The Woodend Fire Brigade has welcomed a new medium tanker and rehab unit vehicle to their engine bay, celebrating the official handover with brigade members and local dignitaries this month.

Minister for Emergency Services Vicki Ward and Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas on Friday, May 9 joined Country Fire Authority (CFA) volunteers and staff in Woodend to officially hand over a new medium tanker and rehabilitation unit while thanking volunteers for their work.

The four-wheel drive Hino GT medium tanker fits up to five crew members in the cabin and replaces the brigade’s existing 25-year-old tanker.

Features include 2,000 litre firefighting water storage and an extra 650 litres for crew and vehicle protection sprays. The suppression system can be operated from inside the cabin – helping ensure brigade members are kept safe.

Woodend Brigade Captain Steve Ritchie has been involved with the brigade for 31 years and says the brigade feels proud to have a modernised firefighting fleet.       

“Our old tanker served us well for 25 years, but this new vehicle provides advanced capabilities and ensures safe transport to and from incident sites,” Steve said.  

“It’s a game changer for us. This tanker is a four-wheel drive and comfortably seats a crew of five, whereas our old tanker was a two-wheel drive and had our crews squished in together or travelling on the back of the truck,” Steve said.  

The new rehab unit will replace their existing one and is better equipped to monitor and maintain firefighter health on the fire ground.

“We’ve replaced our makeshift unit with a purpose-built vehicle that provides enhanced safety and comfort for our team,” Steve said.  

“It comfortably seats four crew members with its twin cabin and is better configured to store health monitoring systems, lighting, cool chairs, water, wash facilities, salt and sugar boosters, and first aid kits.

“It will significantly improve onsite health support for firefighters ensuring our members have a safe space to rest and recover during prolonged incidents.

“Responding to more than 230 call outs over the past two years, the streamlined configuration of both vehicles will significantly help with our crew’s communication and teamwork when responding to incidents.”

CFA District 2 Commander Hugh Kelly congratulated the brigade on their new additions.  

“These vehicles are a testament to the dedication of the Woodend Fire Brigade and the community that supports them,” Hugh said.  

“Both additions will be valuable assets to help keep the local community safe, while also ensuring the safety and wellbeing of brigade members. 

“The new medium tanker and rehab unit were made possible through the Victorian Government’s Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP) and significant brigade contributions from community and business donations.”  

Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas: “The Woodend Fire Brigade is an integral part of the Mount Macedon region. It’s a pleasure to officially handover the new medium tanker and rehabilitation unit to our hardworking volunteers.”

Words: Supplied. Images: CFA

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a fatal crash that happened in Woodend North on Monday morning (March 24).

It was understood a car left the roadway and crashed into a pole near the intersection of Old Lancefield Road and Clancys Lane about 6.30am.

The driver, a 19-year-old Woodend man, died at the scene.

Anyone who witnessed the crash or with dashcam footage was urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

For the current provisional lives lost tally see – https://www.police.vic.gov.au/road-safety

This story based on a Victoria Police report.

Major upgrades have improved safety for drivers and cyclists on a section of Black Forest Drive between Woodend and Macedon.

Works are now complete on a series of safety improvements along the busy route, with new continuous bike lanes from Macedon to Woodend and intersection upgrades at key locations.

Safety improvements include changing the lane configuration to one lane in each direction, installing dedicated cycling lanes in each direction, installing a painted centre median for vehicle turning lanes and pedestrian refuges, resealing the road surface and new linemarking.

Other upgrades include the installation of audio-tactile linemarking on the centre and edge line marking, sealing the entrances to higher-risk side roads and installing new street lighting to the Calder Freeway overpass section where there is no room for the dedicated cycling lanes.

The changes aimed to ensure everyone can move around safely, including cyclists and pedestrians sharing the road with cars, vans, motorcycles, trucks and buses, a state government announcement highlighted.

To complement safety improvement works on Black Forest Drive, several speed zone changes have been implemented, including extending the 60km/h zone at South Road by approximately 160 metres.

This enhanced safety by slowing vehicles on approach to the new pedestrian crossing and bus stops near the South Road intersection.

The speed from Willeys Road to south of Nursery Road has also been reduced from 80km/h to 60km/h. This improves safety as vehicles cross bicycle lanes to enter and exit the Calder Freeway. 

