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This week (15 – 21 May) is National Volunteer week, and sets out to celebrate the power of how volunteers drive change and ensure that volunteering is inclusive.
The 2023 theme for National Volunteer Week is The Change Makers. This recognises that volunteers dedicate time and energy to effect change in their communities which VFBV believes sums up CFA volunteers perfectly.
This year’s them identifies change makers as people who are driven to contribute for the greater good; are passionate about the causes they care about; turn their passions into purpose; are a force for social change; and give their time and energy to make a difference for their communities.
Adam Barnett, VFBV CEO, thanked CFA volunteers for the time and energy they dedicate to making change within communities across Victoria, and said that each of these qualities are evident each and every day in CFA volunteers.
“VFBV passes on our deep gratitude, respect and appreciation to all CFA volunteers for the work you do in your communities 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”
“Over the past 12 months this has been evident where in addition to protecting their own communities, many CFA volunteers travelled afar to flood affected areas across the state to effect change in communities in need. While it would be easier to say this was someone else’s job, CFA volunteers again put their hand up to come to communities in need. Your ‘can do’ attitude should be celebrated, respected and acknowledged by everyone.“
“Victorian’s are safer because of the work you do, and we could not be more proud of you, your brigades and all those that support you in the work you do to protect lives and property” he said.
Adam also noted that it is not only CFA volunteers who contribute to the safety of Victoria. These are also volunteers from the broader emergency services sector such as VicSES, St John Ambulance, Ambulance Victoria, Life Saving Victoria, Coast Guard, Salvation Army, Red Cross and the Victorian Council of Churches Emergencies Ministry – just to name a few who work together to contribute their time, skills and resources to make change in their communities as emergency management volunteers.
The 3V’s report “Uncovering the hidden value”, conservatively estimates that Victoria’s 100,000 emergency service volunteers contribute $1.9 to $2.5 billion in value each year.
From VFBV, thank you and well done for you incredible dedication and service to the people of Victoria and beyond, not just this week but every hour, day, week and month of the year.
About VFBV: VFBV is established under the Country Fire Authority Act and is the peak body for CFA Volunteers in Victoria. VFBV works tirelessly to represent, advocate and support CFA volunteers to the CFA Board and management, governments, ministers, members of parliament, councils, instrumentalities, business and the public. Our vision is for Strong Volunteerism, Embraced to Build Community Resilience for a Safer Victoria. | |
Want to read more about CFA volunteers?
VFBV regularly publish stories about CFA volunteers, please explore our website to discover some of these amazing stories.
Interested in becoming a CFA volunteer?
Visit https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/volunteers-careers/volunteer-with-cfa/apply-to-volunteer to find out more information.
International Firefighters’ Day (IFFD) is observed each year on the 4th May. This is also St Florian's Day, who is the patron saint of firefighters.
St. Florian is the Patron Saint of Firefighters and was an officer of the Roman army who was responsible for organising and leading firefighting brigades tasked to fight fires when Rome needed to protect itself against fire being used as an offensive weapon in the third century.
On St. Florian’s Day, firefighters, families and communities across the world take a moment to acknowledge firefighters commitment and dedication to their communities and their selfless duty to protecting lives and property.
Each year, CFA and VFBV come together to honour our fallen firefighters through the annual memorial service which is each year commemorated on the Sunday closest to May 4th. By proudly wearing and displaying blue and red ribbons pinned together or by participating in a memorial or recognition event, we show our gratitude and respect to firefighters and their families everywhere. The blue and red ribbons are linked to colours symbolic of the main elements firefighters work with – red for fire and blue for water.
This year’s service will be held on Sunday 7 May at VEMI Conference and Event Centre in Mt Macedon as part of the commemorations of the 40th anniversary for the Ash Wednesday fires. The 2023 Annual Memorial Service will be livestreamed by CFA on Sunday for those who are unable to attend in person.
The Annual Memorial Service is a formal and reflective day to acknowledge and remember those that have made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of their communities. It’s a time for reflection and just one of the ways we can remember the lives of 69 CFA members and 11 Country Fire Brigades Board firefighters (prior to the formation of CFA), who have paid the ultimate sacrifice and given their lives in service to protecting our communities. The full Role of Honour can be found on CFA’s website.
This year’s service will be especially poignant following the death of Queensland Fire and Rescue Firefighter Izabella Nash earlier this week which only further highlights the risks that firefighters face while protecting lives and property. VFBV on behalf of all Victorian firefighters extends its deepest sympathies to Izabella’s family, friends, loved ones and fellow firefighters at this sad time.
Fellow firefighter Lia Drew was also injured at the same fire and is currently in a serious but stable condition in hospital, we wish Lia all the best in her recovery and our thoughts are also with Lia, her family, friends and colleagues.
VFBV CEO, Adam Barnett spoke of the importance of the annual memorial service for not only the families, friends and loved once of the fallen, but for all CFA members.
“The annual memorial and St Florian’s Day is a time for us to come together and remember the 80 CFA firefighters who have selflessly given their lives to protect the lives of other Victorians.”
“While we pay tribute to those lost while protecting our communities, it is also a day to reflect on the importance of the work that CFA volunteers do on a daily basis to make Victorian communities safer.”
“On behalf of VFBV, thankyou to all firefighters for your incredible dedication and commitment to protecting lives and property.”
EMV home goal
By Adam Barnett, VFBV Chief Executive Officer
This month I am drawing strength from a Gandhi quote – “Truth never damages a cause that is just.”
I was most unfortunate to attend the recent meeting of the volunteer consultative forum (VCF) where it was announced by the Emergency Management Commissioner that a decision had been made to disband the VCF. To say that the volunteers at that meeting drawn from the various agencies were saddened, hurt and disappointed would be an understatement.
The VCF was an initiative floated by VFBV during discussions of the Victorian Government’s White Paper on emergency management back in 2012. The concept was embraced and announced by the then Minister, the Hon Kim Wells MP. The VCF was officially formed on the 18th November 2013 and was heralded as delivering on the Victorian Government’s commitment to consult emergency management volunteers across the sector. The forum was designed to provide a multi-agency volunteer feedback loop direct to the Minister for Emergency Services on issues affecting EM volunteers. It was made up of more than twenty emergency management volunteers and agency nominees drawn from CFA, SES, Life Saving Victoria, Australian Red Cross, Ambulance Victoria, VFBV, St John Ambulance, Volunteer Coast Guard, Salvation Army, VICSESVA and the Victorian Council of Churches Emergencies Ministry.
The first meeting of the VCF was attended by Minister Wells who spoke about how grateful he was for the opportunity to consult with volunteers with regard to the emergency management sector and in particular the importance of volunteers having input in ensuring the sustainability and effective utilisation of volunteers across the EM sector. It was widely acknowledged that EM volunteers face unique challenges that deserved dedicated and focussed efforts.
Upon a change of Government at the end of 2014, the new Minister for Emergency Services, the Hon Jane Garrett MP attended her first meeting of the VCF on the 6th December 2014. Minister Garrett was a frequent attendee and echoed the importance of the VCF and acknowledged that ministerial involvement with the VCF would continue to be a priority under the Andrews Government.
On the 4th May 2016, Premier Andrews, along with Minister Garrett and the Emergency Management Commissioner signed the Emergency Management Volunteer Statement that was an agreed commitment between the State of Victoria and emergency management volunteers that committed the State of Victoria to consult with EM volunteers and their representative bodies through the VCF on matters which affect them. The statement was co-signed by each of the eleven organisations represented on the VCF, including VFBV.
Therefore it was rather surprising to learn that consultation around the disbanding of the VCF with the VCF itself had not occurred prior to the decision being made. To disband the forum and ignore the commitments made without so much as a discussion with the very volunteers affected is quite astonishing and represents a significant betrayal of trust and integrity.
Even more remarkable is the fact that the EM Volunteer Statement was a public statement of commitment signed by the Premier himself on behalf of the whole Victorian Government.
It is at times like these that I remind members why VFBV had to take the extraordinary step of giving the CFA Volunteer Charter legal effect by inserting recognition of the Charter into the CFA Act. A change it should be pointed out, that received and celebrated bi-partisan support across both houses of Parliament.
Volunteers should not have to fight for governments to simply honour the commitments they make and it is heartbreaking to have to deal with such betrayals.
VFBV has learned that the decision to disband the VCF was made after a secret briefing and recommendation was prepared by EMV and given by the Emergency Management Commissioner to the Minister.
In an effort to hold decision makers accountable for their actions, VFBV has committed to public advocacy and formally advised the Minister of our concern that EMV has failed to acquit its obligations under the Volunteer Charter, which is a hard fought statutory obligation on not only CFA but also the State of Victoria.
In response, the VFBV Board have unanimously declared EMV to be an ‘Organisation of Concern’. This decision has not been made lightly and follows the VCF’s disbandment as well as consideration of recent activities such as the EMV Operating Model Review and the lack of a cross agency after action review for last year’s flooding event.
The VFBV Board has taken this unprecedented step in order to highlight the serious disquiet and concern we have towards this behemoth of a bureaucracy and its recent poor record of engagement and direct consultation with volunteers and their representative bodies on several matters. We take no joy in having to take these steps but are committed to representing CFA volunteers with integrity and transparency.
We have taken no comfort from the Commissioner’s protestations that EMV will conduct some future review and consider future arrangements further. If the machinery of government cannot honour the public commitments made to volunteers under the EM Statement, how can anyone expect volunteers to trust any further promises?
EMV’s development since it first commenced operation on 1 July 2014 has been quite a journey. Moving from a small, dedicated team of less than twelve people who formed the Fire Services Commissioner’s Office, EMV has now morphed into a bureaucracy of several hundred, with its own CEO, Commissioner, Deputy Commissioners and countless executive directors, public servants, consultants and advisors.
Despite those resources, clearly they appear unable to support the peak volunteer forum that was given “enduring effect” under the EM Volunteer Statement.
Volunteers are sick and tired of hearing leaders give speeches about how much they respect and value the contribution of CFA volunteers, to then not match these words with actions.
