VFBV

Chicken or egg 
By Adam Barnett, VFBV Chief Executive Officer 

Which came first – the chicken or the egg? Before you get too uptight, no – I’m not about to prattle on about this causality dilemma considered by many ancient philosophers exploring things like infinite regress and origin paradox’s. Religion has had a crack with origin stories, and scientists have their evolutionary biology explanations. From a science perspective, tempted as I may be, I won’t even publish a spoiler, but I will say that perhaps the answer isn’t as clear cut as you may think. For the inquisitive among you, I have short linked an Australian source – the Australian Academy of Science that provide their answer – (https://tinyurl.com/vfbv-chicken)

But I digress. My main point is around the difficulty posed by situations where it is challenging to determine between alleged causes and effects. One of the most common discussion points that I frequently hear among brigades is the age-old recruitment and retention riddle. Again, people often approach this as a binary decision between does CFA have a recruitment or a retention problem? One or the other.

If we look at these separately, lets start with recruitment. While “volunteering” is generally thought to be in decline in Australia, these often-simplistic measurements often hide what’s really going on in the detail. For example, recent longitudinal studies often don’t separate out the COVID period and lockdowns that made many volunteering opportunities impossible and wiped out most of the “formal” volunteering sector during these periods.

These prophecies also ignore the fact that our form of volunteering – emergency service volunteering – accounts for just a tiny little fraction of total volunteers – so the potential pool of volunteers is still massive providing we look after them and meet their volunteering “needs”.

The COVID period of disruption proved what many of us have said for a very long time. Protect emergency service volunteering – as once you lose something as valuable as our volunteering culture – it is very hard to get it back. And while arguably CFA volunteers were able to participate in some activities during the COVID years – many discovered just how pervasive their volunteering had become over other facets of their lives. It’s not unusual for this to be a bit of a light bulb moment for some who now desire a more balanced work/life balance.

But there is also some positive in this.

This reckoning has occurred across the entire population, not just among CFA and other emergency service volunteers - and it has changed the way people want to volunteer, and what they want to get out of their volunteer experience.

The most common motivation popping out of research is many people are looking for opportunities to make a difference. They want to help people; they want to make a difference; and they want to do things that have social impact. And with more limited time on their hands with dual income families and cost of living pressures etc. people want their volunteering time to be not only impactful but efficient.

On the one hand – CFA provides a wonderful opportunity for people who want to make a difference. We literally change lives each and every day. By our very being – we literally respond to peoples’ calls for help and are often with them on the worst days of their lives. There are few vocations that are not as impactful nor rewarding as CFA.

But how do we fair on the “efficient” part of that equation. Being a CFA volunteer is not exactly time efficient. Factor in the lengthy application process, onboarding, minimum training, mandatory skills maintenance and a lot of hurry up and wait, and we don’t tick all that many boxes.

The good news for us is most people understand that if they want to be involved in a role as hazardous and impactful as that of a CFA volunteer, there is a certain amount of “overhead” that comes with that. CFA remains a very attractive organisation of choice for the first-time volunteer. This is evidenced by the high number of expressions of interest that flow in each and every year. After large summer campaigns, literally thousands of EOI’s flow in from well intentioned people wanting to pitch in and give us a hand. These aren’t evenly distributed, and the more remote brigades frequently miss out.

I only half-jokingly opined to a CFA executive recently that given all the hoops we place in front of an aspiring CFA volunteer just to get into the organisation – we really should award them a medal on day one just to acknowledge their persistence and tenacity in actually getting through it all.

This is evidenced by the massive disparity between those that express an interest and those that actually join. While the numbers fluctuate, I estimate on average only about one-fifth to one-quarter of expressions of interest actually translate to a completed application. I have cautioned many a Minister about jumping up in Parliament to extoll the thousands of people signing up to join CFA during a campaign fire. Usually timed to dodge criticism around falling vol numbers, this mirage of applicants quickly disappears when tracking the actual number of applications completing their enrolment process.

And can anyone really blame them? While the cynic in me thinks that the application process is a very good test for aspiring applicants, as really – if they are not willing to jump through some hoops to get into the organisation at the start of their career – God help them when they realise how many more hoops will remain for the rest of their involvement just to stay. Maybe its better they learn the lesson up front and set their expectations accordingly?

But when you think about it – that’s a pretty lousy excuse for a system and model that seems to delight in testing the human limits for patience and tolerance. A recent review of a nine-page medical form gives me the impression that the only Victorian likely to be worthy of membership these days is off training for the Olympics. We’ve got to do better.

Which gets us to the retention side of the equation. I saw this dilemma on full display when I observed a recent news article in a regional newspaper appealing to members of the community to get involved. The stories pointed out the excessive red tape and bureaucracy, the journalist pointed out that due to inadequate government funding the fire truck was now 30 years old and CFA can’t afford a new fire shed for them, even though the current one has no toilet. Quite correctly they pointed out how difficult it was to attract new members, especially more diverse members when people have to use the paddock or public toilet block up the hill just to go to the bathroom. The article then invited people to apply.

It’s not the brigade’s fault they are in this position. Here we have a crucial emergency service starved of funding that leaves these civic minded community champions out in a tin shed with aging equipment, and dare I say – an aging workforce. Is this not the embodiment of the ultimate disrespect that government has for its volunteer emergency services? Who thinks this would be attractive to today’s youth?

This is the impossible position the government is putting brigades and CFA more generally into. How do we possibly attract new members when budgets are being slashed and burned? It’s not exactly a great advert when we can’t afford new trucks, or new stations and we are forced to continually ration out protective equipment and clothing to try and make it go around. While government MPs sweat about 15 year old FRV trucks yet ignore 34 year old trucks rusting away in CFA sheds, and where a paid firefighter gets an automatic allocation of multiple sets of PPC, uniforms, gloves and individual portable radios for every seat in the truck, volunteers are forced to make do with much less each and every time. Despite being ten orders of magnitude larger than the paid service, CFA receives just one third of its funding and all the cuts that go along with that, rationing every glove, boot, chainsaw and hose.