The speed on the exit ramps from the Calder Freeway has been reduced from 80km/h to 60km/h, improving safety as vehicles enter Black Forest Drive.

It is estimated the speed changes will add less than a minute to journey times between Woodend and Macedon on Black Forest Drive

Crews will return briefly in late January 2026 to complete some minor works including the remaining sections of green surface marking and the addition of audio tactile edge marking between New Gisborne and Woodend.

Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne:“We know that Black Forest Drive caters to a wide range of different road users and these changes mean that all road users can now share the road more safely.”

Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas: “We want to thank the community for their input on these upgrades and for the patience shown while our crews delivered this important work to make this section of road safer.”

This story based on a state government media release

The Macedon Ranges Council is hosting a range of fun activities for children and young people throughout the summer school holidays including a dance holiday program.

The dance holiday program is happening over January 20-22, 9am-12pm at the Buffalo Sports Stadium in Woodend.

It is aimed at children aged 6-12 years.

Over three sessions children will learn hip-hop, acrobatic and acting skills in a fun and engaging environment with a qualified instructor.

More details are available from email studio2tinytackers@mrsc.vic.gov.au or by calling 5422 0333. 

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council has endorsed a report containing recommendations for the future management of unsealed roads within its township boundaries.

The council manages about 860 kilometres of unsealed roads, with about 76 kilometres of those within township boundaries.

Over the past five years, factors such as floods, storms and increased traffic have caused a significant rise in the number of requests for maintenance to unsealed roads.

Recommendations included undertaking an unsealed road network condition audit to inform the future management of the council’s unsealed road network.

They also included trialling a ‘Light Pavement and Spray Seal’ solution for suitable unsealed roads within township boundaries, and also proceeding with a Special Charge Scheme process for Noonan Grove in Woodend under the previous policy.

A state-of-the-art skin cancer clinic has opened in Woodend, offering appointments to patients without the need for a referral from a GP.

Skin cancer doctors Ashvin Arul, Loshna Devamany and Bronwyn Edmunds live locally and recognised a critical need for a purpose-built skin cancer clinic in the Macedon Ranges.

“We frequently detect skin cancers,” remarks Ashvin, stressing the prevalence with which Australians encounter such conditions.

“Seventy per cent of Australians will face skin cancer at some point, making early detection crucial.”

Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including full body photo mapping and dermoscopy enhanced by AI-driven camera systems, the clinic aims to revolutionize early detection.

“Our goal is zero deaths from melanoma,” asserts Ashvin.

Loshna advises regular annual skin checks, even for those unconcerned about specific spots.

“It’s prudent to be aware,” she explains, “as early intervention can be lifesaving.”

Bronwyn advises: “The duration something has been present doesn’t guarantee its safety. I’ve diagnosed melanomas in cases where people have said, ‘That’s been there for 10 years,’ which can be concerning.”    

She stresses the importance of early detection.

“Our aim is to identify these issues before they become apparent to the naked eye.”

Open Monday through Friday from 8.30am to 5pm, the clinic welcomes appointments.

For more information or to schedule a visit, contact Skin GP Woodend at 03 9969 5000 or visit www.skin.com.au    

This new facility promises to be a vital resource in the fight against skin cancer, combining expert medical knowledge with cutting-edge diagnostic tools for the benefit of the local community.          

with Eve Lamb

Hanging Rock summit and base walks

It’s curious how long you can live with an iconic slab of national mythology sitting on your doorstop and never actually go check it out.

In a way Hanging Rock, just the other side of Woodend, has long occupied a mythical place in the Australian psyche. Now, as my trusty walking companion Paddy H and I set off for our debut sample of the famed rock’s summit and base walks we puzzle at why it’s taken us so long.

Thinking on this, I’m pitched back to my early childhood. As a small child, just traveling past Hanging Rock elicited so much trepidation, due to the stories I’d been fed about it, that I refused to even peer in its direction.

My mother had me well versed in the mysterious and opaquely sinister disappearance of the pubescent picnicking schoolgirls. Somehow I’d got it firmly locked into my young head that these girls had been abducted by aliens and then placed into a sort of extra-terrestrial harem where they would likely be utilised for an inter-species breeding program.

As mentioned, I was consequently so petrified by the place that as my father drove us past it, cheerily informing: “That’s Hanging Rock over there kids,” I’d determinedly swivel my head in the opposite direction. I may even have ducked down into the passenger foot well until we were safely beyond view of any potential lurking alien abductors.

