Creswick Fire Brigade’s senior running team may lack in numbers, but their dedication and positivity in the lead-up to the State Firefighter Championships certainly makes up for it.

Heading to Mooroopna to participate in the Urban Senior Firefighting Championships on Saturday 23 March, two-time participant Logan Hand will be lending a helping hand to the brigade’s newest recruit Charles Huang who will participate for the first time.

At just 18 years old, Logan has been an active member of the brigade for two years, following in the footsteps of his three family members who volunteer with Creswick, one being the Captain.

“I’ve been around the brigade my whole life and I’ve been marching with them for as long as I can remember. I always wanted to get involved as soon as I could,” Logan said.

“The Championships are a great opportunity to mix with different brigades. I really enjoy the camaraderie and the friends that you get to make, both in your own team and in others.

“I’m most looking forward to the ladder and cart events as they are a bit more interactive and challenging for me.”

The team hit the ground running early in the season, having started training twice a week from October with hopes to overcome their biggest challengers Osborne Park and Melton.

“We figured because we’re a new team, we should get in some good practice,” Logan said.

“While competitive, we’re all friends and it’s good fun. I’d really encourage people to give it a go. Everyone is supportive and it provides such great training with great people.”

Charles Huang , a 22-year-old medical student, has been a brigade member for only just over a year, but is already putting his best foot forward on the track.

“I always go into training with the mindset of wanting to better myself and to find ways to improve my technique. I really want to get stronger and faster,” Charles said.

“I wasn’t very good at the ladder run initially. So, in the past few weeks, I’ve become really motivated to get better at doing it.

“I’m most looking forward to the cart events because it is such a team effort, and everyone has a role to play. It’s also really exhilarating to push a decently heavy cart down the track.”

As a small team of five, Charles said although they don’t have specialties like other teams, they have identified what they most need to work on and have been drilling that in at training.

“A few of us weren’t powerful enough yet for the cart event, so we practised that initial segment over and over again,” Charles said.

“What we found was with each iteration we could really refine our technique. For me, I needed to work on my hand grip on the handle and make that a smoother transition. But after several run-throughs, I was able to actually do what we wanted.”

“Instead of running out the entire cart and having to roll up the hoses again, we just focused on the areas that needed improvement and we’re really seeing results.”

Just three months as a CFA volunteer and Smythesdale Fire Brigade member Lisa Thompson has already put her hand up to assist in a Grampians strike team for her first campaign fire last month.

Having only started in December last year and with only 11 call-outs under her belt, Lisa did not hesitate at the opportunity to lend a hand to the communities in need.

The experience was made sweeter as she joined her dad, Darryl Thompson, who has been a Napoleons-Enfield Fire Brigade member for almost 30 years, in the strike team that headed to the recently contained bushfire in Dadswells Bridge.

“I put my name forward straight away. I’d done a few call-outs over recent weeks, so I wanted to make sure I was comfortable to do it. You’ve got to be in the position to protect your teams and everyone else as well,” Lisa said.

“I had responded to Staffordshire Reef fire the day before for 11 hours, and I knew dad was there too with Napoleans, but I’d only seen him once and waved to him briefly. I was at the base of the fire, and he was at the start of it.

“We were both accepted to join the strike teams at Dadswells Bridge, so we caught up at different points and had a coffee as we refilled. He checked on me at the end of each day to see how I was going, so it was nice to have his support nearby.”

Lisa had just returned from a week of annual leave from her role as a disability house supervisor, arriving home from a cruise at 12pm before getting called out just three hours later. 

“I was refreshed and ready to go. But not knowing what to expect was confronting. The crew that I went up with were great and helped me adjust knowing I was new,” Lisa said.   

“I got a lot of praise from the crew leader, so that was nice to know I did a good job.”

Working with multiple brigades and emergency services over the week, Lisa said seeing everyone work together to put in their best efforts to protect life and property in the region was a fulfilling experience.

“It didn’t matter what brigade you were from, you supported each other especially at rest stops. We’d just chat with other brigades and learn more about one another,” Lisa said. 

“I bumped into one of the guys from Bacchus Marsh who came through my training, so it was nice to see him getting involved early on too.

“It’s just amazing how everyone works together and looks after each other, not just on the fireground but also in general wellbeing and fatigue management. It was very impressive.”

While her dad has been heavily involved in CFA, it was the local women who Lisa crossed paths with that ultimately got her through the doors.