For example, the new radios recently announced are fantastic – but we can’t even afford to pop a portable radio in the truck for every seat in the cabin like our sister service does. So again, CFA is forced to make do and ration them out under fancy sounding terms like “risk assessment” and “operational justification” that if we’re lucky will allocate three portables for every five seater truck, which given the incident controller often requires two – paints the picture of what volunteers have to put up with on the fireground.

And while CFA often gets blamed for these type of policy positions – what else can it do with such systemic under funding? And for those in any doubt, I will continue dropping these little budget facts in every newsletter for every week that cuts continue to be made to CFA, in the hope you will continue to raise it with your local member of parliament and keep raising it until CFA’s budget is restored.

So when people ask me if we have a recruitment problem or a retention one, I go back to my analogy of the chicken or the egg. While it may sound trivial – there is a complex story in each. I think the recruitment problems are easier to solve. This explains why recruitment is often the first thing under siege governments usually latch onto. They are quick and results are fast. But just adding more meat to the sausage machine is not the answer if the sausage machine is broken. We have to fix the sausage machine first.

At time of writing, thousands of CFA volunteers are preparing to fundraise for the Royal Children’s Hospital. Our members will selflessly rattle tins, give up a long weekend and stand on intersections to raise millions of dollars for some of Victoria’s most vulnerable children. They will then return to raising funds for their own community’s fire station, trucks and gear. They will do so while protecting their communities and responding to all manner of emergencies that will arise over the Easter long weekend, and beyond - just like every other day of the year. They will do so proudly, and humbly.

This is the epitome of a CFA volunteer. Our reason for being. Just wanting to help others. It shouldn’t have to be this hard. Victorians rely on us, and our fight for fairer funding isn’t for us – it’s for them.

State champions crowned
Over two weekends in March almost 1,000 competitors contested the 2024 State Urban and Rural Championships in Mooroopna.

Melton A had two successful weekends, winning the Grand Aggregates at both the Urban Junior and Senior Championships. While the Rural Senior Championship saw Eldorado win both the Division 1 and Division 3 Aggregate’s while Truganina A took out the Division 2 aggregate. For the Rural Junior Championship, Ascot & District won both the 11-13 years and Grand Aggregates while Napoleons-Enfield A took the honours in the 11-15 years aggregate.

The Torchlight Procession was this year held in Mooroopna with the new LED powered torches replacing the traditional kerosene torches with Melton continuing their success taking out first place with 98%. Full results from all four State Championships can be found on the VFBV website or on pages 10 to 12 of this months edition of Fire Wise and on the VFBV website.

Of course, the State Championships wouldn’t be possible without the 200 judges and officials who volunteer their time over the two weekends to ensure that the championships are run at a high standard for all competitors involved. VFBV also passes on our appreciation to the competitors, coaches, supporters and families of the competitors who keep the competitions going, as well as all CFA staff who contributed to the success of the championships.

A special thank you also to the Mooroopna State Championships committee for their hard work in preparing the competition venue for the Championships alongside the Greater Shepparton City Council who continue to support the Championships.

VFBV’s competition committees will be meeting in the coming months to review this year’s Championships. If any brigades, competitors or spectators have any feedback they would like considered by either committee please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Affiliation
Thank you for members’ strong show of support!

Again in 2023/24, CFA Brigades and Groups showed it is more important than ever that volunteers have a strong, united, independent and credible voice with 95% of Brigades demonstrating strong support for VFBV’s important work representing and advocating for all CFA volunteers. Thank you to all brigades and groups who affiliated last year.

In the coming weeks, Brigade and Group secretaries will receive the 2024/25 renewal notices for your Brigade/Groups’ VFBV Affiliation and Welfare Fund subscriptions with a due date of 30th June, 2024.

The Board is determined that brigades/groups should benefit from the strong governance of the association and have found efficiencies to allow the reduction of the affiliation rate from $84 to $75. The price set when the rural and urban associations joined together in 2013/14.

To thank Brigades and Groups for their support, those who pay VFBV affiliations before 30th June will be automatically entered into a draw to win one of four extremely worthwhile prizes valued at approximately $4,000. Prizes have, for the fourth year running, been donated by GAAM Emergency Products and Powdersafe and we sincerely thank them for their continued support. A flyer detailing prizes on offer will be included with your renewal notices.

As well as affiliating, we strongly encourage Brigades to subscribe to the VFBV Welfare Fund. The Welfare Fund is a capital fund and an exclusive benefit to affiliated members with VFBV funding all the administration and operating costs ensuring 100% of funds received go directly to CFA volunteers experiencing personal hardship.

The VFBV Welfare Fund provides small grants up to $5,000 to assist volunteer members and long service ex-members. The Welfare Fund has distributed more than $2.5 million dollars since its inception.

SOP Feedback

A reminder that we are seeking feedback on various Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that are out for consultation. The Driving SOPs will close for feedback shortly. An additional 13 SOPs have been modified and are now available for review.

These are SOP 3.01 Management of Junior Members; 5.05 Use of CFA Equipment; 7.01 Local Procedure Development; 7.05 Water Supplies for Firefighting; 7.07 Station Siren Use; 8.01 Incident Controller and CFA Agency Commander; 8.04 Transfer of Control; 9.13 Keeping Logs and Documents; 9.16 Media Management; and 9.18 Use of Personal Mobile Devices During Incidents.

Given the importance of SOPs in CFA’s operational doctrine, VFBV encourages all senior volunteers to make themselves familiar with the proposed changes and provide feedback ASAP.

Please visit the VFBV website to access drafts and change logs to help guide your feedback.

VFBV Board Vacancies 

Vacancies on the VFBV Board will arise when the terms of four VFBV Board members expire on 1 October 2024. Of the four members whose terms are expiring, two are eligible for re-appointment.

VFBV invites applications from any CFA volunteer who is motivated by the prospect of making a difference and believes they have the skills to contribute to VFBV Board.

