’re very enthusiastic. Things like this hay organisation is a lot easier to do.”
The next move is the Musk CFA getting permission to start a GoFundMe page to raise money for another tanker for their region – which takes in businesses like Rijk Zwaan Australia, Dairy Flat Farm, Passing Clouds winery, Daylesford Cidery and the Daylesford Spa Country Railway.
Musk CFA is also responsible for the area’s two key potable water reservoirs – Wombat and Bullarto.
The new tanker would double the current number of tankers – just one.
John said the Musk CFA took part in strike teams which meant their one tanker could be called on to leave the area to help elsewhere.
While other CFAs in the Glenlyon Group can help out, another tanker would be a much valued addition, he said. The cost of the tanker is about $250,000 but if $45,000 can be raised the rest may be found in a grant.
Finally, mark your calendar for May. The Bullarto Bush Dance is another major fundraiser, not to be missed.
Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Gavin Orr