“Of course the whole Picnic at Hanging Rock thing, the movie and the book by Joan Lindsay on which it’s based, is pure fiction,” observes Paddy H as we arrive at the site and successfully navigate the boom gate entry into the Hanging Rock Reserve.

On the way here we’ve stopped at the Woodend Visitor Info Centre where two helpful women on the desk explain that it costs “$10 per vehicle, not per person” to obtain a token to operate the exit boom gate and get back out of the park once you’re in. Potentially a sort of abduction in its own way!

There’s a prominently displayed ranger mobile number in the reserve, should you find yourself in a predicament. We park beside the picturesque Hanging Rock Race Course and it’s clear that this place has enduring visitor pull as evidenced by the number of people that are here even on such a brrrisk Sunday in the middle of winter.

The Bureau is spot on in its forecast of occasional sunshine – and showers – and as we prepare to get cracking on the 1.8 km (circuit) summit walk I’m super glad I’ve packed that extra coat.

We easily find the start of the walk, just behind the cafe and immediately I’m impressed by the sheer array of rock formations. I mean we all know there’s a Hanging Rock, but what I hadn’t expected was the number and variety of visually interesting rocky outcrops, monoliths and formations.

It’s a nice little climb up ahead to the top. At about the half-way mark we reach a point where walkers can either veer left and take a ramp to the summit, or veer right and take steps to reach Hanging Rock.

Since our goal is to reach the summit we veer left. Later on it becomes clear that both options together form the loop walk and both ultimately get you to the top where the profusion of volcanic rocky features make for plenty of visual interest while the silvery vista that stretches out below rewards those in need of a thermos stop.

While Paddy H gets stuck into the coffee, I strike up a conversation with three dudes, one of whom is sporting a sweatshirt with the word SCIENCE printed across the back. I catch a glimpse of a University of Melbourne insignia.

Having found themselves a panoramic vista, the three have settled atop a kind of rock island outcrop and are preparing to enjoy a game of cards there – despite the uncertain weather.

“G’day where are you guys from?” I venture.

“Melbourne.”

“Have you visited here before?”

“Yes.”

Perhaps Paddy H and I are the only people in Victoria who haven’t?

“What brings you back?” I ask.

“Well I like rocks and trees,” one of the card-playing trio replies.

“Looks like you’ve come to the right place then,” I observe, unnecessarily. But they all happily agree and settle down to their card game.

Not a bad idea, on reflection. Could catch on. You could call it something like ‘Cards in Volcanic Places’.

“Miranda… Miranda,” someone calls from somewhere beyond view, their voice drifting up to us.

“You can see how this place inspired the story,” Paddy H muses as I rejoin him and the thermos.

“How so?”

“The way people sort of appear and disappear into the landscape.”

And I do see. The plethora of rocky formations makes this place a kind of striking obstacle assemblage, and a treat for the photographically inclined.

And just for a tiny moment, while we’re working out which way to head on back down, I do actually lose Paddy H.

When we each take a different turn, he is momentarily swallowed from view behind the riot of geomorphological formations.

Finding each other again, we laugh.

Fortunately there are really only two options down, the stairs or the ramp that I mentioned earlier. So this time we go for the stairs which take us to the actual formation known as the Hanging Rock itself. It’s a bit Middle Earth.

Official literature advises that the overall Hanging Rock formation is a volcanic eruption point that produced lava. Dating of Hanging Rock lava indicates a late Miocene age, about 6 million years ago. Possibly 6.5 million.

Cooling of the rock produced numerous vertical features which shape the cliff faces and have been enlarged by weathering to produce a complex of pinnacles, craggy overhangs, small caverns and boulders on the slopes.

Also known by its traditional Aboriginal name, Ngannelong, this ancient former volcano lies 718m above sea level (105m above plain level). Arriving back at its base, we pause to enjoy our own picnic at the foot of Hanging Rock, before setting out to sample the 1.8km circuit base walk.

We pick up the well-signposted base walk start from just behind the cafe area and head off in a clockwise direction, admiring this different perspective and the natural bushland that surrounds The Rock.

While there were plenty of fellow walkers doing the summit, we encounter just one other solitary walker doing the base hike, a middle-aged woman with a serious camera.