The role of a board member involves contributing to VFBV direction, policy determination and monitoring the performance and governance of the Association. This includes actively contributing to policy discussion, consulting with CFA volunteers and contributing to the identification and management of strategic issues.

VFBV is seeking applications from gender and culturally diverse candidates in addition to a diverse range of skills and experience including applications from diverse brigade types and classifications.

Members should familiarise themselves with the VFBV Board member role statement and key selection criteria available from the VFBV website or via the office at (03) 9886 1141.

Applications close on Monday 2 September 2024.

CFA Annual Firefighter Memorial Service

This year’s Annual Firefighter Memorial Service will be held on Sunday 5th May to honour firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

The service will be held at the Victorian Emergency Services Memorial in Treasury Gardens, East Melbourne and will begin at 2pm.

Family members and friends, CFA and VFBV executives as well as government representatives will come together to lay wreaths, light candles, remember lives and honour the personal sacrifices and commitment firefighters make each and every day.

Junior CFA members will also attend the memorial service and will be actively involved throughout the ceremony by assisting wreath layers and patrons.

The Annual Memorial service is a free event, to attend please RSVP to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 0428 406 012 by Monday 22nd April.

Mental Health Matters Workshops
The Emergency Services Foundation (ESF) is again offering mental health matters workshops to emergency service volunteers across Victoria.

This year ESF will travel to regional areas to deliver the 2.5 hour workshop at a time that suits the brigade and volunteers.  The Mental Health Matters workshop is a free, no pressure, conversational workshop with a focus on involving partners and family members in the workshop.

Topics covered in the workshop include: what is mental fitness; identifying the signs and symptoms; who is in your support crew and where to get help; stigma around mental health; and how to effectively ask R U OK?

For more information or to register your interest in holding a workshop, visit the ESF website.

VEC – Local Council Elections

The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) is seeking local people to help run the 2024 local council elections in specific regional areas.

Applications are open for join the VEC as a senior election official who take on specialised election management roles during election events.

For more information or to see a list of areas where the VEC is seeking senior election officials please visit the VFBV website.

Applications close on Sunday 7th April 2024.

Fire Wise – April 2024 online only edition

The April 2024 edition of Fire Wise has been published online only, this edition and past editions are available from the Fire Wise website.

You can support Fire Wise and the role it plays as an independent voice in keeping volunteers informed by becoming a subscriber. To become a subscriber visit the Fire Wise website or contact the Managing Editor of Fire Wise, Gordon Rippon-King either by phone 0402 051 412 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   

Recent articles on the VFBV website
Open for consultation dashboard

Victorian Electoral Commission

2024 Bushfire and Storm Recovery Resources

Feedback Requested – Standard Operating Procedures (Various)

Feedback Requested – Standard Operating Procedures (Driving)

VFBV Board Vacancies - Invitation to Apply

2024 State Urban Senior Championship Results

2024 State Rural Junior Championship Results

2024 State Rural Senior Championship Results

2024 State Urban Junior Championship Results

International Women’s Day 2024

Presumptive Legislation Update

Enjoy the VFBV monthly newsletter?
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Want to read the VFBV 2-minute briefings from the CFA/VFBV Joint Committees?
The latest edition along with previous editions can be downloaded from the VFBV website here.

The VEC is seeking local people to help run the 2024 local council elections. This is a message from the VEC.

The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) is seeking organised hands-on leaders in specific regional areas for key roles at the October 2024 local council elections.

Applications are now open to join our pool of senior election officials (SEOs), who take on specialised election management roles during election events. As an SEO you will play a major role in the delivery of elections across Victoria. Our pool of staff will be appointed as election managers and assistant election managers for each local council area at the October 2024 local council elections. Each local council area will have one election manager and up to 3 assistant election managers appointed. If appointed, you will work in election offices, overseeing many election activities which will vary depending on the type of election.

To help us with the challenge of recruiting for several vacancies in rural areas, we are reaching out to you as part of the VFBV network to help share this opportunity.

VFBV members have what it takes to be senior election officials: you are civic-minded, hands-on, calm under pressure and have valuable local knowledge!

Our SEOs come from all walks of life: Victorians who are retired or transitioning into retirement; professionals, freelancers or small business owners with the flexibility to take extended leave; parents returning to work and more.
Prior electoral work experience is not essential and full training is provided.

If you live in or near any of the following areas, they want to hear from you!

Western Victoria

Hindmarsh Shire Council, Horsham Rural City Council, Northern Grampians Shire Council, Pyrenees Shire Council, West Wimmera Shire Council and Yarriambiack Shire Council

North-western Victoria

Gannawarra Shire Council, Greater Bendigo City Council, Loddon Shire Council, and Swan Hill Rural City Council

North-eastern Victoria

Benalla Rural City Council, Indigo Shire Council, Mansfield Shire Council, Strathbogie Shire Council, Towong Shire Council, and Wodonga City Council

South-western Victorian
Colac Otway Shire Council, Corangamite Shire Council, and Southern Grampians Shire Council 

Gippsland
Latrobe City Council.

Read more about SEOs by clicking here, or apply now by clicking here or visiting: https://careers.vic.gov.au/job/senior-election-officials-792285?returnurl=https%3A//careers.vic.gov.au/jobs/premier-and-cabinet/victorian-electoral-commission .

Applications close on Sunday 7 April 2024.

Please note that, in accordance with Section 17A of the Electoral Act 2002, the VEC may ask applicants for disclosure of specific political activities that could compromise the perceived independence of the organisation.

Final results for the 2024 State Urban Senior Championships held in Mooroopna on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 March 2024 are now available.

The full results are available for download at the bottom of this page.

Photo's of presentations are being progressively uploaded to VFBV's dedicated Championships Facebook Page. Team times for each event are available for download at the bottom of this page. 