If we add up all the numerous committee’s and working groups that EMV host across the sector filled with agency representatives and employees, it is quite an indictment that the only committee dedicated to emergency management volunteers who make up more than 90% of the workforce gets dumped. One only needs to track the poor progress of EMV’s actions towards the thirteen strategic priority actions developed by volunteers through the VCF back in 2015 and quietly erased from EMV’s strategic action plan over consequent years to see how far volunteer priorities and initiatives have been abandoned.
EMV’s recent Operating Model review is a further example of poor process.
Readers would recall our concerns from the January and February 2022 editions of Fire Wise where volunteers were expected to provide feedback to their review over the Xmas and New Year period. The final report cemented EMV’s position that the solution to any and every problem facing the sector was to recommend more public servants.
Any cursory review of the COVID-19 Hotel Quarantine inquiry will show you the dangers of mixing public servants with incident management. Yet, EMV’s Operating model review advocates for more public sector full-time personnel to be employed to form fulltime Incident Management Teams managed by EMV. It then uses the gaps observed during their recent pandemic (Class 2) emergencies to argue for even more public servants to lead the management of Class 1 and 2 emergencies moving forward. The review even proposed a business case to train 500 public servants to form a new ‘Emergency Management Corps’. Where was the recommendation to recruit, retain and encourage another 500 volunteers you ask? Good question, we asked the same thing.
To demonstrate their priorities one need look no further than the announcement in last year’s State Budget of a record $36.2 million dollars for the establishment of EMV’s new fulltime State Control Centre workforce. This isn’t even a new capability. It simply replaces the current workforce contributed by each of the agencies through existing surge capacity. A surge capacity that is being undermined and neglected. The lack of any real action to address consecutive drops in endorsed level 3 incident personnel across the sector over recent years is a good example of just hoping for something to fail and then rushing in with a pre-formed solution.
$36.2M could have bought 80 brand new fire trucks.
The emergency management sector relies on trust, and a workforce that is overwhelming volunteer. EMV’s actions risk it becoming more and more distant from the very people that make up the EM sector.
Advice from the ground will become more and more filtered and censured by the layers and layers of bureaucracy. Governments and Ministers will then be on the receiving end of very poor advice so distorted and disconnected to be almost useless. Current case in point.
Victoria cannot simply afford layers and layers of bureaucracy for no tangible benefit. With a cost-of-living crisis looming large, budgets will become more and more under scrutiny. Priority must be given to CFA’s budget that is already under strain after decades of underinvestment, with ageing trucks, stations and hundreds of personnel transferred out of CFA under recent reforms.
If the Government is looking for savings that won’t impact on front line services and the critical work that emergency volunteer first responders do each and every day to keep our communities safe, then it need look no further than this bemouth of a bureaucracy. EMV’s status as an organisation of concern to volunteers represents a significant deterioration of support.
VFBV will continue to monitor and pursue meaningful arrangements that ensure genuine volunteer engagement and consultation though whatever means possible. We will continue standing up for CFA volunteers and reminding decision makers that EM volunteers contribute more than $2.4 billion dollars every year to the Victorian economy and taxpayer. Volunteers keep doing their bit, it is time for EMV and other sector leaders to step up and do theirs.
You can view a copy of the Emergency Management Volunteer Statement here.
CFA Annual Memorial Service
CFA’s Annual Memorial service will be held on Sunday 7 May in Mt Macedon to honour firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
This year’s memorial service will mark the 35th event, which has been held since 1987, with the only cancellation being in 2020 due to the pandemic.
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.
VFBV CEO Adam Barnett spoke about the importance of the annual memorial service for not only the families, friends and loved ones of the fallen, but for all members.
“The annual memorial service is a time for us to come together either in person or in spirit to remember and honour the 80 CFA firefighters (including 11 from pre-1944) who have selflessly given their lives to protect the lives of other Victorians.
"And while the service is always solemn and reflective, it is also an important opportunity to reflect on our history as we pay tribute to those lost and reflect on the importance of the work we all do in making our communities safer.”
RSVP’s to attend the service closed on Monday 1 May via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Annual Memorial Service will be livestreamed here from 2pm on Sunday 7 May.
National Volunteer Week
The week of 15 – 21 May is National Volunteer week, and it sets out to celebrate the power of how volunteers drive change and ensure that volunteering is inclusive.
The 2023 theme for National Volunteer Week is The Change Makers. This recognises that volunteers dedicate time and energy to effect change in their communities which sums up CFA volunteers perfectly.
This year’s theme identifies change makers as people who are driven to contribute for the greater good; passionate about the causes they care about; turn their passions into purpose; are a force for social change; and give their time and energy to make a difference for their communities. Each of these qualities are evident in CFA volunteers each and every day.
VFBV passes on our deep gratitude, respect and appreciation to all CFA volunteers for the work you do in your communities 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
During this year’s volunteer week we reflect on the past 12 months where in addition to protecting their own communities, thousands of CFA volunteers travelled to flood affected areas across the state to effect change in communities in need. While it would have been easy to just say this was someone else’s job, CFA volunteers again put their hand up to come to communities in need. Your ‘can do’ attitude should be celebrated, respected and acknowledged by all sector leaders.
Victorian’s are safer because of the work you do, and VFBV could not be more proud of you, your brigades and all those that support you in the work you do to protect lives and property.
We also acknowledge all our brothers and sisters across all of Victoria’s emergency management volunteer workforce including volunteer first responders from VicSES, St John Ambulance, Ambulance Victoria, Life Saving Victoria, Coast Guard, Salvation Army, Red Cross and the Victorian Council of Churches Emergencies Ministry – just to name a few who work together to contribute their time, skills and resources to make change in their communities as emergency management volunteers.
Thankyou
Thankyou to the thousands of CFA volunteers who completed this year’s VFBV vol survey. We are currently analysing responses and preparing this year’s report.
To each of the volunteers who took the time to complete this year’s survey, you have contributed to making CFA a better place to volunteer. Your feedback will be used to pursue positive change and contributes to our tireless advocacy on behalf of all volunteers. We couldn’t do it without you.
Vale
As this edition was sent to print we were saddened to hear of the passing of Queensland Fire and Rescue Service firefighter Izabella Nash on 2nd May.
We extend our deepest sympathies, thoughts and prayers to Izabella’s family, friends, loved ones and fellow firefighters at this sad time.
Fellow firefighter Lia Drew was also injured at the same fire and is currently in a serious but stable condition in hospital, we wish Lia all the best in her recovery and our thoughts are also with her family, friends and colleagues.
Members’ strong show of support
Again in 2022/23, CFA Brigades and Groups showed that is it more important than ever that volunteers have a strong, united, independent and credible voice with more than 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.
2023/24 renewal notices for your Brigade/Group’s VFBV Affiliation and Welfare Fund subscriptions and have now been mailed out to Brigade and Group secretaries with a due date of 30 June 2023.
To thank Brigades and Groups for their support, those who pay their VFBV affiliations before 30th June will automatically be entered into a draw to win one of four extremely worthwhile prizes valued at approximately $4,000. The prizes have for the third year running been donated by GAAM Emergency Products and Powdersafe and we sincerely thank them for their continued generous support. For further details of the prizes on offer, see the flyer 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 cost ensuring 100% of funds received go directly to CFA volunteers experiencing personal hardship. The VFBV Welfare Fund provides small grants of up to $5,000 to assist volunteer members and long serving ex members. The grants support members and their families experiencing personal financial hardship/crisis by providing welfare grants, on a needs-assessed basis, that may help alleviate stress impacting their ability to maintain involvement as a volunteer.
Nominations for Trust Fund
VFBV is calling for nominations to the CFA and Brigades Donations Fund.
The purpose of the fund is to raise and receive money and donations of goods and services from the public for distribution to brigades to assist with costs of purchasing and maintaining firefighting equipment, facilities, training and administrative expenses which are associated with their firefighting functions.
Following nominations, five new or reappointed members will be appointed by the VFBV Board to serve as VFBV Trustees on the fund for a term of two years.
All current trustees are eligible for re-appointment.
Please visit the VFBV website for details. Nominations close on Monday 19th June 2023.
VESEP
Applications are now open for the 2023/24 Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP). Applications are due to your District ACFO by the 16th June 2023.
VFBV has updated its VESEP Help Pack to assist brigades and groups with their VESEP applications. This pack is available from our website, or paper copies can be obtained by phoning the office.
VESEP provides grants of $2 for every $1 of Brigade or Group funding to assist brigades and groups in acquiring a wide range of operational equipment.
Now in its 23rd year, VESEP first started out as the Community Safety Emergency Support Program in 2000 and was designed in close consultation with VFBV and volunteers, with the intent being a grants program designed by volunteers with minimal administration required from volunteers.
VFBV wishes all CFA Brigades and Groups well with your applications and thanks you for your untiring service to Victoria!
Final Reminder: Draft CFA Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy
Feedback is being sought on a new draft policy covering Alcohol and other drugs, including prescription medication.
The draft policy covers arrangements for the appointment of a ‘responsible officer’, when alcohol can be consumed and a ban on brigades applying for a new liquor licence, with existing licences able to be kept.
All members are encouraged to read the draft policy and provide feedback ASAP. Feedback is due by Monday 8th May 2023.
Please visit the VFBV website for more information on how to provide feedback and view a copy of the draft policy.
CFA Board Positions
The CFA Act recognises that it is important that the CFA Board has strong volunteer expertise, knowledge and an understanding of CFA volunteers. To support this, four of the skills-based CFA Board members are appointed by the Minister for Emergency Services from a panel of names submitted by VFBV.
This year, the terms of two volunteer nominees will expire in December 2023, with both members eligible for re-appointment. One is for a volunteer from brigades predominantly serving rural communities, and the other being for a volunteer from brigades predominantly serving urban communities.
CFA volunteers who believe they have the skills, experience and capacity to make a contribution to the Board of CFA are invited to apply. In addition to volunteer experience and knowledge, nomination will have regard to any of the following - knowledge of or experience in; commercial; technical; operational; legal or financial matters; expertise in fire or emergency management; land management; or any other field relevant to the performance of the functions of the CFA.