The base walk concludes with a wander beside, or if you prefer through, the racecourse grounds. And what a pretty little racecourse it is with its heritage features and small lake centerpiece catching the late afternoon light.

“It hosts two annual race meetings. One on Australia Day and one on New Year’s Day,” says Paddy H who has been known to enjoy a day at the races.

Finally, arriving back at the car park we pay our $10 into the vending machine to receive the coupon that will enable us to leave Hanging Rock Reserve, through the boom gate.

We leave duly impressed by our debut expedition to Hanging Rock, vowing to return for a race meeting next time.

Images: Eve Lamb

The RACV has released results of its My Country Road survey with more than 7000 Victorians providing valuable input shining a light on the condition of regional roads state-wide.

The most dangerous intersection in regional Victoria was identified as the junction of the Midland Highway and Howard Street in Epsom, north of Bendigo.

And the Tylden-Woodend Road from Woodend to Tylden, used by many locals travelling to Melbourne, received the second highest number of complaints across the state.

Poor road conditions and pot holes rated among the top issues of concern with 64 per cent of participants identifying them as the primary safety issue, up from 46 per cent in 2021.

Potholes are a major safety risk for drivers as they try and avoid damaging their vehicles. Swerving to avoid a pothole at the last moment is dangerous as drivers may lose control of their vehicles or swerve into oncoming traffic.

Other roads that generated substantial concern were Kilmore Road from Monegeetta to Gisborne, and the Goulburn Valley Highway from Nagambie to Shepparton.

Overall, 14 per cent of participants supported ‘a lower or more appropriate speed limit’ as a measure to improve road safety.

That response rose to 56 per cent on the top 12 worst roads, highlighting that many Victorians believe reducing the speed on highly dangerous roads is an appropriate approach.

The RACV will use the data from the survey to encourage the state government and local councils to make commitments that deliver safer regional roads.

RACV Head of Policy James Williams said the data from the survey indicated that the condition of regional roads has become a major safety concern for Victorians.

“Over 7,000 Victorians have provided us with data about safety on our regional roads, with potholes or poor road condition being the number one safety issue,” Mr Williams said.

“As a safety advocate, it’s important that RACV closely examines what Victorians think are the factors contributing to unsafe road conditions, so we can provide that information to all levels of government and encourage action.”

with Eve Lamb

Woodend photographic artist Deborah Mullins draws plenty of inspiration from the landscape, including frequent trips to the Outback and also from her own 1.6-hectare garden on the stunning 16-hectare Hesket Farm property where she and her husband Tom reside. Deborah’s work has been displayed in many galleries in Melbourne and the Central Victorian region. Some of her latest work will be part of Little Gallery’s winter fundraising show launching in Trentham this-evening Friday, August 2.

Eve: I can see why your surrounds inspire a lot of your work.

Deborah: Yes. We’ve been here for 14 years now and just absolutely love it. We have never regretted our move from Melbourne for a minute.

Eve: Your garden here inspires quite a lot of your work doesn’t it?

Deborah: It does, and the animals and birds within the garden itself. I also do quite a bit of still life photography as well. It’s a hard genre and not everybody likes still life but I enjoy doing it, and it is suited to winter.

Eve: Can you tell me a bit more about your process of creating images and the way you use the term photographic art or digital art, as distinct from ‘photography’?

Deborah: I like to push the boundaries. I have a huge library of photographic images that I have taken over the years and I do a lot of composite work. I do a lot of Photoshop work. I use the images I have taken using a digital camera to create new landscapes and scenes. I suppose it’s a bit like a digital collage. I use photographic images in a similar way so you could call it digital art. At the moment everything I create is of photographic origin. There’s no AI in it. I take the photos and mix them up and overlay and combine to create some sort of new image.

Eve: How did you get into photographic art?

Deborah: I did an advanced diploma of photography, finished in 2011 and pretty much started with straight landscape photography.

Eve: What work are you planning to exhibit as part of the Winter Show?

Deborah: I’m leaving it until the last minute to decide. I’ve got a couple of different series I have been working on recently. One is a series I’m doing called Entice which involves urban landscapes and the figure of a child…and another landscape series focusing on the colours of the landscape. We do a lot of outback travel. I draw a lot of inspiration from the Outback. The textures, colours, the birdlife. I also do aerial photography.

Eve: Do you use a drone for that?

Deborah: Yes. Tom drives the drone and I tell him where to go so I can focus on getting the image.