Grand Aggregate Winner - Melton A

B Section Aggregate Winner - Cohuna 

Wet Aggregate Winner - Melton A 

Female Aggregate Winner - Tatura 

Final Aggregate Board 

SATURDAY, 23^rd MARCH

Event 1 – Ladder Race, One Competitor 

Event 2 – B Section Hose & Ladder, Five Competitors

Event 3 – A Section Y Coupling, Four Competitors 

Event 4 – A Section Hose and Ladder, Eight Competitors

Event 5 – B Section Y Coupling, Four Competitors 

Event 6 – Female Y Coupling, Two Competitors

Event 7 – A Section Y Coupling Ladder Eights

Event 8 – B Section Hose, Hydrant and Pumper

Event 9 – B Section Wet Hose Striking One Disc Twice with Removable Back Cap

Event 10 – A Section Hose, Hydrant and Pumper 

Event 11 – A Section Hose & Reel Sixes

Event 12 - B Section Marshall, One Competitor 

Chief Officer’s Challenge Event

Event 13 – B Section Wet Hose Striking One Disc Twice 

Event 14 - A Section Marshall, One Competitor 

Event 15 – Female Marshall, One Competitor

Event 16 - B Section Pumper & Ladder

Event 17 - A Section Hydrant & Tanker

SUNDAY, 24^th MARCH

Event 18 – Hydrant Race, One Competitor

Event 19 – Female Hydrant Race, One Competitor  

Event 20 – A Section Pumper & Ladder 

Event 21 – B Section Hydrant & Tanker

Event 22 – Female Marshall, Two Competitors

Event 23 – B Section Hose & Reel Sixes 

Event 24 – A Section Marshall, Two Competitors 

Event 25 – A Section Hose and Reel Eights 

Event 26 – B Section Marshall, Two Competitors 

Event 27 – Champion Fours 

Vic./W.A. Challenge Event

Victorian team time – 29.08 seconds

East vs West Challenge Events

Hose & Reel Eights – Open

Wet Hose Striking One Disc Twice – Female

Torchlight Procession

FINAL AGGREGATE RESULTS

Dry Aggregate

Wet Aggregate

Female Aggregate

SECTION AGGREGATES:

‘A’ SECTION

‘A’ SECTION WET AGGREGATE

 ‘B’ SECTION

‘B’ SECTION WET AGGREGATE

APPLIANCE AGGREGATES

‘A’ SECTION

‘B’ SECTION

2024 CHAMPION BRIGADE:    

The team members of MELTON A are:

1. James Arandt
2. Jake Carrol
3. Ben Geysing
4. Jack Geysing
5. Lorelei Geysing
6. Ashley Goudie
7. Denzel Johns
8. Devante Johns
9. Gabby Keats
10. Brodie Leitch
11. Bailey Rhodes
12. Cooper Rhodes
13. Ryan Stone
14. Jacob Steel
15. Coach & Competitor Anthony Rhodes

Results for the 2024 Champion Competitor:

Final results for the 2024 State Rural Junior Championship held in Mooroopna on Sunday 24 March 2024 are now available.

The results are available for download at the bottom of this page. 

Presentation photos and times for all events will be posted on VFBV's dedicated Championships Facebook Page.

Results for all events are available to view here.

Champion Team - Ascot & District A

11 - 13 Years Aggregate Winner - Ascot & District A

11 - 15 years Aggregate Winner - Napoleons-Enfield A

Event 1A:  Low Down Pump & Ladder – 11-13 Years       

Event 1B:  Low Down Pump & Ladder – 11-15 Years

Chief Officer’s Challenge Event, Low Down Pump & Ladder

Event 2A:  Wet Hose & Ladder – 11-13 Years      

Event 2B:  Wet Hose & Ladder – 11-15 Years      

Event 4A:  Tanker – Priming, Pumping & Ladder – 11-13 Years

Event 4B:  Tanker – Priming, Pumping & Ladder – 11-15 Years

Event 5A:  Hydrant & Tanker – 11-13 Years

Event 5B:  Hydrant & Tanker – 11-15 Years

Event 6A:  Tanker – Drawing Water from Tank – 11-13 Years

Event 6B:  Tanker – Drawing Water from Tank – 11-15 Years

FINAL AGGREGATES

11-13 YEARS AGGREGATE

11-15 YEARS AGGREGATE

CHAMPION TEAM:

VFBV State President Encouragement Award winner:  Maiden Gully B

Stan Ross Conduct Trophy winner:   Springhurst Brigade

Junior Firefighter Sprint winners:

11-13 Years – Female: Tilly McErlain, Ascot & District   

11-13 Years – Male:    Tom Griffiths, Gapsted

11-15 Years – Female: Charlotte Roberts, Napoleons-Enfield

11-15 Years – Male:    Equal 1^st – Aiden Bryant, Mannerim and Otis Patton, Beazley’s Bridge

Final results for the 2024 State Rural Senior Championship held in Mooroopna on Saturday 23 March 2024 are now available.

The results are available for download at the bottom of this page. 

Presentation photos and times for all events will be posted on VFBV's dedicated Championships Facebook Page.

Results for all events are available to view here.

Division 1 Aggregate Winner - Eldorado A 

Division 2 Aggregate Winner - Truganina A 

Division 3 Aggregate Winner - Eldorado D

Event 1:  Low Down Pump & Ladder

Event 2:  Wet Hose & Ladder

Event 3:  Tanker Hose Reel & Ladder

Event 4:  Tanker - Priming, Pumping & Ladder

Event 5:  Hydrant & Tanker

Event 6:  Tanker – Drawing Water from Tank

FINAL AGGREGATES

DIVISION 1 AGGREGATE

DIVISION 2 AGGREGATE

DIVISION 3 AGGREGATE

Alan King AFSM Memorial Conduct Trophy winner:    Moorooduc Brigade

Outstanding Female Team:         District 9/27 Women’s Network

Winners of the Firefighter Sprint:

Female competitors:       1^st           Alicia Roberts, Napoleons-Enfield

                                    2^nd          Trinity Williams, Chiltern

                                    3^rd          Emma Templeton, Swan Hill

Male competitors:           1^st           Lachlan Wilkinson, Leopold

                                    2^nd          Yee Zhao, Pearcedale

                                    3^rd          Nathan Bolger. Connewarre

The 2024 State Urban Senior Championship and the State Rural Senior and Junior Championships will be held this coming Saturday and Sunday, 23 and 24 March 2024 at the Mooroopna Recreation Reserve, Midland Highway, Mooroopna.

