A large number of CFA members have participated in a major multiagency training exercise over last weekend, tasking crews to respond to a simulated aircraft crash and grass fire at the Bacchus Marsh aerodrome.

Around 80 personnel from CFA, Victoria Police, SES, and Ambulance Victoria, with support from the Moorabool Shire council, took part in the training. 

District 15 Commander Gavin Hope, who oversaw CFA’s response, said multiagency training exercises are vitally important to ensure crews are ready for real-life emergencies.  

“Bringing all agencies together and working as one is an invaluable experience, so when or if something does happen, we all understand each other and know how each agency operates,” Gavin said.   

“It tests our interoperability to communicate through our radio networks so we can coordinate seamlessly and efficiently.” 

The training exercise situation centred around a small plane making an unplanned landing at the Bacchus Marsh aerodrome.

It inadvertently crashed into another plane, causing both planes to catch fire, along with a subsequent grassfire nearby.  

Pentland Fire Brigade Group 4th Deputy Group Officer Daniel Williams, who acted as CFA incident controller, said CFA broke response efforts into two sectors because of the two separate fire incidents.    

“Because life is the priority, resources were directed to the aircraft initially, then as other units came on the scene, command directed them to the grass fire risk,” Daniel said. 

“Once crews had extinguished the fires, the incident was handed to Victoria Police.” 

Brigades were briefed on the situation in real-time to ensure the simulation remained realistic.   

“A lot of work went into ensuring the drill accurately represented a situation that crews would face in the real world,” Daniel said.  

“Overall, the training went very well. We got to work together with the other agencies, tested our response plans and gave some new members valuable experience.  

“Every agency held a debrief after the exercise concluded and looked at ways we can improve, and that’s the main idea. 

“If there are any issues, we want to iron them out in training, not during real-life incidents. 

“We’ve all taken away some really valuable lessons from this drill.”

Words: CFA

Victorian fire services are recommending homeowners prioritise cleaning their chimneys before this winter is out, following 70 residential chimney fires last year.

In the last five years, CFA also responded to more than 530 residential chimney fires.

CFA Deputy Chief Officer Adrian Gutsche said before warming their homes this winter, Victorians should simply use a torch to regularly check for soot build-up or obstructions to reduce the risk of a fire starting from the fireplace or wood heater.

“Chimneys and flues should be cleaned annually. Always use a fire screen in front of an open fire and keep wood and other combustibles at least one metre from fire,” DCO Gutsche said.

“Our latest statistics show most fatal fires start in sleeping and living areas, so for your family’s best protection, smoke alarms should be installed in every bedroom, living and hallway area.”

FRV Deputy Commissioner Community Safety Joshua Fischer said maintaining your working fireplace is essential for home safety.

“Victorians who have a fireplace at home are making use of them a lot at this time of year. Proper maintenance ensures they don’t pose a risk to your family home,” DC Fischer said.

“Extinguish your fire and any open flames, such as candles, before going to bed or leaving the house. Check that the fire embers are cold before disposing of them.”

Victorians are reminded that long-life battery or interconnected smoke alarms located in all bedrooms, hallways and living areas of the home can save lives for as little as $20.

When the Erica & District Fire Brigade’s pager buzzed on a Wednesday night earlier this month, they had no idea they were about to embark on a paws-itively unexpected rescue.

Just before 6pm on 7 August, crews were alerted to a dog stuck under a cottage in Erica. When they arrived at the scene they found Molly, a 13-year-old King Charles Spaniel, in a tight spot. 

Molly had crawled under the floorboards and couldn’t quite figure her way back out. Crews quickly discovered access to the trapped pooch would be challenging because the house was an old miner’s cottage.  

First Lieutenant of Erica and District brigade Bryce Eishold said the situation required creative thinking.

“In CFA, we look outside the box to find answers to unusual jobs that arise; we summarised the situation and decided it was best to call in a local builder with tools,” Bryce said. 

That builder was Russ Dunn, who quickly got to work carving out Molly’s escape route.  

“Russ is a great supporter of the brigade and we knew he’d be able to bring his circular saw. 

 “We knew roughly where the dog was, and when he got there, we ripped up the carpet and carefully cut a hole in the floorboards,” Bryce said.

From the time of the call to CFA, Molly was freed into the arms of her very relieved owner, Sandra, in less than an hour.  