Eve: Have you ever worked in any other area besides photography?

Deborah: Yes, I was a physiotherapist and then a health educator. I managed health education programs.

Eve: What do you shoot with? And what sort of lenses do you use?

Deborah: A Canon R5 mirrorless and a standard DSLR, a Canon 5DS R. If I’m doing a lot of bird photos I use a 100-400mm telephoto lens with an extender that gets it out to 600mm. I also use a fixed 50mm lens which is an absolutely brilliant lens, a 100mm macro lens, and a very wide 11-24mm rectilinear wide angle lens.

Eve: Besides Little Gallery’s winter fundraising exhibition, do you have any other upcoming exhibitions on your radar?

Deborah: I have got work on display at Verdure in Romsey and I will be a feature artist at Art For All which is a major fundraiser for Fairfield Primary School in Melbourne over September 6-8. Then I will also have some work in the Kerrie Hall Art Show over October 18-20.

Eve: What do you enjoy most about your work as a photographic artist?

Deborah: I like the challenge of creating something new. I like trying to turn something that might be seen as quite bland into something that might be considered more interesting. As much as I can I try to create a bit of a story in my images. I think that lends itself to interpretation a little. I don’t like to spoon-feed people. I like to leave it a little more open to interpretation and it can be very interesting to see how differently various people interpret the same image.

Are you an artist or do you know an artist who might like to feature in The Local? Eve would love to hear from you. Email editorial tlnews.com.au

Braemar College music students, Evie, Luca, Polly, Arlo and Ari, are excited to be performing before the fireworks on the opening night of the Woodend Winter Arts Festival on June 7 at Buffalo Stadium Woodend.

The four-day festival, taking place over the King’s Birthday long weekend in Woodend, will deliver a feast of music, words and ideas.

World class performers will be joined by some of Australia’s brightest minds for a series of special performances and thought-provoking discussions. More than 100 artists will perform during the festival throughout Woodend.

The diverse program includes highlights such as a performance by Southern Spanish guitarist Paco Lara, who will be performing Flamenco of Southern Spain, accompanied by flamenco dancer Deya Giner.

Jazz great Paul Grabowsky will showcase the piano across centuries, performing selections from his album Solo, while twice ARIA-nominated Nat Bartsch will transport the audience into the realm of new jazz with her award-winning ensemble.

London-based pianist Piers Lane will perform Chopin, Smetana and Mozart, while Woodend’s own Jacqueline Ogeil, (the director of Music at Braemar College), leads Accademia Arcadia’s performance of the Early Solo Concertos on the Cristofori piano.

Australian tenor Daniel Thomson returns from Europe to perform Schubert Lieder with John O’Donnell, who will also conduct two performances of Bach’s mighty St John Passion with Ensemble Gombert and Accademia Arcadia.

In addition to the music offered The Words & Ideas program has a selection of debates and discussions on challenging contemporary issues ranging from ‘city versus country’ to ‘machines versus humans’.

Expect to hear from bright minds such as Nobel Prize winner Peter Doherty and broadcaster/journalists Gideon Haigh, Elizabeth Finkel, George Megalogenis and Don Watson.

Words & image: Sandy Scheltem

A popular poetry event returns to Woodend next month.

Hosted by local poet Myron Lysenko, Chamber Poets is one of Victoria’s best-loved open mic poetry events, regularly attended by guests from Melbourne, Bendigo and further afield, as well as from around the Macedon Ranges.

They come to read their poems, whether they are acclaimed and awarded “real poets” or just local people who have something creative to say.

Chamber Poets is approaching its 100th session in June, so it’s time to remind everyone of what’s on offer at this regular Woodend event.

Chamber Poets is held on the second Saturday of every month, sometimes with a particular theme. In February (around Valentine’s Day) “love poetry” gave us good, bad or just plain crazy.

In April, to celebrate International Haiku Day, a group of passionate haiku poets came up from the city to share their stunningly clever and often witty miniature poems with us.

A couple came along to an event last year with their three small children and appeared to be ignoring what was happening behind the microphone until a feisty young poet from Melbourne gave us one of her poems peppered with mild but interesting swear words.

“She said a rude word!” exclaimed the eight-year-old boy. He continued to repeat this phrase every time the rude words appeared, to the delight of both the audience and the poet. Be warned: some dark and dangerous things can happen in poetry.