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 CFA Board Charter and further information on the application process is available from the VFBV website or via the office at (03) 9886 1141.
Applications close on Monday 26th June 2023.
VFBV Board Vacancies
Vacancies on the VFBV Board will arise when the terms of four VFBV Board members expire on the 1st October 2023. 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 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 28th August 2023.
2023 CFA Communications Survey
CFA have recently launched the 2023 CFA Communications Survey on the ‘Your Say CFA’ platform to get feedback on how they can deliver more relevant, timely and easy-to-read communications.
CFA communicate through wide range of channels every day and, as an emergency service, it’s important CFA provides information in the way members want to receive it. The survey is open to all CFA members.
CFA will use the information from this survey to develop and improve the way they communicate and the options available for members.
The online survey closes on Monday 8 May and written surveys distributed with the upcoming issue of the Brigade magazine need to be received by CFA by Friday 26 May 2023.
The online survey can be accessed here.
Fire Wise – May 2023 online only edition
The May 2023 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 role it plays as an independent voice in keeping volunteers informed by becoming a subscriber. To become a Fire Wise 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
Feedback Requested – Draft CFA Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy
Nominations for CFA and Brigades Donations Fund
VFBV Board Vacancies – Invitation to Apply
CFA Board Positions – Invitation to Apply
CFA Annual Memorial Service 2023
2023-24 VESEP Applications Now Open and VFBV Help Pack
Open for consultation dashboard
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.
Applications should be submitted to your District ACFO by Friday 16th June 2023.
Applications are now open for the 2023-24 Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP), with the closing date fast approaching. VFBV has updated its VESEP Help Pack to assist brigades and groups with their VESEP applications.
VESEP provides grants of $2 for every $1 of Brigade or Group funding to assist brigades and groups in acquiring a wide range of additional equipment in recognition of the significant contribution emergency service volunteers provide in supporting Victorian communities.
Now in its 23rd year, VESEP first started out as the Community Safety Emergency Support Program in 2000 and was designed in close consultation with VFBV and volunteers, with the intent being a grants program designed by volunteers with minimal administration required from volunteers.
Since 2000, the program has funded over 2,150 projects totalling more than $160 million dollars, as a investment in maintaining and building volunteer capability by supporting volunteers through grants in five categories:
- Volunteer amenities under $5,000
- Minor works under $150,000^
- Operational Equipment
- Specialist Appliances and Field Command Vehicles
- Tankers*
^all minor works applications must be registered with the VESEP Land & Buildings Project Manager via email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Thursday 1st June 2023. Applications not pre-registered for review will not be considered by the Steering Committee.
*as with previous years, CFA have advised that additions to the fleet will be afforded a low priority with only exceptional circumstances being considered by the Chief Officer. An Addition to the Fire Fighting Fleet form will be required to be completed and approved by the District ACFO and Regional DCO.
VFBV Help Pack
VFBV's VESEP Application Help Pack is again available in 2023 to assist Brigades and Groups in completing their application, with the pack divided into easily downloadable sections at the bottom of this page.
VFBV's VESEP Help Pack |
Contains general information about VESEP and some handy hints on how to complete your application. |
Attachment 1 |
Application forms for Special Access Grant The Special Access Grant can reduce or in some cases eliminate all together the Brigade/Group contribution. |
Attachment 2 |
CFA VESEP Guidelines The guidelines outline criteria, aims and requirements that Brigades/Groups need to consider for their application to be completed. The Guidelines have been updated in 2023. |
Attachment 3 |
CFA Application Forms Provides Brigades and Groups with application forms for Part A: Vehicles and Operational Equipment, Part B: Volunteer Amenities and Minor Works and Addition to the Fire Fighting Appliance Fleet Operational Justification. |
Appendix |
CFA Information Sheets Collates all information sheets produced by CFA to assist with Brigade and Group applications and ideas. |
Key Dates
1 June 2023: Brigades/Groups applying for a grant for Minor Works, applications must be pre-registered with the VESEP Minor Works Project Manager, Land and Buildings Services via email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
16 June 2023: Applications close, and should be submitted by this date to your District AFCO using the CFA application forms.
16 June - 29 June 2023: DPC meetings held to review and endorse applications.
October/November 2023: Anticipated Ministers announcement of successful projects.
Additional Support
If you need any assistance with you Application please contact your local VFBV State Councillor, VFBV Support Officer of the VFBV Office. You can also email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
If you would like a printed copy of the VFBV 2023 VESEP Application Help Pack please call the VFBV office on 03 9886 1141 and we will post one out.
Information is also available from CFA Members Online https://www.members.cfa.vic.gov.au/programs/vesep
VFBV wishes all CFA Brigades and Groups well with your applications and thank you for your untiring service to Victoria!
The Annual Memorial Service will be held on Sunday 7 May in Mt Macedon to honour firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
This year’s memorial service will mark the 35th event, which has been held since 1987, with the only cancellation being 2020 due to the pandemic.
Location: The service will be held at the VEMI Conference and Event Centre, 601 Mount Macedon Rd, Mount Macedon VIC 3441
Date: 2.00pm on Sunday 7 May
Dress: CFA uniform or smart casual
The 2023 Annual Memorial Service for Firefighters is a free event, to attend please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 0401 944 349 by Monday 1st May 2023.
Family members and friends, CFA and Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria (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.
VFBV CEO Adam Barnett spoke about the importance of the annual memorial service for not only the families, friends and loved ones of the fallen, but for all members.
“The annual memorial service is a time for us to come together either in person or in spirit to remember and honour the 80 CFA firefighters (including 11 from pre-1944) who have selflessly given their lives to protect the lives of other Victorians.
"And while the service is always solemn and reflective, it is also an important opportunity to reflect on our history as we pay tribute to those lost and reflect on the importance of the work we all do in making our communities safer.”
Members are encouraged to RSVP via: email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 0401 944 349 by Monday 1st May 2023.
Be alert – not alarmed
By Adam Barnett, VFBV Chief Executive Officer
“If I had more time, I would have written a shorter letter” is one of my favourite quotes (for obvious reasons), attributed to many but believed to be originally put by French mathematician, physicist and philosopher Blaise Pascal in the 1600’s. And while I could probably start every month’s column with these words, the past month has been a particularly busy one.
The results of last week’s successful State Championships held over two successive weekends is not only detailed elsewhere on this page, but throughout this month’s edition of Fire Wise. A huge thank-you to all members, judges, officials and staff who contributed to a most successful event, and well done to all competing brigades and the almost 900 competitors who thrilled us with their incredible firefighting skills and professionalism.
I’ll start this month with the release of the Fire Services Implementation Monitor’s annual report, tabled in Parliament on the 23rd March 2023, where the independent monitor, the Hon. Niall Blair considered and reported on the progress of implementation of the Governments fire services reforms.
At a high level, the report recognises the good progress that has been made on implementation actions. Importantly he acknowledges that many of those positives have largely been made possible not by any formalised arrangements or plans, but rather the goodwill and personal endeavour of volunteers and staff who Mr Blair rightly describes as wanting the best outcomes for Victoria’s fire services and the Victorian community.
The report outlines slow progress and why actions are behind schedule, and highlights some of the challenges caused by the secondment arrangements, less than optimal volunteer utilisation, the sense of loss for those who have faced changes brought about by reform and how it was done. Of note are the warnings about the dangers around the future sustainability of the fire services, and in particular the risks of the chronic underfunding of capital funding for asset replacement and renewal given the number of assets (trucks and sheds) that are ageing beyond their useful life.
It was refreshing to see an independent statutory officer actually walk up to the issues and call them out by providing frank and fearless advice and putting our communities and the millions of people we protect at the heart of what fire service reform should be about – actually delivering better services and building strong and resilient communities.
The findings certainly vindicate the concerns raised by VFBV on behalf of volunteers during the reform debates around the predicted impacts on budgets, morale, culture, volunteer numbers and resultant declines in surge capacity.
At this juncture I am reminded of a Winston Churchill quote “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity: an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”
And the latter best describes our approach to pursuing reform outcomes in a constructive way, seeking to minimise the harm while searching for the opportunities available. Like Mr Blair, I’m not interested in spin or empty promises, and continue to advocate and pursue outcomes that actually benefit our communities. VFBV remains focused on looking forward, not backward, and with the tightening fiscal environment that is facing Victoria, the need to ensure every dollar that goes into fire services actually results in a community safety outcome is critical.
I was very pleased to note Mr Blairs recognition of the constructive approach to engagement and collaboration that VFBV has taken on behalf of volunteers, and I thank all of those who have contributed to our feedback loops and been involved in discussions thus far.
I commend the independent monitor and his team for their diligence and honesty and believe it speaks volumes about the importance of integrity by those charged with responsibility in the public safety space in which we operate.
FIRE DISTRICT REVIEW PANEL
This will be a difficult pivot, but the Governments Fire District Review panel published its determination of “change in fire risk” in the Victorian Government Gazette on 30 March 2023. To accompany the determination, the panel published a ‘supporting report’ on the same day.
The panel’s report claims to use a risk-based assessment of changes in fire risk in order to support its determination. Tellingly, despite a “state-wide analysis”, the panel has chosen to only identify 13 station response areas all in the country area of Victoria and covered by CFA.
It would be fair to say that I am somewhat disappointed by how the panel has chosen to go about its work, which has resulted in a high level of anxiety and concern for those brigades affected. Since the publishing of the panel’s determination, volunteers have expressed to us the detrimental impact these arrangements have had on morale.
To be clear, there is nothing unusual about fire services conducting analysis to track changes to fire risk to help inform and plan how service delivery may need to be modified to treat changes in risk. In fact, CFA and all predecessor fire agencies have done this for centuries. As risk changes, stations are upgraded or moved, appliances and equipment are added, and training and skill sets of responding crews is modified to meet the changing risk. All of course provided that government actually funds these necessary changes. The CFA model flexes up seamlessly to do precisely that, and does so in a highly efficient and cost effective way that ensures the Victorian taxpayer is not burdened with unnecessary costs better spent on hospitals and schools.