“They were saying such great things. I was hesitant being a female, but they mentioned quite a few had joined recently so I thought why not.

“I got my partner, Jake, to move across from Smeaton and it’s been such a positive experience. I think dad was prouder of me joining CFA than when I graduated year 12.

“The Smythesdale brigade members have been incredible. They are so supportive, and they’ve encouraged me to get out in the field and learn on the job.”

Words & Image: CFA

For 35 years, Cranbourne CFA member Debbie Jackson has been tin rattling for the Good Friday Appeal, raising much needed funds for sick children attending the Royal Children’s Hospital.

Debbie is the coordinator of the appeal for Casey Group and this year they’ll reach a huge milestone, raising $350,0000 for the extremely worthwhile cause. 

Debbie said each year eight to nine brigades stand on the major intersection of South Gippsland Hwy and Sladen St in Cranbourne and rattle tins, last year they raised a massive $15,710 for the cause. 

“I remember my parents throwing out a donation through the car window to CFA and now it’s my turn to help,” she said. 

“You don’t even have to ask people twice to give donations on the day. Most people throw out the window what they have. Anything above a zero and you’re helping out.” 

She said she was motivated to keep going after many years because it was such a good cause. 

“My job wouldn’t get done if I didn’t have the support of other CFA members on the day. I appreciate everyone’s help and it couldn’t be done without them.” 

Debbie said it’s important to raise money for the Good Friday Appeal because nurses and doctors could only do so much without fundraising for the children. 

“The bigger the total the better is it and the more you can give to the kids, the more equipment you can buy,” she said. 

“In the past I’ve had relatives go to the children’s hospital. Most families know someone who has gone for treatment at the hospital. You give back what you get.” 

And every year brigade members and people driving past to donate are excited to be part of the collection on Good Friday. 

“It’s a good atmosphere, it makes brigade members want to collect on the day. The kids get so excited to see the fire trucks and all our firefighters collecting,” Debbie said. 

The competition for the upcoming State Firefighter Championships is heating up, with CFA members from districts 9 and 27 joining forces to hit the running track.

Having both formed in 2018, the dedicated Women’s Networking Groups are made up of over 150 passionate members, with 100 in District 9 and 77 in District 27. This will be the first time they have representation at the championships.

With the March weekend looming, Warragul Fire Brigade firefighter and Women’s Network member Dani Watkins is excited about the highly anticipated occasion in Mooroopna, having never participated before.

“Like most of the South East region, we have a Women’s Network in District 9 and 27. However, we decided to combine the two for the event because 27 is quite small,” Dani said.

“A couple of us decided we would put together a running team because it looked like a bit of fun.

“We’ve got seven members at the moment, six are from District 9 and one is from District 27.”

The team has enlisted the help of Pearcedale Fire Brigade to get up to speed with the specifics of the events, training once a week or once a fortnight in the lead up to the state event.

“It has been really good to train with Pearcedale. We were essentially starting from scratch with no prior knowledge of any of the activities,” Dani said.

“We asked Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria (VFBV) for some help, and they pointed us in the direction of Pearcedale because they were the closest brigade to us that runs in rural events.

“We called them up and asked them if we could join them for a training session and they’ve been really accommodating since and have taught us so much.”

Fellow network member and Tanjil Fire Brigade firefighter Margaret (Maggs) Harrison was quick to put her hand up to represent her brigade at the Championships.

“When we met to discuss the State Firefighter Championships, I thought I may as well jump into the opportunity and give it a shot with the other women for the first time too,” Maggs said.

“I’ve found training with Pearcedale to be enlightening. It’s been great to watch how they work together and understand how they work as a team. They are a really friendly brigade.”

Maggs said the development of the women’s team was to not only bring brigades together in a new environment, but to also continue empowering women.

The Senior Urban and Senior Rural events will be held at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve on Saturday March 23 and Sunday March 24.

In a rare moment of peace District Mechanical Officer Garry Drabsch was snapped between jobs as the haze from the recent Beaufort fire loomed nearby.

“The photo was a sheer fluke, ” said DMO Garry Drabsch.

“The reason we were in Beaufort is there was a truck that allegedly had some engine problems which we’d just checked and we were looking for a bit of a drink and a breather.”

“We were trying to find out where some other trucks were, organise diesel fuel and all sorts of things. That’s why I was sitting on that bench with my phone in my ear.”

The photo was taken on the first night of the Beaufort fire and while it was still early days the work for Garry and the DMO section was constant.