Once again the Urban Senior and Rural State Championships will be held on the same weekend, at the same venue on their own competition tracks.  Competing across the two days will be 40 junior teams and 76 senior teams including a number of new and returning teams. 

The Championships will commence with an opening ceremony on Saturday morning at 8:20am, before competition begins on each competition track from 9am.

The popular and impressive Torchlight Procession will be conducted on the evening of Sunday 23 March in Mooroopna.  The Torchlight Procession will begin at 8:30pm on Saturday evening.

Sunday mornings events will commence at 8:30am on each track.

Results from the Championship will be progressively posted over the weekend on VFBV’s dedicated Championships Facebook Page.

Teams competing in the Rural State Championships:

Seniors: 

Juniors: 

Teams competing in the State Urban Senior Championship:

Final results for the 2024 State Urban Junior Championships held in Mooroopna on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 March 2024 are now available.

The results are listed below and are also available for download at the bottom of this page. 

Presentation photos and placegetters for all events have been posted on VFBV's dedicated Championships Facebook Page. Team times for each event are available for download at the bottom of this page. 

RESULTS – Saturday 16^th March

Event  1               Hydrant – One Competitor, Under 14 Years

Event  2               Y Coupling – Two Competitors, Under 17 Years

Event  3               Wet Hose Striking Second Disc – Four Competitors, Under 14 Years

Event  4               Y Coupling – Four Competitors, Under 17 Years

Event 5                Wet Hose Striking 1^st & 2^nd Discs – Four Competitors, Under 17 Years

Event  6               Marshall – One Competitor, Under 14 Years

Event  7               Wet Hose Striking 1st & 2nd Discs – Four Competitors, Under 14 Years

Event  8               Marshall – One Competitor, Under 17 Years

Event  9               Wet Hose – Two Competitors, Under 17 Years

Event 10              Marshall – Two Competitors, Under 14 Years

Event 11              Wet Hose – Two Competitors, Under 14 Years

RESULTS – Sunday 17^th March

Event 12              Hydrant – One Competitor, Under 17 Years

Event 13              Y Coupling – Two Competitors, Under 14 Years

Event 14                Wet Hose Striking Second Disc - Four Competitors, Under 17 Years

Event 15              Y Coupling – Four Competitors, Under 14 Years

Event 16              Wet Hose Striking One Disc Twice – Four Competitors, Under 14 Years

Event 17              Marshall – Two Competitors, Under 17 Years

Event 18              Wet Hose Striking One Disc Twice – Four Competitors, Under 17 Years

FINAL AGGREGATE RESULTS

DRY AGGREGATE:

WET AGGREGATE

UNDER 14 YEARS AGGREGATE

UNDER 17 YEARS AGGREGATE

GRAND AGGREGATE                    

2024 - Champion Team – Melton A

Coaches Anthony Rhodes, Bailey Rhodes, Ashley Goudie and Denzel Johns and competitors:

1. Bayllie Arandt
2. Poppy Arandt
3. Tyler Goudie
4. Devante Johns
5. Brodie Leitch
6. Lily Leitch
7. Ryder Millington
8. Leah Steele

Final Aggregate Board

Under 14 Years Aggregate Winner - ECHUCA A

Under 17 Years Aggregate & Grand Aggregate Winner - MELTON A

The 2024 State Urban Junior Championship will be held this coming Saturday and Sunday, 16 and 17 March 2024 in Mooroopna. This year will be the 50th time the State Urban Junior Championship has been held.

Come along and see tomorrow’s CFA volunteers proudly demonstrate their skills.

If you are not involved with the CFA juniors program or haven’t witnessed the value the State Urban Junior Championship provides for young volunteers to develop practical skills and to be actively involved in CFA, then get along and be inspired.

Urban junior competitions have a proud 51 year history. This year 38 teams from CFA brigades from across Victoria will compete over the weekend.  

The 2024 Championship is being held at the Mooroopna Recreation Reserve, Midland Hwy, Mooroopna and events will begin at 8:30am each morning.

Results from the Championship will be progressively posted over the weekend on VFBV’s dedicated Championships Facebook Page. 

Teams competing in the 2024 State Urban Junior Championship are:

Information for brigades competing this weekend can be downloaded from this page. 

Next weekend 23rd and 24th March will see the State Urban Senior Championship along with the State Rural Senior and Junior Championships take place at the Mooroopna Recreation Reserve also. With the popular Torchlight Procession to be held on Saturday 23rd March in Mooroopna. 

International Women’s Day

Each year on March 8 International Women’s Day celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women as well as calling for action to accelerate women’s equality.

The theme for International Women’s Day this year is #InspireInclusion. This year’s theme acknowledges that when we inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion, we forge a better world.

Throughout CFA and VFBV, there are many examples of the contribution women make to our communities and our fire services. The work and decisions being made today to embrace diversity and inclusion will ensure more women are supported and encouraged into the fire services for future generations.

To each of the dedicated, highly skilled and much appreciated women in CFA and across all fire and emergency services, thank you for the contribution you make to making communities safer today and every day of the year.

Members are reminder of our CEO’s editorial that covered International Women’s Day history in great detail, including some helpful hints and tips that invite CFA members to reflect on how each of us can contribute to building inclusive brigade cultures where women are not only welcomed, but thrive. That piece and profile stories on influential and inspirational women across CFA who continue to inspire us can be found on the VFBV website.

Each of us can play a part in actively supporting and embracing equity within our own sphere of influence. This can include simple steps such as challenging stereotypes, calling out discrimination, drawing attention to bias and actively seeking out how to include others within our brigades, workplaces, communities, CFA and the wider emergency services across Victoria.