However, what is unusual about the arrangements the government has implemented is for this work to be done by people who are not experts in fire service planning, and who are engulfed in a cloud of political partisanship and bias that strikes fear and anxiety into all those impacted.
Volunteers expressed their anxiety about the potential for bias very early in discussions, and this featured prominently in our submission to the panel on their draft methodology in late 2021.
Sadly, the supporting report does little to alleviate volunteer concerns. While acknowledging that this is the panels first report and should have been a baseline, it then uses thirteen-year-old data to attempt to highlight what it thinks has been a change.
The first review should have been an opportunity to bed in their methodology and test the model for accuracy and set a baseline for “risk”. Instead, not only have we not had the benefit of understanding the methodology or testing it for accuracy, but the panel has thrown in a completely new metric and data source not even contemplated in their draft or final methodology nor discussion papers. The use of motor vehicle accidents and casualties dwarfs the number of casualties from fire and explosions by a significant factor, yet appears to have been lumped in with vehicle fires.
Aside from Rescue, last time I checked, the Victorian road safety action plan identifies the Department of Transport, Victoria Police, the Transport Accident Commission and the departments of Justice and Health as being responsible for road safety.
The panel may have a reasonable explanation beyond a simple correlation coefficient to justify why this should impact a fire service boundary, but by not engaging and then lumping it into their determination, stakeholders and agencies alike have been blindsided and are now seeking to understand this significant change. The question remains - if they made this change to their “final” methodology without warning - what other changes have they made that are less obvious?
This takes me to the most obvious concern. The empowering legislation in the Fire Rescue Victoria Act is very explicit. Section 4J states that the object of a review is to conduct a risk-based assessment within (a) the Fire Rescue Victoria fire district; and (b) the Country Area of Victoria. Well, the report is very clear on what parts of the Country Area of Victoria they have looked at, yet somewhat vague about what parts of the FRV district has experienced a changed in fire risk. To only analyse the FRV district in order to draw criticisms of CFA areas is neither fair, balanced, evidence based nor in the public interest.
“Change” in fire risk should be a neutral term, which can describe a risk that has risen or just as equally - declined. An unbiased panel would look equally at areas where the risk has declined and where a boundary may contract, just as it would for proposing a boundary be expanded. No such analysis is apparent within the supporting report. Perhaps given their remit, the panel should have looked for what change in underlying risk occurred when the former CFA integrated stations transferred to Fire Rescue Victoria, and they put new logo’s on the trucks so we could measure community outcome and benefit.
Putting to one side that none of the analysis actually defines community outcomes that a change in boundary is likely to achieve, nor how outcomes should be measured or monitored, my main advice to members worried about this panels work is to remain alert – but not alarmed.
While I’m disappointed, I am also not panicking. At the end of the day, the panels’ role is to provide a recommendation to the Minister for Emergency Services. The CFA has been given 9 months (of a possible 12 months they could have been provided) to provide a formal response to the panel’s determination. During this time, the panels review is suspended.
CFA have until January 30, 2024 to lodge its response, and the panel will then consider this response before providing a “recommendation” to the Minister by June 30, 2024. Upon receiving the advice, the Minister must then have regard to the capacity of each fire service, any implications on budget and resources and any other consequences before deciding to either make no changes, make some changes or ask the panel to conduct a further review.
During this time, we are seeking that CFA supports each of the brigades in trying to understand what the change in fire risk actually is, how it should be treated, and what additional resources they require from government in order to address the “changed risk.” We will then look to government to ensure it supports each brigade. To not fund an agency to improve an outcome, and then criticise that agency for the gap is at the heart of our discontent over reforms, and we will therefore monitor governments actions closely.
Given both CFA and VFBV formally highlighted the obvious shortfalls and limitations of the panel’s draft model with extensive submissions to the panels draft methodology, we will continue to seek greater transparency and less controversial engagement opportunities to help inform the panel’s recommendations.
And while I am confident that CFA will be able to ably demonstrate how it is meeting or plans to meet the changed risk, I really feel for those brigades who now have to do what should be routine business as usual in a very public and politically charged environment. I ask all members and all brigades to please support these brigades as they travel this unnecessary difficult journey. As we have said previously, there are grave risks to putting fire service modelling into that type of environment, and VFBV will continue to advocate that ‘surprises’ and cherry picked data are incompatible with good public policy and public safety outcomes. All brigades and firefighters, both volunteer and paid must know and have confidence in the data being used to measure their performance, and measurements should be transparent, and outcome focussed to ensure the Victorian public is not misled or misinformed about their safety.
State Championships Success
Over the last two weekends in March, the 2023 State Championships were held in Mooroopna for the third year in a row.
The first weekend of competition saw the Urban Junior Championship take place, where Melton A won the Grand Aggregate for the third consecutive year. Melton A also took out the Under 17 Aggregate and Euroa A won the Under 14 Aggregate.
The following weekend, the Rural Senior Championship took place on Saturday, with Hurstbridge A winning the Division 1 Aggregate, Sedgwick A won the Division 2 Aggregate and Dunolly A the Division 3 Aggregate. Napoleons-Enfield was a runaway winner in the Rural Junior Championship on Sunday, winning the 11 – 13 years, 11 – 15 years and the Grand Aggregate winning an impressive eight out of ten events held on the day.
Melton A followed up their Urban Junior win with success at the Urban Senior Championship, winning the Grand Aggregate. Osborne Park B was successful in the B Section Aggregate and Euroa won the Female Aggregate for the second year in a row. Full results of the 2023 State Championships can be found in this month’s edition of Fire Wise.
In total over both weekends almost 900 competitors took part with 157 teams entering the state championships, including teams from Harvey, Kellerberrin and Brunswick Junction brigades from Western Australia who travelled across the country to compete.
The State Championships would not be possible without the support of more than 200 judges and officials who volunteer their time over the two weekends. VFBV also passes on our appreciation to the competitors, coaches, supporters and families of the competitors who keep the competitions going, and all the CFA staff and dignitaries that contributed to the championships success. A special thank you should also be passed onto the CFA State Championships Committee and local host committee for the hard work and efforts in preparing the venue for the Championships particularly following flooding that affected much of Victoria in late 2022.
We also pass on our appreciation to the Greater Shepparton City Council for their continued support to the Championships, with this year marking the 11th time our Championships have been held in either Shepparton or Mooroopna since 1975.
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 it can be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
VALE
It was with great sadness that we bode farewell to Association Life Member Quentin Turner AFSM who passed away on Friday 31st March 2023.
Quentin was a member of the Creswick brigade for many years, including serving as Captain for 24 years as well as holding other officer roles during his service to the brigade and surrounding Group.
Quentin served as an Executive Member for Region 15 to the Victorian Urban Fire Brigades Association (VUFBA) for more than 20 years from 1983 to 2004. During his time as an Executive Member he served two terms as Association Vice President (1986/87 and 1997/98) and three terms as Association President (1987/88, 1998/99 and 1999/20). Quentin was also one of the Association nominees to the CFA Board from July 1989 to December 1993. Quentin served terms on almost all VUFBA Association and CFA Joint Committees and was keenly involved in Championships for many years also.
As the inaugural Chair of VFBV (elected in October 2002), Quentin was one of the driving forces in bringing together both the Urban and Rural Associations as one unified body in 2008. He served as Chair until 2004 and continued on as a VFBV Board Member until October 2010. Quentin also played key roles in the development of the Volunteer Charter and the Volunteer Code of Conduct in the early 2000’s. Quentin was also a founding Trustee of the CFA & Brigades Donations Fund in 2004 and served as a Trustee for this Fund until 2019 including serving as Chair of the Trust for many years.
For his service to volunteers, Quentin was awarded the VUFBA Gold Star Award in 1992, VUFBA Life Membership in 1993 and was honoured with the Australian Fire Services Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2002 as well as a National Medal with first and second clasps and the Centenary Medal for service to the CFA and VUFBA.
We send our thoughts, prayers and sympathy to Maisie, Mandy & Garry, Penny, Jason & Kristie, extended family, friends and loved ones and thank them most sincerely for sharing Quentin with us. We also extend our thoughts to fellow firefighters and members of the Creswick Fire Brigade.
CFA Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy
Feedback is being sought on a new draft policy covering Alcohol and other drugs, including prescription medication.
The draft policy covers arrangements for the appointment of a ‘responsible officer’, when alcohol can be consumed and a ban on brigades from applying for a new liquor license, with existing licenses able to be kept.
All members are encouraged to read and provide feedback ASAP. Feedback is due by Monday 8th May 2023.
Please visit the VFBV website for more information and a copy of the draft policy.
VFBV Board Positions
Vacancies on the VFBV Board will arise when the terms of four VFBV Board members expire on the 1st October 2023. 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 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 28th August 2023.
CFA Board Positions
The CFA Act recognises that it is important that the CFA Board has strong volunteer expertise, knowledge and an understanding of CFA volunteers. To support this, four of the skills-based CFA Board members are appointed by the Minister for Emergency Services from a panel of names submitted by VFBV.
This year, the terms of two volunteer nominees will expire in December 2023, with both members eligible for re-appointment. One is for a volunteer from brigades predominantly serving rural communities, and the other being for a volunteer from brigades predominantly serving urban communities.
CFA volunteers who believe they have the skills, experience and capacity to make a contribution to the Board of CFA are invited to apply. In addition to volunteer experience and knowledge, nomination will have regard to any of the following - knowledge of or experience in; commercial; technical; operational; legal or financial matters; expertise in fire or emergency management; land management; or any other field relevant to the performance of the functions of the CFA.
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 CFA Board Charter and further information on the application process is available from the VFBV website or via the office at (03) 9886 1141.
Applications close on Monday 26th June 2023.
Nominations for Trust Fund
VFBV is calling for nominations to the CFA and Brigades Donations Fund.
The purpose of the fund is to raise and receive money and donations of goods and services from the public for distribution to brigades to assist with costs of purchasing and maintaining firefighting equipment, facilities, training and administrative expenses which are associated with their firefighting functions.
Following nominations, five new or reappointed members will be appointed by the VFBV Board to serve as VFBV Trustees on the fund for a term of two years.