“CFA was brilliant, they responded so fast and put a plan together. They were so caring and I cannot praise them enough,” Sandra said.  

By all reports, Molly is recovering well after her floorboard fright.

Words & Images: Supplied, CFA

Construction has begun on the new Beaufort Fire Brigade Station and in recent days CFA members, with local MP Martha Haylett, visited the site to get a sneak peek.

The new station on Racecourse Road will replace the Flynn Street station and will be able to support up to 48 CFA volunteers and three appliances.

Beaufort Fire Brigade currently has 29 volunteers, including 16 operational and 13 non-operational members.

Beaufort Fire Brigade Captain Anthony Neville said the new station will be a huge asset to the brigade and the local community.

“The new station will have new technology and better facilities. It will be an integrated station to suit our members’ needs with all our vehicles and equipment in one place,” Anthony said.

“We hope it will allow community groups to use the meeting rooms and facilities.

“The old station has historic value, being over 150 years old, but the new station will be a much more accessible focal point for the community along the highway.”

The new facility will include essential amenities such as a motor room with three drive-through bays, offices, workshops, operational areas, meeting rooms, change rooms for both male and female volunteers, as well as unisex ambulant facilities.

Externally the station will provide a car park, and a six-bay storage shed.

District 16 Assistant Chief Fire Officer Steve Alcock said the new station would support the brigade for years to come.

“It’s being built with future sustainability in mind with locally sourced steel. The plans include solar panels, a rainwater recycling system, and the ability to install an electric vehicle charging station,” Steve said.

“There will be water-sensitive urban designs in the landscaping that will be able to tolerate the hot Victorian summers.

“The new station will really give Beaufort brigade the opportunity to grow and develop in the future.”

Beaufort Fire Brigade has served the community for over 150 years. Volunteers respond to more than 100 call outs every year, attending bushfires, structural fires, motor vehicle accidents and heavy vehicle incidents, as well as supporting emergency response efforts of surrounding brigades.

Construction of the station is estimated to be completed in February 2025.

Words & Image: supplied, CFA

The CFA led a major multiagency training exercise in Trentham over last weekend, tasking emergency services crews with containing a hazardous material spill in a busy workplace.

More than 75 first responders from CFA, Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV), Victoria Police (VicPol), and Ambulance Victoria (AV) participated in the four-hour drill at the Arxada facility, which was supported by the Department of Health, Hepburn Shire, and WorkSafe.

CFA District 15 Commander Adam Baker emphasised the importance of rehearsing multiagency emergency response scenarios.

“The objective of the exercise was to test and improve the way emergency services work together when responding to large-scale emergencies,” Adam said.

“It takes a coordinated effort from all our partner agencies to contain and combat an incident on site, so this training was an excellent opportunity for our senior leaders to engage with other agencies.”

When the exercise got underway, participants were briefed on the scenario to ensure their response was as realistic as possible.

Crews were then tasked with managing the hypothetical chemical spill, adapting to any unexpected circumstances, and establishing a course of action should the spill or vapour breach the site boundary.

“Emergency responders needed to be familiar with site-specific risks and ensure they’re prepared to respond to any issues at the site. That’s why we conduct these exercises almost annually at major sites,” Adam said.

As the lead agency for the exercise, CFA bore an increased level of responsibility, orchestrating the collaborative efforts of all participating emergency services.

Adam highlighted the critical role the lead agency plays when responding to emergencies. 

“As the control agency, we have the responsibility to bring the incident to a safe conclusion and then work to restore normality for the local community,” he said.

Adam added that Arxada was chosen for the exercise because it is the only site in that area, and one of 40 statewide, classified as a major hazard facility.

“The purpose of the training was to test Arxada’s emergency procedures and the emergency services’ response procedures to any incident there,” he said.

“I was really pleased with how the exercise went. Hopefully, we never have to put these skills into action, but at least all agencies and Arxada are well prepared.”

Words & Image: Supplied, CFA

Following 45 header fires last harvest season in the far north-west of the state, fire authorities are reminding grain growers to make machinery maintenance a priority ahead of the state’s new harvest season.

While fires in cropping paddocks during harvest have long been part of Mallee farming, occurring at a frequency higher than elsewhere in Victoria, on average CFA attends more than 200 header and harvest-related incidents across the state each year.