Enormity of bushfires

By Adam Barnett, VFBV Chief Executive Officer

It has been an incredibly busy month, both on and off the fireground, and I want to acknowledge the incredible work of all our people in battling the large fires from last month’s spike days, including the two catastrophic fire danger ratings declared in Feb. Thank you also to those that supported communities through the storm events of the past month that left many thousands of Victorians without power, some for over a week.

Our Welfare Fund and the VFBV Volunteer Support and Recovery Trust have activated and are supporting members across the fire devastated areas, with six CFA members having lost their homes during last month’s fires.

The skill and dedication of our volunteers has been remarked on by many over the past weeks and it is a timely reminder that the regularity of bushfires in Victoria has resulted in volunteer firefighting skills and experience that are simply unmatched anywhere else in the world. And time and time again I have had reports about how local knowledge has been used to quickly mop up spot fires and suppress them before they could take hold. An incredible achievement given the weather conditions.

And while there has been some minor criticism about the warnings issued in the lead up to the days in question, again we must remind the public that Fire Danger warnings are not an estimate of how likely a fire is going to occur on those days but rather the seriousness of the if and when and how a fire would behave should one be started and our capacity to bring it under control. To conflate the leave early warnings with the fact that luckily very few out of control fires actually started on those days is a mistake we must not let take hold. Just ask any bushfire survivor about the importance of early community warnings and you will not be left with any doubt as too their importance.

And while I know many hundreds of volunteers that were prepositioned on these days may feel they did not have much to do, the hundreds that were in situ and could pounce on fire starts from strategic locations with an overwhelming weight of attack when fire did occur is what stopped the various fires from developing any further. So be proud of your sacrifice waiting in hot fire trucks or humid staging areas – it was not for nought even if it felt that way. For those that did see action - impact assessments demonstrated over and over the incredibly skilled work done by CFA members to protect lives and property. And while there were some losses, considering the areas affected it wasn’t just plain luck that there were not more. It was pure skill and incredibly hard work, with surveys of the fire damaged areas showing very prominent fire perimeters around saved properties and clearly visible tyre marks left by CFA tankers as they circled homes and extinguished spot fires around townships and residential streets.

If we want to talk about luck, let’s talk about the chance of a creaking 34 year old fire truck, 14 years past its use by date having zero mechanical problems on the day when the mercury hits 40 and we need it the most. Let’s talk about the firefighters sitting on the back in the open air on those hot smouldering days. Those odds are fast evaporating, and the Government is playing a game of Russian roulette each and every year that our trucks get older and older with no replacements in sight. And just to be clear, when you hear a recycled announcement from two years ago promising 40 new trucks, understand it is exactly that – a recycled announcement. With more than 2,300 trucks in the fleet, announcements of 40 new trucks will take another 58 years to replace the fleet.

Returning to February’s fires – and while the workforce was overwhelmingly volunteer – I wish to acknowledge the contribution of our partner agencies, especially our friends at Forest Fire Management Victoria who stood shoulder to shoulder with us on the fireground. Thank-you also to all other agency personnel who assisted.

I also want to acknowledge the thousands of volunteers who have put themselves on call or stayed behind or worked from home to ensure local coverage remained. Thank you also to those non-operational personnel who have worked diligently in the background to get everything ready and provided critical support to our frontline operations. You don’t appear on a fire report or get counted in the government’s figures – but the work you do is essential.

These spike days are a reminder that as one of the most fire prone places on the planet, we don’t need to have a bad fire season to have bad fires. A single day with just the right (or wrong) weather conditions can present a very real risk of catastrophic fires.

A lesson the current government would be well advised to remember as they contemplate de-funding our CFA. With a $3 million cut already applied to CFA’s budget this year, the prospect of additional budget cuts in the upcoming budget cycle looms large. As I reported back in January, a secret razor gang from Department Premier and Cabinet, Treasury and Justice have formed an “Emergency Services Organisation Finance Board” whose job it is to recommend further cuts.

The Governments current track record on CFA funding since its controversial fire services reforms is clear for all to see. Based on CFA Annual Reports since 2020, Government funding has been:

2020: $807M

2021: $351M

2022: $347M

2023: $341M

That represents a cut every year since reform.

To contemplate additional cuts to CFA after the spectacle of fire services reform seems very ill advised and very brave considering how much Victorians rely on CFA to deal with the increasing frequency of natural disasters.

And while I hope with all my might that Victorians won’t have to pay the ultimate price of these foolish decisions with their lives, history very clearly demonstrates a direct link between government investment and the outcomes of catastrophic fire events. If the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission wasn’t plain enough, I’m not sure what more warning can be provided on the importance of preserving Victoria’s volunteer workforce and service.

I noted in recent days that senior counsel assisting and former Supreme Court Judge - Rear Admiral the Honourable Jack Rush AO RFD KC RAN commenting on the lack of action taken since the 2009 Bushfires Royal Commission on moving overhead electrical cables underground in fire prone areas. The sound of exasperation in his voice was clear as he reflected on the absurdity that just 15 years after the tragedy of Black Saturday that we could so easily forget the effects and enormity of bushfires in Victoria.

He concluded that as a government and as a society for not forcing our government to act, we are remiss and doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past. One wonders how Victorians will react following the next Black Saturday when they discover that funding to CFA and a reduction in the number of support staff and services will be judged. Harshly I hope.

Which leads me to address the absurd statement run out by the government’s media team dismissing concerns around the reduction of volunteers over recent years. I kid you not, but the statement “CFA has never drawn on its full reserves of volunteers” is not only the most stupid non-fact ever uttered, but also one of the most disrespectful statements to our brave and selfless volunteer firefighters I have ever heard. And while this statement was first used during fire services reform, it has been on high rotation recently when officials are squirming to respond to concerns about falling volunteer numbers.

When I talk about the importance of respecting volunteers, use this as a prime example of what you should not do.