All current trustees are eligible for re-appointment.
Please visit the VFBV website for details. Nominations close on Monday 19th June 2023.
Fire Wise – April 2023 online only edition
The April 2023 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 Fire Wise 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
Feedback Requested – Draft CFA Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy
Nominations for CFA and Brigades Donations Fund
VFBV Board Vacancies - Invitation to Apply
CFA Board Positions - Invitation to Apply
2023 State Urban Junior Championship Results
2023 State Rural Senior Championship Results
2023 State Rural Junior Championship Results
2023 State Urban Senior Championship Results
Open for Consultation Dashboard
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Final results for the 2023 State Urban Senior Championships held in Mooroopna on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 March 2023 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 - Osborne Park B
Wet Aggregate Winner - Pakenham/Narre Warren
Female Aggregate Winner - Euroa
Final Aggregate Results:
SATURDAY, 25th MARCH
Event 1 – Ladder Race, One Competitor
1st |
OSBORNE PARK B (2) (Aiden Couzens) |
6.50 |
seconds |
2nd |
TATURA A (1) (Nathan Rennie) |
6.54 |
seconds |
3rd |
HARVEY (2) (Rhys Landwehr) |
6.56 |
seconds |
4th |
EAGLEHAWK (1) (Steven Matthews) |
6.82 |
seconds |
5th |
HOPPERS CROSSING (1) (Brenton Lawrence) |
6.83 |
seconds |
Event 2 – B Section Hose & Ladder, Five Competitors
1st |
OSBORNE PARK B |
22.42 |
seconds |
2nd |
HOPPERS CROSSING |
23.01 |
seconds |
3rd |
PAKENHAM/NARRE WARREN |
24.19 |
seconds |
4th |
ECHUCA |
24.77 |
seconds |
5th |
WARRACKNABEAL |
25.04 |
seconds |
Event 3 – A Section Y Coupling, Four Competitors
1st |
HARVEY |
7.71 |
seconds |
2nd |
OSBORNE PARK A |
7.84 |
seconds |
3rd |
MELTON A |
7.93 |
seconds |
4th |
DANDENONG |
8.81 |
seconds |
5th |
SALE |
8.95 |
seconds |
Event 4 – A Section Hose and Ladder, Eight Competitors
1st |
WENDOUREE |
22.97 |
seconds |
2nd |
MORWELL |
24.27 |
seconds |
3rd |
EAGLEHAWK |
25.83 |
seconds |
4th |
HARVEY |
25.84 |
seconds |
5th |
OSBORNE PARK A |
26.83 |
seconds |
Event 5 – B Section Y Coupling, Four Competitors
1st |
KYNETON |
8.56 |
seconds |
2nd |
ECHUCA |
8.81 |
seconds |
3rd |
CRESWICK |
9.03 |
seconds |
4th |
HALLAM |
9.05 |
seconds |
5th |
MAFFRA |
9.16 |
seconds |
Event 6 – Female Y Coupling, Two Competitors
1st |
MELTON B |
13.25 |
seconds |
2nd |
MILDURA |
14.43 |
seconds |
3rd |
TATURA A |
14.78 |
seconds |
4th |
SEYMOUR |
14.79 |
seconds |
5th |
SWAN HILL |
15.07 |
seconds |
Event 7 – A Section Y Coupling Ladder Eights
1st |
OSBORNE PARK A |
30.42 |
seconds |
2nd |
HARVEY |
32.75 |
seconds |
3rd |
EAGLEHAWK |
32.88 |
seconds |
4th |
WENDOUREE |
34.56 |
seconds |
5th |
MORWELL |
37.12 |
seconds |
Event 8 – B Section Hose, Hydrant and Pumper
1st |
COHUNA |
14.37 |
seconds |
2nd |
MELTON B |
14.48 |
seconds |
3rd |
ECHUCA |
14.72 |
seconds |
4th |
SWAN HILL |
15.03 |
seconds |
5th |
MAFFRA |
15.90 |
seconds |
Event 9 – B Section Wet Hose Striking One Disc Twice with Removable Back Cap
1st |
WARRACKNABEAL RECORD |
17.59 |
seconds |
2nd |
PAKENHAM/NARRE WARREN |
18.25 |
seconds |
3rd |
ECHUCA |
18.80 |
seconds |
4th |
HOPPERS CROSSING |
18.87 |
seconds |
5th |
KNOX GROUP |
19.59 |
seconds |
Event 10 – A Section Hose, Hydrant and Pumper
1st |
KANGAROO FLAT |
12.99 |
seconds |
2nd |
DANDENONG |
13.86 |
seconds |
3rd |
WENDOUREE |
13.92 |
seconds |
4th |
HARVEY |
14.33 |
seconds |
5th |
OSBORNE PARK A |
14.79 |
seconds |
Event 11 – A Section Hose & Reel Sixes
1st |
MELTON A |
29.40 |
seconds |
2nd |
OSBORNE PARK A |
29.45 |
seconds |
3rd |
MORWELL |
31.39 |
seconds |
4th |
HARVEY |
31.54 |
seconds |
5th |
WENDOUREE |
31.61 |
seconds |
Event 12 - B Section Marshall, One Competitor
1st |
TATURA A (1) (Jeremy Withall) |
23.17 |
seconds |
2nd |
KYNETON (1) (Nic Hanna) |
25.72 |
seconds |
3rd |
PAKENHAM/NARRE WARREN (2) (Jayden Bull) |
26.20 |
seconds |
4th |
OSBORNE PARK B (1) (Tom Evans) |
26.70 |
seconds |
5th |
WARRNAMBOOL (1) (Adam Bishop) |
27.24 |
seconds |
Chief Officer’s Challenge Event
1st |
KYNETON (Sam Foster, Royce Sharp, Luke Stanley, Spencer Zan) |
16.62 |
seconds |
2nd |
CHIEF’S CHARGERS (Chief Officer Jason Heffernan, DCO Kaylene Jones, DCO Rohan Luke, DCO Garry Cook) |
21.70 |
seconds |
Event 13 – B Section Wet Hose Striking One Disc Twice
1st |
PAKENHAM/NARRE WARREN |
16.57 |
seconds |
2nd |
OSBORNE PARK B |
17.57 |
seconds |
3rd |
MAFFRA |
17.61 |
seconds |
4th |
KYNETON |
18.06 |
seconds |
5th |
ECHUCA |
18.56 |
seconds |
Event 14 - A Section Marshall, One Competitor
1st |
MELTON A (1) (Bailey Rhodes) |
24.77 |
seconds |
2nd |
WENDOUREE (1) (Craig Briody) |
25.06 |
seconds |
3rd |
DANDENONG (1) (Millar Anderson) |
25.23 |
seconds |
4th |
OSBORNE PARK A (2) (Devon Winsall) |
25.60 |
seconds |
5th |
OSBORNE PARK A (1) (Dean Jordan) |
26.06 |
seconds |
Event 15 – Female Marshall, One Competitor
1st |
EUROA (Teagan Kubeil) |
31.29 |
seconds |
2nd |
SWAN HILL (Sienna Kruger) |
31.38 |
seconds |
3rd |
TATURA A (Hayley Rennie) |
32.10 |
seconds |
4th |
HORSHAM (Claire Longstaff) |
32.31 |
seconds |
5th |
HOPPERS CROSSING (Amanda Lawrence) |
32.33 |
seconds |
Event 16 - B Section Pumper & Ladder
1st |
PAKENHAM/NARRE WARREN |
16.19 |
seconds |
2nd |
COHUNA |
16.64 |
seconds |
3rd |
OSBORNE PARK B |
17.61 |
seconds |
4th |
ECHUCA |
17.64 |
seconds |
5th |
HOPPERS CROSSING |
18.19 |
seconds |
Event 17 - A Section Hydrant & Tanker
1st |
MELTON A – RECORD |
13.45 |
seconds |
2nd |
DANDENONG |
14.09 |
seconds |
3rd |
WENDOUREE |
14.87 |
seconds |
4th |
HARVEY |
15.04 |
seconds |
5th |
EAGLEHAWK |
15.75 |
seconds |
SUNDAY, 26th MARCH
Event 18 – Hydrant Race, One Competitor
1st |
TATURA A (1) (Matthew Rennie) |
11.41 |
seconds |
2nd |
HARVEY (2) (Rhys Landwher) |
12.67 |
seconds |
3rd |
SWAN HILL (2) (Adam Saunders) |
12.69 |
seconds |
4th |
DANDENONG (2) (Murray Anderson) |
13.04 |
seconds |
5th |
MELTON B (2) (Denzel Johns) |
13.23 |
seconds |
Event 19 – Female Hydrant Race, One Competitor
1st |
PAKENHAM/NARRE WARREN (Samantha White) Run off conducted for first place |
15.22 |
seconds |
2nd |
MELTON B (Lorelei Geysing) Run off conducted for first place |
15.22 |
seconds |
3rd |
WARRACKNABEAL (Isabella Orszulak) |
15.37 |
seconds |
4th |
SALE (Dana King) |
16.91 |
seconds |
5th |
KNOX GROUP (Jessica Walker) |
17.51 |
seconds |
Event 20 – A Section Pumper & Ladder
1st |
HARVEY |
14.91 |
seconds |
2nd |
MELTON A |
15.38 |
seconds |
3rd |
OSBORNE PARK A |
16.25 |
seconds |
4th |
WENDOUREE |
16.40 |
seconds |
5th |
DANDENONG |
17.31 |
seconds |
Event 21 – B Section Hydrant & Tanker
1st |
ECHUCA |
13.58 |
seconds |
2nd |
COHUNA |
13.60 |
seconds |
3rd |
PAKENHAM/NARRE WARREN |
15.49 |
seconds |
4th |
OSBORNE PARK B |
16.06 |
seconds |
5th |
HOPPERS CROSSING |
16.58 |
seconds |
Event 22 – Female Marshall, Two Competitors
1st |
EUROA (Teagan Kubeil, Amelia Delahey) |
19.40 |
seconds |
2nd |
TATURA A (Charlotte Freemantle, Hayley Rennie) |
19.72 |
seconds |
3rd |
SWAN HILL (Emma Templeton, Porcha Bruton) |
19.96 |
seconds |
4th |
KNOX GROUP (Jessica Walker, Isabella Gluskie) |
20.40 |
seconds |
5th |
KERANG (Kendall Ash, Zalie Ash) |
22.24 |
seconds |
Event 23 – B Section Hose & Reel Sixes
1st |
OSBORNE PARK B |
32.11 |
seconds |
2nd |
KNOX GROUP |
36.62 |
seconds |
3rd |
HOPPERS CROSSING |
37.14 |
seconds |
4th |
WARRACKNABEAL |
42.68 |
seconds |
Event 24 – A Section Marshall, Two Competitors
1st |
MELTON A (2) (James Arandt, Bailey Rhodes) |
14.90 |
seconds |
2nd |