The mechanical team worked to turnaround a number of overheated trucks and get them back on the fireground as soon as possible.

“Normally it will just be ash and dust in the cooling system and the radiator and we just need to get in there and blow it all out.”

The DMOs also started to see some minor damage like broken mirrors needing to be fixed.

When the trucks are on the fireground at major fires Garry said it can be pandemonium for the mechanics and they often find themselves chasing the trucks all over the fireground.

“The whole section does a wonderful job but tends to do it on the quiet.”

With temperatures set to soar across the state this Labour Day long weekend, the CFA is urging Victorians to be prepared for persistent fire risk as they embark on their travels.

Recent fires in February across the Grampians, Beaufort and Dereel serve as a reminder the fire season is not over yet and communities need to be prepared. Although the fires are now under control, crews remain active on the fireground blacking out and working on hazardous trees.

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan encouraged travellers to familiarise themselves this weekend with the fire district they are entering or basing themselves in.  

“While the recent bushfires have been contained by our incredible firefighters, fire risk will continue to linger over the coming months,” CO Hefferan said.

“With the lack of recent rain, fuel loads in our drier forested areas will increase, and our greener grasslands will continue to dry out.

“We know there is a slightly elevated chance of a drier than usual autumn, and we’re already seeing that this weekend with temperatures set to reach high 30s and low 40s. 

“Victorians simply need to be in tune to the fire and weather conditions around them.”

The Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Autumn Seasonal Bushfire Outlook released last week indicates Victoria had above average summer rainfall and less than average bushfire activity, little to no rainfall since mid-January shifted things significantly in the west of the state.

CO Heffernan expects grassfire risk will persist throughout March and reminds all Victorians to download the VicEmergency app to remain alert to the fires in their region.  

“Grassfires can move at speeds of up to 25km per hour and can jump highways, so you must be prepared to alter your route if required,” CO Heffernan said.

“Avoid driving through high-risk areas on hot, dry, windy days if you can, and monitor conditions through two or more sources of local information.

“We’re particularly asking those living in the western part of the state, or those who plan on travelling in that direction to regularly check the Fire Danger Ratings.”

As the Fire Danger Period is still in place across all municipalities across the state, community members are reminded to visit CFA’s ‘Can I or Can’t I?’ webpage to understand what activities they can undertake.

Easter is just around the corner, which means CFA volunteers are about to hit Victorian streets and rattle tins to fundraise for the annual Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) Good Friday Appeal.

For 73 years, CFA has been a proud major fundraising partner of the Good Friday Appeal, raising over $37 million since 1951.  

Last year, CFA brigades helped raise a massive $1,606,287 for the appeal by volunteers shaking tins on fire trucks, standing at traffic lights, in camping grounds and at clubs. 

Today, CFA Deputy Chief Officer Alen Slijepcevic was joined by Caroline Springs brigade members 1st Lieutenant David Topp plus firefighters Jake Busutill and Stephanie Robson to help launch the appeal. 

They were joined by faces of the appeal Emily and Finley and their families.  

Caroline Springs brigade has raised $96,434.47 in total for the Good Friday Appeal, edging closer to the $100,000 milestone. 

Captain Anthony Jenkins is the new Collection Group Manager for the brigade.   

The father-of-five also has a strong connection with the hospital, one of his daughters helped by the team there.  

“My daughter, just 18 months then, had her finger cut off and reattached by the plastics team at the Royal Childrens after an accident with a door. She is 13 now and you’d barely know it’s been reattached,” he said.  

“I am so grateful for the appeal and the hospital especially after seeing first-hand the good work they do. They make you feel so comfortable as a parent too.” 

DCO Slijepcevic said he was extremely proud of CFA’s long-standing relationship with the Good Friday Appeal.  

“The remarkable thing about our volunteers is that not only do they give up their time to volunteer with CFA, they also happily give their time to fundraise for causes like the Appeal,” he said. 

“It’s a cause close to the hearts of many of our members – whether they were former patients at the hospital or have family who have been touched by the RCH’s world-class service. 

“We’re incredibly proud of our members’ continued fundraising efforts and pleased to once again support the Good Friday Appeal in 2024.” 

People living in parts of Victoria’s north-west and south-west are being warned to prepare for catastrophic fire conditions tomorrow, with temperatures forecast to reach the mid 40s in some areas.