A report by CFA’s District 18 found some of the fires were spanning up to 535 hectares, and a total of 737 volunteers, 169 CFA vehicles and 16 aircraft were needed to fight these fires.

CFA Assistant Chief Fire Officer District 18 Gavin Wright said interviews were conducted with incident controllers and grain growers to explore factors that lead to ignitions, in conjunction with local factors such as extreme heat, wind and dust that are common in the area.

“Each year we see a similar pattern of ignition, with header hygiene a main cause, where chaff, dust and residue build up around the exhaust system and cause concern,” Gavin said.

“Bearing collapse or seizing of bearings also plays a large role, and annual replacement is strongly suggested, as is the use of an infrared thermometer to detect failure early.

“Often a piece of wire or a stone may get stuck in the back rotary beater or in the seed destructor too, and header pulleys can be over-tightened and overheat.

“We suggest a qualified header mechanic should conduct all repairs and that farmers use a high-capacity air compressor to blow down the header regularly.”

Gavin said fires may still occur under the most stringent precautions and maintenance regime, however it is vital that ignitions do not occur during periods of elevated fire danger. 

“Eight ignitions took place during three Total Fire Ban days over the 2023-24 season, which opens the door to greater risk of damage due to conditions that fuel rapid fire growth, speed and intensity,” Gavin said.

“As a farming community, we understand the decision to cease harvesting activities is not a simple one, with grain growers relying on the brief window of time they have alongside weather and financial pressures.

“However, be aware of any known risks or idiosyncrasies in your machinery that may increase the risk of fire and ensure you are carrying a method of water extinguishment at all times.”

Victoria produces 31 per cent of Australia’s grain, estimated to be worth $4.4 billion and cereal growers in District 18 contribute a significant portion to that, with harvest season seeing fuel loads of six to 10 tonnes per hectare of cereal, legume and lentil crop.

“From 13 November through to 18 December, we found that the increase in tonnage produced corresponded with an increase in calls to Triple Zero for harvest fires,” Gavin said.

CFA will look to develop a long-term community engagement strategy to provide ongoing support for cereal farmers across the Mallee and hopes the report will help drive conversations with community members about their own prevention and mitigation activities.

Farmers are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the harvest pre-season checklist at cfa.vic.gov.au/harvest.

Image: Supplied. Words: CFA

During the 2019-20 bushfire season North West Region avoided significant fires, but CFA members observed increased anxiety in sections of the Greater Bendigo community particularly those who had recently settled here from overseas.

Bendigo is home to more than 4,000 Karen residents, more than 300 Afghan Hazara, and increasing numbers of South Sudanese community members.

Bendigo is surrounded by bushland with an extreme fire risk and a high risk of flooding. CFA members realised that these new community members didn’t understand the natural risks they faced and didn’t know how to access the most appropriate help when needed.

A lack of understanding of how emergency services work in Victoria contributed to this dilemma.

With a strong connection to community, Bendigo Health Services partnered with CFA, VICSES and the City of Greater Bendigo to develop a program to boost the community’s understanding about bushfire, flood and heat health, and where to find information about these risks.

Crucial to the success of the program was the decision to recruit local, trusted members of the communities as ‘community champions’ to help deliver the key messages.

CFA members, along with other program coordinators, gave education and training to these champions so they could help deliver the messaging. This program truly put the community at the centre of everything we do.

CFA’s District 2 community safety presenters and community champions delivered the fire component in the field, and the champions provided continued support to their communities after the face-to-face sessions.

The champions were invaluable because of their insight into the best ways to engage the various communities.

The community safety presenters are enthusiastic about the program and they can see real results.

“I’ve worked with several Karen groups made up of all ages from toddlers to the elderly,” presenter Lin Quarrier said.

“I’ve found the secondary school age kids so supportive and respectful of their families.

They helped to install the VicEmergency app on their parent’s phones and contributed to the session well.”

Words & Image: CFA

Through friendly conversations with community members, Kangaroo Flat Fire Brigade, based just out of Bendigo CBD, has seen an injection of 12 new young and diverse recruits in the last twelve months.

You would not be mistaken if you thought you had heard the words Give Us a Hand around Kangaroo Flat recently, as the local brigade were presented with a special assignment.