KANGAROO FLAT (2) (Tyler Harris, Blake Harris) |
15.26 |
seconds |
3rd |
WENDOUREE (1) (Craig Briody, Damon Sutton) |
15.50 |
seconds |
4th |
OSBORNE PARK A (1) (Jordan Winsall, Dean Jordan) |
15.53 |
seconds |
5th |
OSBORNE PARK B (2) (James Mullins, Devon Winsall) |
15.96 |
seconds |
Event 25 – A Section Hose and Reel Eights
1st |
OSBORNE PARK A |
28.95 |
seconds |
2nd |
WENDOUREE |
29.27 |
seconds |
3rd |
MELTON A |
29.53 |
seconds |
4th |
PATTERSON RIVER |
30.66 |
seconds |
5th |
MORWELL |
32.53 |
seconds |
Event 26 – B Section Marshall, Two Competitors
1st |
TATURA A (1) (Nathan Rennie, Jeremy Withall) |
16.45 |
seconds |
2nd |
MAFFRA (1) |
16.86 |
seconds |
3rd |
ECHUCA (1) (Jordan Simpson, Martyn Currey) |
16.88 |
seconds |
4th |
WARRACKNABEAL (1) (Shaune Winsall, Kynan Jonasson) |
16.89 |
seconds |
5th |
OSBORNE PARK B (2) (Tom Evans, Jaxon Winsall) |
17.13 |
seconds |
Event 27 – Champion Fours
1st |
PATTERSON RIVER |
17.99 |
seconds |
2nd |
KANGAROO FLAT |
18.11 |
seconds |
3rd |
HARVEY |
18.17 |
seconds |
4th |
WENDOUREE |
18.51 |
seconds |
5th |
MORWELL |
18.77 |
seconds |
Vic./W.A. Challenge Event
1st |
VICTORIA |
29.21 |
seconds |
2nd |
WESTERN AUSTRALIA |
29.77 |
seconds |
Torchlight Procession
1st |
DIAMOND CREEK |
96.00% |
|
2nd |
HOPPERS CROSSING |
95.00% |
|
3rd |
PAKENHAM/NARRE WARREN |
92.00% |
|
FINAL AGGREGATE RESULTS
Dry Aggregate
1st |
TATURA A |
21 |
Points |
=2nd |
MELTON A & HARVEY |
16 |
Points |
Wet Aggregate
1st |
PAKENHAM/NARRE WARREN |
54 |
Points |
=2nd |
OSBORNE PARK A, WENDOUREE & OSBORNE PARK B |
52 |
Points |
Female Aggregate
1st |
EUROA |
16 |
Points |
2nd |
MELTON B |
13 |
Points |
3rd |
TATURA A |
11 |
Points |
SECTION AGGREGATES:
‘A’ SECTION
1st |
MELTON A |
67 |
Points |
2nd |
HARVEY |
64 |
Points |
3rd |
OSBORNE PARK A |
63 |
Points |
‘A’ SECTION WET AGGREGATE
=1st |
OSBORNE PARK A & WENDOUREE |
52 |
Points |
=2nd |
HARVEY & MELTON A |
48 |
Points |
‘B’ SECTION
1st |
OSBORNE PARK B |
63 |
Points |
2nd |
PAKENHAM/NARRE WARREN |
57 |
Points |
3rd |
ECHUCA |
46 |
Points |
‘B’ SECTION WET AGGREGATE
1st |
PAKENHAM/NARRE WARREN |
54 |
Points |
2nd |
OSBORNE PARK B |
52 |
Points |
3rd |
ECHUCA |
38 |
Points |
APPLIANCE AGGREGATES
‘A’ SECTION
1st |
MELTON A |
26 |
Points |
2nd |
HARVEY |
24 |
Points |
3rd |
DANDENONG |
22 |
Points |
‘B’ SECTION
1st |
COHUNA |
36 |
Points |
2nd |
ECHUCA |
26 |
Points |
3rd |
PAKENHAM/NARRE WARREN |
22 |
Points |
2023 CHAMPION BRIGADE:
The team members of Melton A are:
- James Arandt
- Jake Caroll
- Ben Geysing
- Jack Geysing
- Devante Johns
- Bailey Rhodes
- Cooper Rhodes
- Manaia Robinson
- Jacob Steele
- Anthony Rhodes – competitor and coach
- Ashely Goudie – coach
Results for the 2023 Champion Competitor:
1st |
Bailey Rhodes (Melton A) |
26 |
Points |
=2nd |
Rhys Landwher (Harvey) |
22 |
Points |
=3rd |
James Arandt (Melton A), Corey Goodhill (Harvey) and Mitch Golding (Harvey) |
17 |
Points |
Final results for the 2023 State Rural Junior Championship held in Mooroopna on Sunday 26 March 2023 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.
Event 1A: Low Down Pump & Ladder – 11-13 Years
1st |
Napoleons-Enfield A |
17.99 |
Seconds |
2nd |
Ascot & District B |
18.05 |
Seconds |
3rd |
Ascot & District A |
18.15 |
Seconds |
4th |
Beazley’s Bridge A |
19.43 |
Seconds |
5th |
Miners Rest B |
20.22 |
Seconds |
Event 1B: Low Down Pump & Ladder – 11-15 Years
1st |
Napoleons/Enfield A – New Record |
15.59 |
Seconds |
2nd |
Miners Rest A |
18.68 |
Seconds |
3rd |
Gapsted A |
19.20 |
Seconds |
4th |
Dunrobin/Nangeela A |
19.23 |
Seconds |
5th |
Springhurst A |
19.45 |
Seconds |
Chief Officer’s Challenge Event, Low Down Pump & Ladder
1st |
Napoleons-Enfield 11-15 Years: Billy Bedggood, Mitch Hazlett, Ethan Kuchel & Aleisha Roberts |
17.33 |
Seconds |
2nd |
Napoleons-Enfield 11-13 Years: Darcy Kuchel, Clancy Bedggood, Charlotte Roberts & Jayden Roberts |
17.99 |
Seconds |
3rd |
Chief Officer Jason Heffernan, DCO Kaylene Jones, DCO Brett Boatman, DCO Garry Cook & ACFO Glenn Probstl |
30.76 |
Seconds |
Event 2A: Wet Hose & Ladder – 11-13 Years
1st |
Ascot & District A – New Record |
25.00 |
Seconds |
2nd |
Miners Rest A |
26.36 |
Seconds |
3rd |
Ascot & District B |
26.89 |
Seconds |
4th |
Mandurang A |
27.47 |
Seconds |
5th |
Beazley’s Bridge C |
27.96 |
Seconds |
Event 2B: Wet Hose & Ladder – 11-15 Years
1st |
Napoleons-Enfield A – New Record |
21.63 |
Seconds |
2nd |
Beazley’s Bridge A |
24.37 |
Seconds |
3rd |
Dunrobin/Nangeela A |
24.99 |
Seconds |
4th |
Springhurst A |
25.83 |
Seconds |
5th |
Springhurst B |
26.03 |
Seconds |
Event 4A: Tanker – Priming, Pumping & Ladder – 11-13 Years
1st |
Napoleons-Enfield A |
26.76 |
Seconds |
2nd |
Ascot & District A |
28.26 |
Seconds |
3rd |
Beazley’s Bridge A |
30.52 |
Seconds |
4th |
Mandurang A |
31.97 |
Seconds |
5th |
Miners Rest A |
32.78 |
Seconds |
Event 4B: Tanker – Priming, Pumping & Ladder – 11-15 Years
1st |
Napoleons-Enfield A |
22.68 |
Seconds |
2nd |
Doreen A |
23.87 |
Seconds |
3rd |
Beazley’s Bridge A |
26.12 |
Seconds |
4th |
Dunrobin/Nangeela A |
26.62 |
Seconds |
5th |
Springhurst A |
28.00 |
Seconds |
Event 5A: Hydrant & Tanker – 11-13 Years
1st |
Napoleons-Enfield B |
27.33 |
Seconds |
2nd |
Beazley’s Bridge A |
28.52 |
Seconds |
3rd |
Ascot & District A |
28.84 |
Seconds |
4th |
Napoleons-Enfield A |
29.57 |
Seconds |
5th |
Beazley’s Bridge B |
29.73 |
Seconds |
Event 5B: Hydrant & Tanker – 11-15 Years
1st |
Napoleons-Enfield A – New Record |
21.69 |
Seconds |
2nd |
Beazley’s Bridge A |
23.34 |
Seconds |
3rd |
Springhurst A |
24.30 |
Seconds |
4th |
Springhurst B |
25.08 |
Seconds |
5th |
Swan Hill A |
26.46 |
Seconds |
Event 6A: Tanker – Drawing Water from Tank – 11-13 Years
1st |
Napoleons-Enfield A |
21.71 |
Seconds |
2nd |
Beazley’s Bridge B |
22.70 |
Seconds |
3rd |
Ascot & District A |
23.76 |
Seconds |
4th |
Miners Rest A |
25.79 |
Seconds |
5th |
Beazley’s Bridge C |
26.12 |
Seconds |
Event 6B: Tanker – Drawing Water from Tank – 11-15 Years
1st |
Napoleons-Enfield A |
18.81 |
Seconds |
2nd |
Beazley’s Bridge A |
19.65 |
Seconds |
3rd |
Springhurst A |
19.76 |
Seconds |
4th |
Eldorado B |
22.01 |
Seconds |
5th |
Swan Hill Bill B |
22.95 |
Seconds |
FINAL AGGREGATES
11-13 YEARS AGGREGATE
1st |
Napoleons-Enfield A |
52 |
Points |
2nd |
Ascot & District A |
44 |
Points |
3rd |
Beazley’s Bridge A |
20 |
Points |
11-15 YEARS AGGREGATE
1st |
Napoleons-Enfield A |
80 |
Points |
2nd |
Beazley’s Bridge A |
36 |
Points |
3rd |
Springhurst A |
20 |
Points |
CHAMPION TEAM:
1st |
Napoleons-Enfield A: Clancy Bedggood, Charlotte Roberts, Darcy Kuchel, Jayden Roberts, Mitchell Hazlett, Billy Bedggood, Ethan Kuchel & Aleisha Roberts |
132 |
Points |
2nd |
Beazley’s Bridge A |
56 |
Points |
3rd |
Ascot & District A |
44 |
Points |
VFBV State President Encouragement Award winner: Strathmerton Brigade
Stan Ross Conduct Trophy winner: Ascot & District Brigade
Junior Firefighter Sprint winners:
11-13 Years – Female:
1st Charlotte Roberts – Napoleons-Enfield
2nd Tilly McErlain – Ascot & District
3rd Neve Chesman – Beazley’s Bridge
11-13 Years – Male:
1st Tom Griffiths - Gapsted
2nd Darcy Kuchel – Napoleons-Enfield
3rd Henry Small – Beazley’s Bridge
11-15 Years – Female:
1st Abbey Weir – Beazley’s Bridge
2nd Matilda Lewis - Springhurst
3rd Lily Gibbs - Eldorado
11-15 Years – Male:
1st Otis Paton – Beazley’s Bridge
2nd Ethan Kuchel – Napoleons Enfield
3rd Samuel Handreck – Miners Rest
Final results for the 2023 State Rural Senior Championship held in Mooroopna on Saturday 25 March 2023 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.