A bushfire that started at Bayindeen, north-west of Ballarat, last week has not yet been brought under control. Authorities have issued warnings for residents of surrounding towns to leave their homes tonight or by midday on Wednesday, and prepare to take their pets and essentials for three days.

The bushfire could threaten the towns of Amphitheatre, Beaufort, Clunes, Elmhurst, Learmonth and Lexton.

The State Control Centre has released an impact map of the potential impact zone.

Premier Jacinta Allan said tomorrow would be “incredibly difficult” with predicted wind gusts of up to 80 kilometres per hour and dry lightning.

“Tomorrow is likely to be one of the most dangerous fire days Victoria has experienced in recent years,” she said.

“People who live in these high-fire-risk areas need to think about having their plan in place, activating their fire plan and particularly if the emergency services tell you to leave or give you a particular message, please follow that message and heed those warnings.”

About 600 firefighters have been working to suppress the fire in Bayindeen, which has burnt more than 20,000 hectares and destroyed at least six homes since it started on Thursday.

Firefighters of the Eureka Group Strike Team have told how CFA training helped save their lives during a burnover on the fireground in Pomonal earlier this month.

The crew arrived in Pomonal, near the Grampians National Park, at around 4pm on Tuesday February 13, to protect homes impacted by the fire, when a wind change occurred not long after they got there. 

Jarrod Pegg, member of the Ballarat CFA, said the blaze went from slow moving and predictable to increasing in height several metres at a time. 

“We were attacking the fire and the rapid change in wind caused a significant fire wall to approach our truck which came over us while we were still out of the truck,” he said. 

“At that point in time I enacted our burnover protocol at CFA, ensured my crew were in the truck safely, then radioed through a mayday call to our strike team leader to inform them of our situation, from there other units from our strike team approached and assisted in our safety. 

“We had little time to act to the situation but were able to get in the truck safely with minimal injuries. 

“Fortunately our training kicked in, we train for this type of activity, we don’t like to see it and hope it never happens, but we still train for it every season,” Jarrod said. 

Jarrod said a burnover was a situation no CFA member wanted to be in, but their training guided them. 

“A burn over is what we try to avoid, no one wants to be in. But all across CFA and fire services we practice it. I am comfortable with the training I have received. I had no concerns about what was happening yesterday. 

He credits the success not only to the training, his team too. 

“All I had to do was inform my team we were going into a burnover and didn’t have to think twice about what was happening next. Everyone played a part in the protection and safety of ourselves.”  

And in true CFA spirit, after getting medical clearance the strike team decided to continue fighting fires.  

“I’m proud of my crew, they were very adamant they wanted to get back to the fire ground as soon as they could. They wanted to continue protecting the community they were there to save.” 

“For me personally, this incident reinforces for volunteers to exist in CFA and continue to support communities, particularly communities during their time of need.” 

The Burnbank Fire Brigade has marked its 80 year anniversary this month with an event to celebrate its history and contribution to the local community.

Chief Officer Jason Heffernan and Deputy Chief Officer Brett Boatman joined Burnbank Captain Michael Boord on Saturday afternoon, February 10, to reflect on the Brigade’s years of service over the last eight decades.  
 
Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said he was honoured to witness the incredible milestone event. 

“I couldn’t be prouder of the hard work and dedication of our Burnbank volunteers and I have no doubt CFA will continue to have a strong community presence in Burnbank for the next 80 years.”  
 
The Burnbank Fire Brigade was formed on the 26th of January in 1944 by a group of farmers and residents from the Evansford and Burnbank districts – just north west of Clunes. It was registered as part of CFA’s formation in 1944 and is currently aligned with the Pyrenees Group of fire brigades. 
 
Captain Michael Boord has been with the brigade in various roles for the last 18 years. Over that time he has collected various photos and documented its history as best he could.

About a month out from the brigade’s 80th anniversary someone got in touch to let him know the owner of the original Burnbank tanker was looking to sell.  
 
“I couldn’t believe it. It just fell into my hands about a month before the anniversary. It was quite bizarre!” said Captain Michael Boord.  

“It was in Raglan about half an hour south of us. I went and had a look at it and it wasn’t in bad shape. It’s a 1949 Austin.  

“We all decided to pass the hat around. We made an offer and we were able to get it for $900. It was a great find.” 

 The original truck was in service until 1988 and is currently parked out the front of the station. The Brigade is hoping to add a canopy to protect it from the weather and use the truck for a display.  