Statements such as this ignores the very apex principle of volunteer services that you don’t treat your volunteer workforce like some disposable cache of on-call employees.

Are they suggesting fathers and mothers are to simply leave the kids at home while both jump on the fire truck? Are they suggesting volunteers, who are also frontline workers across health, transport and other essential industries in their everyday lives, should abandon their posts to attend a fire? Should a volunteer who is battling a cost of living crisis risk losing their job and the roof over their head by not considering their employers situation before responding to an incident? Should they never go on holiday, be unwell or take a leave of absence to look after a sick family member? This is the practical effect of “drawing down” on CFA’s full reserves. Shame on them for normalising such a deceitful and immoral argument. Volunteering should never be exploitative, and asking less people to do more work and make more sacrifice than what they can already sustain is neither fair nor ethical. Yet this is exactly what these statements imply and why they are so offensive.

Volunteer services are built on the principle that you must amass a large number of volunteers to provide coverage, acknowledging not all will be available at the exact same time, and each are balancing their own needs. To run the system into the ground that then guilts what volunteers are left into sacrificing more than they can afford and comes at a great cost to them, their families and their employers is not acceptable.

For example, did SES “draw down” its full complement during last year’s floods? Using the government’s math - they did not. So why then did we need almost 12,000 CFA deployments to help them out?

In fact, the principle is not only well established for volunteers, but paid firefighting services operates on the principle of a 1:5 ratio that requires it to employ five firefighters for every one firefighter it wants to be on duty. This ratio factors in sickness, sleep, leave and other eventualities. To not consider a similar ratio for its volunteer workforce is outrageous.

The fact that the government spokespeople uttered these statements with a straight face to brush away concerns with volunteer numbers while in the next breath announcing that Victoria had requested 100 NSW RFS volunteers to come down to Victoria to assist with the firefight should demonstrate the utter absurdity of the comments.

In fact, this notion of wanting less volunteers is actually government policy – documented in last year’s DJCS annual report that actually reduced Victoria’s target for emergency management volunteers downwards by another 1,500. Yes - you read that right, they actually reduced their aspirational target to aim for less.

I have yet to see a climate model that predicts fire events will become less frequent and less damaging, so I urge the department to share the data that is providing this unhinged peace of mind so we can all share in its reassurance that we don’t have anything to worry about.

Does anyone actually believe that attracting more people to CFA and other volunteer emergency services will be served by cutting funding so that volunteers have to keep battling just to get decent equipment, clothing, fire stations, trucks and support? To borrow a phrase - tell ‘em they’re dreamin’.

2024 Bushfire and Storm Recovery Resources

VFBV has prepared a fact sheet to assist members and their families to navigate the various sources of assistance that is available to those affected by the recent fire and storm events across the state.  The fact sheet outlines the various local, state and Commonwealth support available and provides links to the resources where available.

The fact sheet is available from the VFBV website and printed copies can be provided by calling the VFBV office on 9886 1141 or by contacting your local VFBV Support Officer.

We will continue to update the fact sheet as we become aware of additional support available.

2024 State Championships

Final preparations are being made for the 2024 State Championships to be held at the Mooroopna Recreation Reserve later this month.

The first weekend of competition on 16 and 17 March, will see the 38 teams from across the state compete in the Urban Junior Championship. The next weekend will see even more action with 47 teams taking part in the Rural Senior Championship on Saturday 23 March and another 38 teams on Sunday 24th March will compete in the Rural Senior Championship. The Urban Senior Championship will also be contested this weekend with 40 teams taking part from all across Victoria. Information for competing teams is available from the VFBV website.

The popular Torchlight Procession will also take place in Mooroopna on the evening of Saturday 23 March, with 46 brigades taking part. If your brigade is interested in marching in the Torchlight Procession, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. as soon as possible.

All of this competition would not be possible without the assistance of the more than 200 judges and officials who volunteer their time and expertise to ensure that each of the Championships is run at a high standard. Both the Urban and Rural competition committees are always on the lookout for additional judges and officials. If you are able to volunteer as a judge or official for any of the State Championships please contact the VFBV office via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or 9886 1141.

SOP Feedback

A reminder that we are seeking feedback on various Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that our out for consultation. The Driving SOPs will close for feedback shortly. An additional thirteen SOPs have been modified and are now available for review.

These are SOP 3.01 Management of Junior Members; 5.05 Use of CFA Equipment; 7.01 Local Procedure Development; 7.05 Water Supplies for Firefighting; 7.07 Station Siren Use; 8.01 Incident Controller and CFA Agency Commander; 8.04 Transfer of Control; 9.13 Keeping Logs and Documents; 9.16 Media Management; and 9.18 Use of Personal Mobile Devices During Incidents.

Given the importance of SOPs in CFA’s operational doctrine, VFBV encourages all senior volunteers to make themselves familiar with the proposed changes and provide feedback ASAP.

Please visit the VFBV website to access drafts and change logs to help guide your feedback.

Presumptive Leg

QLD is the latest State to expand its firefighter presumptive legislation scheme to pick up the additional cancers added to the Commonwealth scheme in 2022. This now aligns QLD, TAS, WA, NT and ACT, leaving Victoria falling further behind.

VFBV continues pursuing further expansion of the scheme to pick up the remaining six cancers that were added to the Commonwealth’s scheme being primary site lung, skin, penile, pancreatic and thyroid cancers and malignant mesothelioma.

VFBV is calling on the Victorian Government to align its scheme to ensure Victorian firefighters enjoy the same protections and support as their federal counterparts, and firefighters in the other State’s.

We have published a national overview table on our website that allows members to compare each of the presumptive schemes in operation across the country. As you will see, Victoria is falling behind other jurisdictions. VFBV is seeking the support of all government, opposition and minor party MPs including independents to support the amendments introduced by the Greens, that would see Victoria’s scheme expanded to the same 21 cancers that the Tasmanian government has introduced.