Event 1: Low Down Pump & Ladder
Division 1: |
1st |
Eldorado A |
15.92 |
Seconds |
|
2nd |
Hurstbridge A | 15.95 |
Seconds |
|
3rd |
Dunrobin/Nangeela A | 16.04 |
Seconds |
4th |
Beazley's Bridge A |
16.55 |
Seconds |
|
|
5th |
Springhurst A |
16.71 |
Seconds |
|
|
|
|
|
Division 2: |
1st |
Sedgwick A |
16.77 |
Seconds |
|
2nd |
Mandurang A |
16.86 |
Seconds |
|
3rd |
Dunrobin/Nangeela B |
19.50 |
Seconds |
|
4th |
Beazley’s Bridge C |
20.33 |
Seconds |
|
5th |
Hurstbridge D |
20.47 |
Seconds |
|
|
|
|
|
Division 3: |
1st |
Dunolly A |
18.45 |
Seconds |
|
2nd |
Eltham A |
19.84 |
Seconds |
|
3rd |
Mandurang B |
20.07 |
Seconds |
|
4th |
Elaine A |
20.31 |
Seconds |
|
5th |
Mannerim A |
20.60 |
Seconds |
Event 2A: Wet Hose & Ladder
Division 1: |
1st |
Leopold A – NEW RECORD TIME |
18.61 |
Seconds |
|
2nd |
Hurstbridge A |
19.47 |
Seconds |
|
3rd |
Springhurst A |
20.41 |
Seconds |
|
4th |
Sedgwick B |
20.64 |
Seconds |
|
5th |
Dunrobin/Nangeela A |
20.88 |
Seconds |
|
|
|
|
|
Division 2: |
1st |
Sedgwick A |
20.88 |
Seconds |
|
2nd |
Hurstbridge D |
22.07 |
Seconds |
|
3rd |
Mandurang A |
22.47 |
Seconds |
|
=4th |
Eldorado C |
28.83 |
Seconds |
|
=4th |
Yarroweyah A |
28.83 |
Seconds |
|
|
|
|
|
Division 3: |
1st |
Leopold B |
24.98 |
Seconds |
|
2nd |
Pearcedale A |
25.14 |
Seconds |
|
3rd |
Eltham A |
26.86 |
Seconds |
|
4th |
Leitchville A |
28.02 |
Seconds |
|
5th |
Elaine A |
29.35 |
Seconds |
Event 3: Tanker Hose Reel & Ladder
Division 1: |
1st |
Hurstbridge A |
39.89 |
Seconds |
|
2nd |
Beazley’s Bridge A |
40.64 |
Seconds |
|
3rd |
Eldorado A |
40.65 |
Seconds |
|
4th |
Leopold A |
43.08 |
Seconds |
|
5th |
Dunrobin/Nangeela A |
45.21 |
Seconds |
|
|
|
|
|
Division 2: |
1st |
Sedgwick A |
45.25 |
Seconds |
|
2nd |
Hurstbridge D |
48.07 |
Seconds |
|
3rd |
Dunrobin/Nangeela B |
48.56 |
Seconds |
|
4th |
Yarroweyah A |
53.93 |
Seconds |
|
5th |
Eldorado C |
54.98 |
Seconds |
|
|
|
|
|
Division 3: |
1st |
Dunolly A |
50.47 |
Seconds |
|
2nd |
Eldorado B |
55.05 |
Seconds |
|
3rd |
Mandurang B |
55.24 |
Seconds |
|
4th |
Leitchville A |
56.20 |
Seconds |
|
5th |
Leopold B |
56.95 |
Seconds |
Event 4: Tanker - Priming, Pumping & Ladder
Division 1: |
1st |
Eldorado A |
20.07 |
Seconds |
|
2nd |
Springhurst A |
21.51 |
Seconds |
|
3rd |
Connewarre A |
21.70 |
Seconds |
|
4th |
Hurstbridge A |
22.59 |
Seconds |
|
5th |
Beazley’s Bridge B |
23.25 |
Seconds |
|
|
|
|
|
Division 2: |
1st |
Sedgwick A |
22.87 |
Seconds |
|
2nd |
Dunrobin/Nangeela B |
25.25 |
Seconds |
|
3rd |
Yarroweyah A |
25.30 |
Seconds |
|
4th |
Eldorado C |
25.42 |
Seconds |
|
5th |
Beazley’s Bridge C |
26.09 |
Seconds |
|
|
|
|
|
Division 3: |
1st |
Dunolly A |
23.77 |
Seconds |
|
2nd |
Mandurang B |
25.76 |
Seconds |
|
3rd |
Leopold B |
26.31 |
Seconds |
|
4th |
Dunrobin/Nangeela D |
27.43 |
Seconds |
|
5th |
Elaine A |
27.74 |
Seconds |
Event 5: Hydrant & Tanker
Division 1: |
1st |
Hurstbridge A |
17.48 |
Seconds |
|
2nd |
Eldorado A |
18.32 |
Seconds |
|
3rd |
Springhurst A |
18.35 |
Seconds |
|
4th |
Dunrobin/Nangeela A |
19.20 |
Seconds |
|
5th |
Connewarre A |
19.94 |
Seconds |
|
|
|
|
|
Division 2: |
1st |
Mandurang A |
21.70 |
Seconds |
|
2nd |
Hurstbridge D |
23.31 |
Seconds |
|
3rd |
Eldorado C |
24.49 |
Seconds |
|
4th |
Springhurst B |
25.63 |
Seconds |
|
5th |
Chiltern A |
30.41 |
Seconds |
|
|
|
|
|
Division 3: |
1st |
Elaine A |
24.77 |
Seconds |
|
2nd |
Eldorado B |
25.27 |
Seconds |
|
3rd |
Mandurang B |
26.16 |
Seconds |
|
4th |
Mannerim A |
27.16 |
Seconds |
|
5th |
Dunrobin/Nangeela D |
29.41 |
Seconds |
Event 6: Tanker – Drawing Water from Tank
Division 1: |
1st |
Hurstbridge A |
15.88 |
Seconds |
|
2nd |
Leopold A |
16.37 |
Seconds |
|
3rd |
Beazley’s Bridge B |
18.38 |
Seconds |
|
4th |
Beazley’s Bridge A |
19.51 |
Seconds |
|
5th |
Swan Hill A |
19.99 |
Seconds |
|
|
|
|
|
Division 2: |
1st |
Mandurang A |
17.41 |
Seconds |
|
2nd |
Yarroweyah A |
17.98 |
Seconds |
|
3rd |
Hurstbridge D |
18.92 |
Seconds |
|
4th |
Sedgwick A |
19.33 |
Seconds |
|
5th |
Eldorado C |
20.38 |
Seconds |
|
|
|
|
|
Division 3: |
1st |
Dunolly A |
20.44 |
Seconds |
|
2nd |
Mandurang B |
21.10 |
Seconds |
|
3rd |
Eldorado B |
21.21 |
Seconds |
|
4th |
Pearcedale A |
22.19 |
Seconds |
|
5th |
Mannerim A |
24.13 |
Seconds |
FINAL AGGREGATES
DIVISION 1 AGGREGATE
|
1st |
Hurstbridge A |
72 |
points |
|
2nd |
Eldorado A |
48 |
Points |
|
3rd |
Leopold A |
30 |
Points |
DIVISION 2 AGGREGATE
|
1st |
Sedgwick A |
68 |
Points |
|
2nd |
Mandurang A |
48 |
Points |
|
3rd |
Hurstbridge D |
38 |
Points |
DIVISION 3 AGGREGATE
|
1st |
Dunolly A |
64 |
Points |
|
2nd |
Mandurang B |
38 |
Points |
|
3rd |
Eldorado B |
26 |
Points |
Alan King AFSM Memorial Conduct Trophy winner: Leopold Brigade
Outstanding Female Team: Beazley’s Bridge C
Winners of the Firefighter Sprint:
Female competitors: 1st Trinity Williams, Chiltern
2nd Erin Munro, Dunrobin/Nangeela
3rd Taylah Logie, Strathmerton
Male competitors: 1st Corey Wilkinson, Leopold
2nd Lachlan Lewis, Springhurst
3rd Nathan Bolger, Connewarre
The 2023 State Urban Senior Championship and the State Rural Senior and Junior Championships will be held this coming Saturday and Sunday, 25 and 26 March 2023 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 Harvey and Brunswick Junction brigades who are once again making the trip across from Western Australia to compete in the State Urban Senior Championship.