Michael also managed to get his hands on the original minutes from when the brigade was incepted right up until today’s date. A photo of the original minutes was printed and framed for the community to see at Saturday’s event.  

The Burnbank Fire Brigade was part of the first responders to the 2019 Lexton fire and played a vital role in stopping the fire in its tracks. Many of the brigades long serving members remember it as one of the fiercest fires they have ever witnessed.

Daylesford and Hepburn brigade members have met with CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan in recent days to highlight the importance of road crash rescue brigades and the vital work they do in the community.

This comes just four months after members attended a horrific incident where five people were killed outside a Daylesford pub.   

Recently the brigades did a road crash rescue demonstration, the extraction of a patient, and stepped the CFA Chief Officer through the process.  

Daylesford Fire Brigade Captain Glenn Webster said having a rescue unit adds a lot of pressure. 

“We do a lot of training, last month the brigade turned out to six serious car accidents, far more than usual,” he said. 

“Some years are busier than others. We have had a particularly busy year due to potholes in the road that have caused some driver distraction.” 

Speaking about the events of 5 November 2023, Glenn said they don’t generally train for mass casualty events like that one.   

“I was the officer in charge and tasked the team to split up, find someone who was conscious or was at least breathing and stay with them and keep them alive. Do what they could until more paramedics arrived. The team performed amazingly.” 

He said the days after were extremely difficult. 

“The team was wonderful. They attended public vigils, they attended church services, they held each other up. They held me up when I was struggling. I couldn’t ask for a better response from the brigade. They were amazing.” 

And the community rallied, even leaving the brigade flowers at the station and cooking for them.  

“It did take a while for the shock and pain to start to settle down, but I think the community is pretty much back to where it should be now.” 

Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said rescue units play a vital part in keeping Victorians safe. 

“Unfortunately, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in the number of road crashes and fatalities in Victoria. We are fortunate to have such dedicated rescue units like Daylesford, volunteers available day and night, to render assistance to anyone in a road crash,” he said. 

“I feel safe in the knowledge we have some of the best trained rescue operatives in this state should we ever need them.” 

CO Heffernan said he wanted to meet up with the brigades to share his gratitude for the hard work and dedication they perform for the community.  

“I also wanted to recognise the horrific accident that happened in the town that touched so many in the community. 

“The members have been doing it tough. It’s an opportunity for me to come along and say thank you on behalf of the community and also listen to them and continue to support them in their recovery.” 

The CFA has 21 road crash rescue brigades including Daylesford.

Dr Tegan Brown is one of many researchers paving the way for women and girls who are looking to take on careers in STEM (science technology, engineering and maths). 

As part of International Day of Women and Girls in Science (11 February), the CFA has applauded Dr Tegan Brown’s work which uses climate models and landscape data to predict future fuel types.

This data is then used in her work to predict future fire activity and model the number of fire management resources Victorian fire agencies will need in coming years. 

Growing up in the Latrobe Valley, fire was synonymous with summer for her family. For as long as she can remember, Tegan loved the outdoors and the environment.

This laid the foundations for what is an incredibly meaningful career in research and land and fire management. 

After school Tegan enrolled in a general science degree which led her to taking subjects in fire, some taught by the late Professor Kevin Tolhurst.

Tegan then completed the Science Graduate program through the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) which opened her eyes to the importance of research in the emergency and land management space.  

Reflecting on her own experiences and looking to the future, Tegan is passionate about ensuring we continue to recognise and encourage women from all walks of life to pursue careers in science. 

“My parents really encouraged my pursuit of higher education which I am very grateful for,” Tegan said. 

“I recognise my privileged position in not having faced hurdles in my career that can be present for women in science. 

“That said, I have frequently been the only woman in the room, which can be challenging.

“There are incredible women working in land and fire management and research. It’s all of our responsibility to support their development and leadership. 

“I would love to see us continue to encourage more women and people with a range of lived experiences to pursue careers in science and for organisations to continue opening those doors for the next generation of science leaders.” 

She said that science needs diversity to better the knowledge that is created to help serve the community.  

“Data isn’t neutral, it is interpreted by scientists through a lens built from context and lived experiences,” Tegan said. 

“Having more diverse people contributing to and making decisions in land, forest and fire management will enhance our organisations and our contribution to communities.” 

Tegan’s found an incredibly rewarding experience through her life in science and now with CFA. 

“The environment is something that people interact with every day, and I love being able to work in an area that facilitates getting people into the outdoors and managing the landscape we live in,” she said. 