An initiative led by Captain James O’Brien saw him simply task his members to engage with their friends, colleagues and broader networks.

“We did a targeted recruitment campaign, and at the beginning I asked all my officers and members to recall people they know who have once asked them about CFA before,” James said.

“They might have had a cousin or a friend’s husband who has casually queried them, wondering what it is like to join CFA, or what they enjoy most about driving the truck.

“Having already expressed passive interest in the past, I wanted them to revisit those engagements to encourage them to action those thoughts and sign up.”

Since then, an impressive 12 people have registered to become brigade members, with eight of them currently enrolled in CFA’s General Firefighter Course to become operational.

“I’m really proud to see so many new faces in the brigade, particularly because it’s probably the most diverse we’ve been as a group, so I’m really pleased,” James said.

“One member is a teacher from my children’s school, and he also happens to be a lecturer at Latrobe University. He brought two international students with him over from the uni, one is a refugee from Burma and the other is of African descent.

“Further to this, 50 per cent of our recruit intake are women – so it’s great to get a whole range of different perspectives, ideologies, and background experiences in our team.

“We’re really excited about the future of our brigade, and for those looking for help, I encourage them to casually engage with acquaintances beyond their circles and ask the question.”

Local solicitor, Sarah Swayn, 25, who became operational last September, has already turned out over 120 times with the Strathfieldsaye and Kangaroo Flat Fire Brigade’s.  

“I think I’ve been averaging about one call-out every two days, which is a lot on top of full-time work, but it keeps me very stimulated,” said Sarah (pictured above left).

“It is a challenge to balance it all, but I’m very lucky with my work that I’m able to work from home and I am allowed to turn out during work hours when I don’t have appointments on. I also get some emergency services leave on top of that.

Having her partner so heavily involved in CFA opened Sarah’s eyes to what role she could play helping the community.

“I love trying to encourage other women to step up into volunteering and letting them know that door is open. We’ve recently had a number of new women sign up which has been fantastic.”

Words & Image: CFA

The Caroline Springs Fire Brigade has been handed the keys to a new heavy tanker in recent days.

Member for Kororoit Luba Grigorovitch MP had the honour of officially handing over the new heavy tanker at the station last month.

Caroline Springs Captain Anthony Jenkins said the new heavy tanker is a next generation tanker and will enhance the brigade’s ability to serve the community.

“It has additional water carrying capacity, it’s higher off the ground and it has better capabilities as far as four wheel drive and off road vehicles,” Anthony said.

“It’s much easier for our members to operate and it’s a lot safer with new rollover protection cages.”

“We trained tirelessly for weeks so that we’d be ready to use it as soon as it was handed to us.”

“We had the tanker throughout summer and we took it to one of the strike team deployments at Beaufort.

“We put it through its paces, saved a couple of houses and hit the Beaufort fire head on in Raglan. It was a huge benefit to us.”

Caroline Springs is one of 48 brigades to receive a new, replacement heavy tanker funded in the CFA Capability Funding package.

Words & Image: CFA

Victoria’s fire services are warning Victorians to be aware of the risk of fires from everyday electrical household items.

Residents are being advised to keep the safety and maintenance of their electrical equipment front of mind when it comes to appliances such as clothes dryers, electric blankets and recharging portable devices.

In 2022-23, Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) and CFA responded to more than 5,137 structure fires across the state, which includes house fires.

“When a fire takes hold in a house, unit or apartment, it can swiftly spread and destroy your home in just a matter of minutes,” said FRV Deputy Commissioner Community Safety Joshua Fischer.

“Electrical fires are a common type of fire in the home. You can cut the risks by following a few simple steps and adopting commonsense habits that could make the difference between life and death.

“You should only use electrical equipment that meets Australian standards. Don’t overload power boards or cover them with flammable material. And don’t put electrical devices like laptops or hair straighteners on soft surfaces.”

DC Fischer said that people should turn off electrical devices at the power point, including electrical blankets and heaters before going to bed or leaving your home.

“Prevention is an essential part of fire safety for your home, so make a note on your to-do list. It really is worth taking a few minutes this winter to ensure you and your loved ones are protected against the risk of an electrical fire,” he said.

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said residents should check their appliances are in good working order with good air flow around them.