Entertainment is also provided by local band Black Forest Smoke, who have been playing their home-made songs – often poems set to music – since Chamber Poets first started on February 16, 2013.

Eccentric, playful and often very moving, their songs are very popular with the poetry crowd.

The next Chamber Poets session will be held at 1pm on Saturday, May 11 at the Woodend RSL in Anslow Street. Entry is $10 (or $5 concession) – we’re a bit old fashioned and only take cash. The bar will be open, and hot drinks and delicious soups, cakes and snacks are available.

After the always-popular Open Mic section, our featured reader will be Kyneton poet Anne Gleeson, whose gentle and often humorous poems have been widely awarded and admired.

Come along and see what all the fuss is about.

Words: Jenny Zimmerman | Image: Contributed

Media professional and transgender legend Julie Peters will share her story at the first Birds of a Feather event for 2024at the Victoria Hotel, Woodend this Thursday, March 7 from noon.

Julie worked at the ABC for 50 years and in her late 30s became the first employee there to openly transition.

She is also a doctoral researcher in public health and the anthropology of gender/transgender, a teacher, sessional academic, cabaret performer, writer, parliamentary candidate and environmentalist.

The event is organised by Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health’s Country LGBTIQA+ Inclusion Program. Entry is free with meals and drinks at bar prices.

RSVPs are essential and may be made via www.trybooking.com/CPDVW with any queries to Belinda at belinda.brain@scchc.org.au or call 5421 1666.

The Woodend library is offering local youngsters a top chance to learn how to draw manga from an expert.

Manga artist Kenny Chan has worked as a freelance artist and animator in comics, animation, video games and movies. He’s the real deal and he’s coming to the little local library tomorrow to help teach interested locals a bit about how to draw manga too.

The free hour-long workshop takes place tomorrow Wednesday , January 10 from 10.30am, ofering a great school holiday activity for bored yungseters. the workshop is pitched at primary school kids aged 8 to 15.

Kenny will teach a quick and simple way to draw original characters in a Japanese comic style – with tricks to add personality and humour, along with some interesting cultural nuances and observation skills.

While the workshop is free to attend, bookings are required as space is limited, and can be made via the library website.

Woodend library is preparing to host a free author’s talk by Dr Lucas Jordan this month.

Dr Jordan (pictured above) will be speaking about his book The Chipilly Six. It tells the compelling story of the brave soldiers – including some from the Woodend and Castlemaine areas – who fought off German soldiers at Chipilly Spur, to save a British Army Corps.

Dr Jordan’s talk at Wodend library will take place on Thursday, November 16 from 2pm-3pm with similar talks also set for the Bendigo library and the Castlemaine library.

In 1918, at Chipilly Spur overlooking the Somme River, a British Army Corps is held up by German machine gunners with more than 2000 men fallen. Assessing the situation, six Australian soldiers, including one from Muckleford near Castlemaine, and another from Woodend, drive the Germans off the spur in an extraordinary feat of bravery.

Military historian Dr Lucas Jordan tells a compelling tale of these soldiers’ lives both during the war and after, ensuring they will not be forgotten.

The free talks will include book sales and signings. Bookings are needed and can be made via the library website.

With the weather warming up over recent days, the CFA has already been called to a number of fires across the state, including an unattended burn off in Spring Hill – between Glenlyon and Woodend.

High winds caused embers to spread to a nearby pile of logs, causing a large amount of firewood and some processing equipment to be destroyed, the CFA reported following the incident late last month.

Spring Hill Fire Brigade 2^nd Lieutenant Andrew Jan said Trentham brigade crews made an initial attack, extinguishing the fire on the machinery.

“When we arrived on scene, we saw what appeared to be an unattended burn pile. There were heavy winds blowing embers toward a large pile of logs roughly 20 metres away that had become well alight,” Andrew said.

“The fire had started moving through some fine fuels on the ground to a large pile of firewood, so the initial role of the crew was to contain that.

“By using Trentham’s Big Fill, we were able to attack the fire in a more effective manner and release tankers quickly, cutting down the time needed to fight the fire.”

The scene was declared under control around 15 minutes after the first vehicle arrived on scene.

The incident has prompted the CFA to urge landholders to always register their burn offs, to never leave burn offs unattended and t always ensure burn offs are fully extinguished, especially ahead of warm, windy days.