The CFA is urging farmers to ramp up their hay maintenance for the remainder of the season, following a surge in haystack fires, with fire fighters responding to more than 50 since November.

With haystack fires igniting predominantly in the western parts of the state across the Wimmera and Loddon Mallee, so far, the CFA has already responded to at least 29 in the North West Region and 12 in West. 

The rise calls for the agriculture sector to monitor the moisture and temperature of their hay more regularly, to store in separate stacks and in sheds away from farming equipment and structures.  

A recent haystack fire of over 1,000 hay bales in Arapiles on a total fire ban day in the Wimmera and the Mallee serves as a timely reminder for the agriculture sector to ensure they are implementing the appropriate management tools to prevent fire risk.

CFA District 17 Commander Lindsay Barry said spontaneous combustion is the leading cause of haystack fires in Victoria and just one damp bale is enough to ignite a whole stack.

“We are currently in the storage phase of hay season, and there are some contributing factors that lead to ignition,” Lindsay said.

“Unfortunately, at the beginning of the season, some bales weren’t produced to industry standard, and were stored away with too much moisture.  

“Green or damp hay is susceptible to overheating, so those two in combination will make a fire.”

Lindsay said due to the significant rain we have received during summer, haystacks that were neither placed inside a shed nor covered with a tarp have been considerably exposed.

“The hay has been pressed for so long, and because of the summer we’ve had, the majority of fires are where hay has been stored outside and exposed to the elements.’ Lindsay said.

“Water and hay don’t really mix, especially when they stack together. This creates organic decomposition which produces heat, and you end up with a hay fire due to spontaneous ignition.”

Having experienced something similar this time three years ago, Lindsay recalls farms received over 100 millimetres of rain in one storm hitting their haystacks, and a trail of fires as a result.  

“For farmers who own hay, or who manage haystacks, we need them to be more vigilant and ensure they’re doing regular temperature checks,” Lindsay said.

“If they are warm, put measures in place to break down and separate the stacks and use machinery to put in strategic breaks if you can.

“Because of recent weather, we can only implement maintenance and management now.”

More information on how to prevent haystack fires can be found on the CFA’s website.

People with a disability have a much higher risk of injury in a house fire.

More than 60 per cent of people who die in house fires have a disability, the CFA has reported this month.

A national residential fire fatality report published in 2019 was a wake-up call to both CFA and Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) about who is at higher risk in a house fire.

As a result, the fire services are working together to engage people with a disability and the organisations that support them. On 5 and 6 February 2024, CFA and FRV attended the VALiD conference and expo in Geelong, with a shared stand. 

VALiD is the Victorian peak advocacy organisation for adults with intellectual disability. Each year it hosts the ‘Having a Say’ conference and expo. This is the second year in a row that CFA and FRV have attended to engage people about home fire safety. 

It provides a way to share CFA and FRV’s ‘Prevent Detect Escape’ home fire safety training and resources with disability providers and individuals. 

“Disability providers are grateful to hear we have free online training about bushfire and home fire safety,” CFA’s Tim Marchinton said.

“They always have questions about smoke alarms and what to do if a person cannot escape from a house by themselves. They really are lifesaving conversations at these types of events.”

CFA and FRV collect the contact details of disability provider organisations to enable us to stay connected and share the latest fire safety resources.

The most reassuring part of the VALiD conference and expo is talking to people who have an intellectual disability. These individual conversations allow us to hear what matters to the individual and then tailor our advice to their circumstances.

“Roslyn and Luke from Rochester stopped by the stand to learn about how to prevent fires starting inside and were interested in the ‘Prevent Detect Escape’ online training course. We spoke about different types of smoke alarms and the importance of interconnected smoke alarms,” Tim said.

CFA also has specialised resources that may be suitable for people with an intellectual disability. These are available through the CFA website. 

The CFA has issued a public statement thanking the many people who supported its preview screenings of the Australian movie ‘Force of Nature: The Dry 2’.

More than $7000 was raised from the ticket sales for the two fundraising screenings and this will now be used to help support CFA brigades.

The CFA especially issued “huge thanks” to the Belgrave and Lorne brigades for all their time and support and to Roadshow Films for their support of emergency services.

The two locations were chosen because the movie Force of Nature was filmed in Victoria around the Lorne and Belgrave areas.

The Lorne fundraiser was held on Monday 29 January and the Belgrave fundraiser was held on Sunday 4 February.