“No one thinks a house fire is going to happen to them, but last year CFA responded to 780 residential structure fires.  

“More than 140 of those were caused by electrical equipment including appliances and air conditioning. Already this year there have been over 60 electrical fires in the home,” CO Heffernan said.

“Using damaged or faulty electrical equipment and appliances can result in a fire, so please, play it safe, and only use certified electrical tradespeople to repair faulty appliances.

“It’s also important to check your home office is set up safely, with no loose cables or double adaptors and switch off any appliances at the wall when they’re not being used.

“We recommend all households have working smoke alarms that are regularly inspected and tested, you can buy them for as little as $20.”

 The CFA is warning that with electrical appliances it’s important to remember the following:   

• Using damaged electrical equipment and appliances can result in a fire. Only use appliances in good working order.
• Turn off all electrical appliances at the power point when not in use and ensure your home office is set up safely.
• Don’t use double adaptors.
• Only use power boards according to manufacturers’ instructions, never overload or have loose cables, and check regularly for damage.
• Ensure monitors, laptops, televisions and other equipment have good air flow around them and are not in confined spaces or covered. 
• Only use certified electrical trades people to repair damaged/faulty electrical appliances, wiring or equipment.
• Do not charge electrical devices like phones, power banks and laptops on soft surfaces such as couches and beds.
• If you are going away on holiday, make sure to turn off power to electrical appliances and let a neighbour know you are away. 

For 150 years, Beaufort Fire Brigade has been a mainstay in the community and that continues to this day.

Last weekend, 90 brigade members and townspeople celebrated the milestone which included stories about its rich history. 

Former captain Ron Brown told stories from 1996 until today.  Lifetime member Jeff Torney covered beginnings to 1996 when urban and rural brigades combined. 

The Beaufort Fire Brigade was started by a small group of locals who saw a need for it in 1874, back then it was a bucket brigade with no trucks.  

Ron, who has been with the brigade for 39 years, said the deep history included a footy team in 1908 and 1930. Even winning a few games. 

“Another proud thing about us is of all the brigades through Western Victoria, in World War I we had the greatest contingency of firefighters that went to war, including my great grandfather William Cheeseman who was one of the first to sign up,” Ron said.  

“Beaufort was relying on townspeople to help with fires as so many went to war.”   

Today the brigade has 29 members, 13 operational, two CFA appliances: a tanker and light pumper. 

In 2020 the brigade received its new field command vehicle and it’s earmarked to obtain a new station. 

Beaufort Captain Tony Neville said they just elected their first female lieutenant in the brigades 150 history – Taylah Middlemist, 25.  

“It means in the future the brigade can keep moving forward and we are not going to become stagnant,” Tony said.  

“Taylah has a long time ahead of her and hopefully one day if she’s up for it she can progress through the ranks, up to the ranks of captain.” 

The brigade has been to every major fire over the years including Ash Wednesday and Black Saturday. 

Words & Images: CFA

Mt Macedon Fire Brigade members have celebrated the official opening of their new fire station in recent days.

The local community gathered last Friday, June 21, to mark the special occasion including CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan, the Hon. Mary-Anne Thomas MP and Mt Macedon Captain Tim Slattery.  

The $4.04 million state-of-the-art station located on Mt Macedon Road has replaced the brigade’s 42-year-old station. 

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said the new station will provide modern facilities and features designed to improve service to the community. 

“The new station features a three-bay drive through motor room capable of storing modern firefighting vehicles,” Jason said. 

“It also has a rear training yard, a hose drying tower, male and female turnout facilities, a workshop, a brigade office and communications room, a multi-purpose training room and kitchen. 

“The station is a much larger facility for the brigade and its local community to utilise for many years to come.” 

Mt Macedon Captain Tim Slattery says brigade members are very pleased with their new home. 

Thousands of firefighters will be better protected on the frontline with a new foam fit-out on all of CFA’s ultralight vehicles.

The CFA has commenced the new $3.19 million retrofit program which includes 246 existing ultralights plus $4.95 million for the purchase of 33 new ultralights with crew protection.

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said significant laboratory, simulation and real fire exposure testing was conducted over the past few years to ensure the new systems met the occupant survival criteria.

“Retrofitting all our ultralights gives our members the best possible chance of survival in a burnover,” Jason said.

