October 9th, 2025Walking 240km to help Glenlyon CFA

Glenlyon CFA volunteer Shaun Gedge is walking the walk, literally, to raise money for his brigade.

The former Englishman is taking on a just over 240km solo hike raising money for his brigade to help pay for breathing apparatus and a 4×4 ultralight tanker.
“The breathing apparatus will enable us to safely fight a car/house fire without the risk of breathing in toxic gases and smoke. The ultralight will enable us to navigate harsh terrain that our much larger tankers would not be able to do.”
Shaun has already raised $3098 on his CFA-authorised GoFundMe page but hopes to reach $5000, or more. His walk will take him around the response areas of the eight brigades that make up Glenlyon Group, part of District 15, over eight days, walking about 28kms a day, depending on the terrain.
“Glenlyon Rural Fire Brigade is a small brigade and as a team we are committed to protecting lives and property, supporting our communities and working as one with our emergency service partners. We respond to a wide range of calls within our area including bushfires, hazardous material incidents and vehicle accidents. As a brigade we rely on funding and donations to be able to keep our station running.”
Shaun, who joined the Glenlyon CFA about a year ago, was ready to do a reconnaissance drive last Saturday for his walk. “It’s as far up north as Franklinford, as west as Daylesford and Leonards Hill, and takes in Trentham as well. It’s bush tracks. It’s solo camping but there’s a couple of people who say they might want to come and pitch a tent with me.”
Shaun said he has only just realised how big a deal the walk is, and he is not new to the distance, but perhaps the wildlife. “I did a 160-kilometre walk in the UK, again a charity walk, for the Air Ambulance. I thought why not do one here. We do have snakes, they’re just not quite as deadly as the ones over here.”
The 21-year-old arrived in June last year after meeting his girlfriend, from Glenlyon, in the UK. “I decided that after college Australia was a very nice place, and I wanted to move over here for good.”
Shaun heads off on Saturday, October 18. To donate, head to his GoFundMe page or scan the QR code.

Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Contributed