Thank you

Thank-you to all members who completed this year’s VFBV Volunteer Welfare and Efficiency Survey. You are helping us make CFA a better place to volunteer.

As soon as we have finished compiling and analysing your responses, we will publish the results.

Quarterly Supplement

Included with the March 2024 edition of Fire Wise is the latest edition of the VFBV Quarterly Supplement.

The Quarterly Supplement contains 16 pages of relevant news, updates, information on current issues being pursued by VFBV on behalf of members. It also includes additional resources or updates that are available via our website.

An electronic copy of the Quarterly Supplement can be downloaded here.

Brigade Captains and Secretaries, Group Officers and Group Secretaries as well as VFBV delegates are requested to please take the time to read this and future editions, and table at your upcoming meetings for the benefit and knowledge of your members.

Aussie Fire Pumps competition

In appreciation of the efforts of CFA volunteers in protecting their communities Australian Pump Industries is running a competition where one lucky CFA brigade or group will win an Aussie Fire Captain firefighting pump.

To enter simply explain in 50 words or less “what motivates a CFA volunteer”. Entries are limited to one entry per CFA brigade or group. To submit your entry and view the competition terms and conditions, visit the Aussie Pumps website.  

Entries close on 23 March 2024.

VFBV Board Vacancies

Invitation to all CFA volunteers to apply

Closing date for written applications is 2 September 2024.

VFBV advances the interests of all Victorian fire brigade volunteers

Vacancies on VFBV Board will arise when the terms of four VFBV Board members expire on 1 October 2024. Of the four members whose terms are expiring, two are eligible for reappointment. VFBV invites applications from any CFA volunteer who is motivated by the prospect of making a difference and believes they have the skills to contribute to the VFBV Board.

The role of a board member involves contributing to VFBV direction, policy determination and monitoring the performance and governance of the Association. This includes actively contributing to policy discussion, consulting with CFA volunteers and contributing to the identification and management of strategic issues.

VFBV is seeking applications from gender and culturally diverse candidates in addition to a diverse range of skills and experience including applications from diverse brigade types and classifications.

Members should familiarise themselves with the VFBV Board member role statement and key selection criteria available from the VFBV website or via the office at (03) 9886 1141.

Applications close on Monday 2 September 2024 and must be lodged to VFBV, 9/24 Lakeside Drive, Burwood East  3151; email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; telephone 9886 1141;  fax:  9886 1618.

Recent articles on the VFBV website

Consultation Dashboard

International Women’s Day 2024

2024 Bushfire and Storm Recovery Resources

Feedback Requested – Standard Operating Procedures (Various)

Feedback Requested - Standard Operating Procedures (Driving)

VFBV Board Vacancies

2024 State Championships – Information for competing brigades

Presumptive Legislation Update

Enjoy the VFBV monthly newsletter?
If you enjoy reading the VFBV newsletter each month, why not share it with your fellow volunteers?

Either share this page with others who may enjoy the articles or encourage other volunteers to sign up to receive their own copy via email each month here.

Want to read the VFBV 2-minute briefings from the CFA/VFBV Joint Committees?
The latest edition along with previous editions can be downloaded from the VFBV website here.

Formal consultation has commenced on ten updated Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's) covering various doctrine.

The proposed draft SOP's are available for download from the bottom of this page and contain:

• SOP 3.01 Management of Junior Members
• SOP 5.05 Use of CFA Equipment
• SOP 7.01 Local Procedure Development
• SOP 7.05 Water Supplies for Firefighting
• SOP 7.07 Station Siren Use
• SOP 8.01 Incident Controller and CFA Agency Commander
• SOP 8.04 Transfer of Control
• SOP 9.13 Keeping Logs and Documents
• SOP 9.16 Management of Media at an Incident
• SOP 9.18 Use of Personal Mobile Devices During Incidents

We are currently preparing a change log for each of the updated SOP's and will also develop a survey to walk members through the changes shortly.

Members are encouraged to review the revised SOP's and provide any feedback/suggestions/amendments including indicating support/non-support for the proposed policies.

Feedback can be provided by individuals, brigades and groups.  

All feedback is used to inform and influence formal VFBV positions as well as used to influence CFA positions and thinking during the deliberative process. If we need to use your feedback to demonstrate or illustrate the views of members, your personal details will not be shared with CFA, and feedback will always be de-identified to protect your privacy.

We encourage members not to wait until deadlines to provide feedback, but rather provide it as early as possible which will give us a chance to conduct further research that may assist us being able to advocate more strongly for your desired outcome.

Feedback due dates on these SOP's are yet to be determined due to the number of items currently out for consultation. But we encourage members to respond ASAP.

All members are welcome and encouraged to provide feedback. If you have any questions, please contact your local State Councilor or VFBV Support Officer in the first instance.

How to provide feedback:

It would be preferred that members provide feedback ASAP, so that it can be received incrementally, allowing us enough time to consolidate, identify trends and research issues raised by members. 

Feedback can be provided via:

1. Emailing to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
   
   
2. Your local VFBV District Council or your local VFBV Support Officer
   
   
3. By Post: 9/24 Lakeside Drive, Burwood East VIC 3151
   
   
4. By Fax: (03) 9886 1618
   
   
5. For those that prefer to answer a survey to provide feedback, survey's will be developed shortly.
   
   
    

Feedback does not need to be long or detailed, but if you do have the time to make substantive comment that is always welcome.

If you generally support a principle or policy, then a quick note letting us know would also be helpful. Similarly, let us know if you do not support it, or which aspects of it you don't support.

Where indicating non-support, it would be helpful to understand the key reasons why, and even a couple of brief bullet points would be adequate. Likewise, if you would prefer to provide a more detailed response, or mark-up and suggest changes to the documents, that is welcome also.

Your feedback will assist us form a VFBV position and response to the proposed changes and help us advocate on behalf of CFA volunteers. Please consider getting involved, and providing us your feedback ASAP.

Please remember to provide feedback in support as well as against. If we only hear from those who are against, it can be harder to determine the general comfort level of members with the proposals.