“The safety of our firefighters is our number one priority and we’re continuously looking for improved measures to do this.”

CFA introduced crew protection systems, such as water spray deluge and radiant heat shield curtains in all new tankers with at least 1,000 litres of water from 2006.

Between 2011 and 2013, CFA also retrofitted the same crew protection systems to all existing pre-2006 tankers.

The ultralight retrofit includes a compressed air foam based external deluge system (CAFS) and radiant heat shield curtains.

They will also be provided internal cabin stowage for fire blankets, making them more accessible for protection in a burnover.

All CFA crews undertake annual entrapment drills to ensure the continued familiarity with the new crew protection system.

Upper Beaconsfield Fire Brigade Captain Ian Pinney said their ultralight vehicle was one of the first in the program to receive the new foam fit-out.

“It’s an additional protection feature for the occupants in the vehicle. Hopefully we never have to use it, but it’s comforting to know it’s there,” Ian said.

“Ultralights have a light footprint so they are great to use in difficult-to-reach areas that trucks can’t.

“Our brigade is based in a high-risk rural bushfire area and we’ve attended significant fires over the years, so I can definitely see the benefit to further protecting our firefighters.”

The ultralights retrofit program is expected to be complete by the end of 2024.

Words & Image: CFA

Twenty-five new pumpers will be added to CFA’s fleet which help brigades better protect and serve their communities.

The new pumpers will be capable of delivering 4,000 litres of water per minute and once operational will replace pumpers that are older than 20 years of age.

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said the new pumpers are a welcome addition to the fleet and will result in a significant uplift in capability across the state.

“With the latest technology Scania Cab Chassis and the ability to integrate breathing apparatus sets in the rear seats, the pumpers will carry all the necessary equipment and tools to operate on a fireground,” Jason said.

“The pumpers can continuously pump thousands of litres of water at high pressure from a static supply such as a street main, lake or reservoir.

“They will also have the ability to produce Compressed Air Foam using an onboard compressor for enhanced asset protection.

“These new pumpers will ensure our volunteers continue to be well equipped to protect their communities during an emergency.”

“The pumpers were designed by our volunteers to include gender specific requirements to support women within CFA and to help encourage women to join in the future.”

The first ten brigades to receive the new pumpers will be Wendouree, Kangaroo Flat, Sebastopol, Eaglehawk, Narre Warren, Rochester, Emerald, Benalla, Bairnsdale and Lorne.

Manufacturing of the new pumpers began late last year at SEM Fire and Rescue in Wendouree, with the first of the 25 pumpers due for completion mid-2025.

The Victorian Government announced additional funding of $18.6 million for 15 new pumpers last month on top of the $9.9 million for 10 pumpers announced last year.

Words & Image: CFA

The CFA is encouraging its members and the community to roll up their sleeves to save lives for the 2024 Emergency Services Blood Drive.

The Blood Drive, held annually by Australian Red Cross Lifeblood from 1 June to 31 August, calls on emergency service workers to compete in a bit of healthy competition by providing the highest number of blood and plasma donations.

In recent days CFA Deputy Chief Officer Garry Cook and Hillcrest Fire Brigade members Rochelle Poulton and Molly Drane joined the launch of the drive alongside our emergency service partners at the Melbourne Donor Centre.

Hillcrest Fire Brigade 4^th Lieutenant Rochelle Poulton kicked things off by donating plasma in the hope of rallying CFA members across the state to donate before 31 August.

“Each year when the blood drive starts I try to get a team together from my brigade to donate as it’s another way we can give back to the community,” Rochelle said.

“I try to donate plasma every fortnight because it’s important to me knowing my contribution is something larger than myself and it’s helping saving lives.

“I also receive a text message telling me where my blood is going and how many lives it’s saving.

“My blood went all the way to Western Australia once, which is incredible and makes it a reality that people out there need your help.”

Deputy Chief Officer Garry Cook said he hopes our members and the community can get behind the challenge this year to help save more lives.

“The need for blood is ongoing and one donation can save up to three lives so it’s a small amount of your time for an incredible cause,” Garry said.

“Our members are always great at rising to the occasion, so I encourage them to roll up their sleeves and donate before the end of August.”

To book a donation, visit www.lifeblood.com.au, call 13 14 95 or download the donate blood app.

Words & Image: CFA