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 25 March at Victoria Lake Park in Shepparton, with 2023 marking 150 years since the first demonstration and display of Victoria’s volunteer firefighters was held in 1873, which included a Torchlight Procession through the streets of Melbourne. 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:
Division 1 | Division 2 | Division 3 |
Beazley’s Bridge A | Beazley’s Bridge C | Dunolly A |
Beazley’s Bridge B | Chiltern A | Dunrobin/Nangeela D |
Connewarre A | Doreen A | Elaine A |
Connewarre B | Dunrobin/Nangeela B | Elaine B |
Dunrobin/Nangeela A | Eldorado C | Eltham A |
Dunrobin/Nangeela C | Gapsted A | Leitchville A |
Eldorado A | Hurstbridge D | Leopold B |
Hurstbridge A | Mandurang A | Mandurang B |
Hurstbridge B | Sedgwick A | Mannerim A |
Hurstbridge C | Springhurst B | Pearcedale A |
Leopold A | Springhurst C | Strathmerton B |
Sedgwick B | Strathmerton A | |
Springhurst A | Yarroweyah A | |
Swan Hill A | ||
Truganina A |
Juniors:
Ascot & District A | Mannerim A |
Ascot & District B | Miners Rest A |
Beazley's Bridge A | Miners Rest B |
Beazley's Bridge B | Napoleons-Enfield A |
Beazley’s Bridge C | Napoleons-Enfield B |
Chiltern A | Napoleons-Enfield C |
Doreen A | Pearcedale A |
Dunolly A | Pearcedale B |
Dunrobin/Nangeela A | Springhurst A |
Dunrobin/Nangeela B | Springhurst B |
Eldorado A | Strathmerton A |
Eldorado B | Swan Hill A |
Gapsted A | Swan Hill B |
Gapsted B | Truganina A |
Mandurang A |
Teams competing in the State Urban Senior Championship:
A Section | B Section |
Dandenong | Brunswick Junction (WA) |
Eaglehawk | Cohuna |
Harvey (WA) | Creswick |
Kangaroo Flat | Echuca |
Melton A | Euroa |
Mildura | Hamilton/Colac |
Morwell | Hallam |
Osborne Park A | Hoppers Crossing |
Patterson River | Horsham |
Sale | Kerang |
Wendouree | Knox Group |
Werribee | Kyneton |
Maffra | |
Melton B | |
Mooroopna | |
Osborne Park B | |
Pakenham/Narre Warren | |
Seymour | |
Swan Hill | |
Tatura | |
Warracknabeal | |
Warrnambool | |
Whittlesea |
More...
Final results for the 2023 State Urban Junior Championships held in Mooroopna on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 March 2023 are now available.
The results are listed below and are also available for download at the bottom of this page.
Presentation photos and times for all events have been posted on VFBV's dedicated Championships Facebook Page.
RESULTS – Saturday 18th March
Event 1 Hydrant – One Competitor, Under 14 Years
1st |
Echuca A (Mason Whinfield) |
10.63 |
seconds |
2nd |
Maffra (Kobe Parsons) |
10.79 |
seconds |
3rd |
Euroa A (Addison Godsmark) |
10.82 |
seconds |
4th |
Red Cliffs A (Darcy Roden) |
11.45 |
seconds |
5th |
Melton A (Ryder Millington) |
11.75 |
seconds |
Event 2 Y Coupling – Two Competitors, Under 17 Years
1st |
Melton A (Devante Johns and Brodie Leitch) |
10.92 |
seconds |
2nd |
Harvey (Daniel Martella and Brodie Hewer) |
12.28 |
seconds |
3rd |
Melton B (Ryan Stone and Tia Stone) |
12.69 |
seconds |
4th |
Grovedale (Aiden Couzens and Matthew Evans) |
12.72 |
seconds |
5th |
Bairnsdale (Cooper Howell and Bryce Olgesby) |
13.65 |
seconds |
Event 3 Wet Hose Striking Second Disc – Four Competitors, Under 14 Years
1st |
Echuca A (Mason Whinfield, George Danswan, Archie Collier, Gratton Harrison) |
18.68 |
seconds |
2nd |
Melton A (Poppy Arandt, Alexis Johnston, Ryder Millington, Mikaylah Crawford) |
19.38 |
seconds |
3rd |
Warracknabeal A (Hayden Polack, Eliza Williamson, Maddison Bentley, Ben Wright) |
19.79 |
seconds |
4th |
Euroa A (Addison Godsmark, Matilda Kubeil, Kobee Mann, Zahara Johns) |
20.57 |
seconds |
5th |
Maffra (Kristin Murphy, Tyler Schoenmaekers, Kobe Parsons, Rowville Competitor) |
21.25 |
seconds |
Event 4 Y Coupling – Four Competitors, Under 17 Years
1st |
Harvey (Daniel Martella, Brodie Hewer, Cam Wellington, Bailey Garrigan) |
8.70 |
seconds |
2nd |
Melton A (Devante Johns, Brodie Leitch, Lorelei Geysing, Jamie Millington) |
8.80 |
seconds |
3rd |
Echuca A (Martyn Currey, James Mead, Kaylea Blake, Kyran Blake) |
9.57 |
seconds |
4th |
Bairnsdale (Cooper Howell, Ethan Pitt, Bryce Oglesby, Ben Whipress) |
10.35 |
seconds |
5th |
Kyneton (Sam Foster, Royce Sharpe, Luke Stanely, Spencer Zan) |
10.71 |
seconds |
Event 5 Wet Hose Striking 1st & 2nd Discs – Four Competitors, Under 17 Years
1st |
Melton A (Devante Johns, Brodie Leitch, Lorelei Geysing, Jamie Millington) |
19.38 |
seconds |
2nd |
Melton B (Ryan Stone, Tia Stone, Kenlou Williams, Ebony Falzone) |
19.75 |
seconds |
3rd |
Kyneton (Sam Foster, Royce Sharp, Luke Stanley, Spencer Zan) |
19.84 |
seconds |
4th |
Echuca A (Martyn Currey, James Mead, Kyran Blake, Sam Schmedje) |
21.09 |
seconds |
5th |
Rowville B (Matthew De Filppis, Cameron Ellis, Thomas Landells, Lauren Brayshaw) |
21.18 |
seconds |
Event 6 Marshall – One Competitor, Under 14 Years
1st |
Euroa A (Addison Godsmark) |
28.65 |
seconds |
2nd |
Kangaroo Flat (Lucy Gilbee) |
34.52 |
seconds |
3rd |
Melton A (Ryder Millington) |
34.63 |
seconds |
4th |
Maffra (Kobe Parsons) |
38.67 |
seconds |
5th |
Red Cliffs (Darcy Roden) |
38.77 |
seconds |
Event 7 Wet Hose Striking 1st & 2nd Discs – Four Competitors, Under 14 Years
1st |
Euroa A (Addison Godsmark, Matilda Kubeil, Kobee Mann, Zhara Johns) |
20.12 |
seconds |
2nd |
Echuca A (Mason Whinfield, George Danswan, Archie Collier, Gratton Harrison) |
22.74 |
seconds |
3rd |
Melton C (Charlotte Crawford, Isabella Greene, Mason Pasco, borrowed competitor) |
24.11 |
seconds |
4th |
Warracknabeal (Hayden Polack, Eliza Williamson, Zander Jonasson, Ben Wright) |
24.36 |
seconds |
5th |
Euroa C (Will Mann, Tyler Delahey, Mischa Boyd, Charlie Tracey) |
24.51 |
seconds |
Event 8 Marshall – One Competitor, Under 17 Years
1st |
Grovedale (Thomas Evans) |
26.19 |
seconds |
2nd |
Melton A (Devante Johns) |
26.97 |
seconds |
3rd |
Melton B (Ryan Stone) |
28.51 |
seconds |
4th |
Kyneton (Luke Stanley) |
29.84 |
seconds |
5th |
Harvey (Brodie Hewer) |
30.53 |
seconds |
Event 9 Wet Hose – Two Competitors, Under 17 Years
1st |
Melton A (Devante Johns and Brodie Leitch) |
10.13 |
seconds |
2nd |
Grovedale (Thomas Evans and Aiden Couzens) |
10.65 |
seconds |
3rd |
Kyneton (Sam Foster and Luke Stanley) Run off conducted for third place |
11.09 |
seconds |
4th |
Melton C (Ryan Stone and Ebony Falzon) Run off conducted for third place |
11.09 |
seconds |
5th |
Warracknabeal A (Cody Polack and Isabella Orsulak) |
11.38 |
seconds |
Event 10 Marshall – Two Competitors, Under 14 Years
1st |
Euroa A (Addison Godsmark and Matilda Kubeil) |
18.85 |
seconds |
2nd |
Kangaroo Flat (Lucy Gilbee and Chris Mason) |
21.81 |
seconds |
3rd |
Echuca A (Mason Whinfield and George Danswan) |
22.22 |
seconds |
4th |
Warracknabeal (Hayden Polack and Eliza Williamson) |
22.70 |
seconds |
5th |
Sale (Ruth King and Danae Bhana) |
23.05 |
seconds |
Event 11 Wet Hose – Two Competitors, Under 14 Years
1st |
Euroa A (Addison Godsmark and Matilda Kubeil) |
12.22 |
seconds |
2nd |
Echuca A (Mason Whinfield and George Danswan) |
12.51 |
seconds |
3rd |
Kangaroo Flat (Lucy Gilbee and Chris Mason) |
12.92 |
seconds |
4th |
Warracknabeal A (Hayden Polack and Eliza Williamson) |
13.08 |
seconds |
5th |
Rowville A (Brenton Radford and Madison Lam) |
13.39 |
seconds |
RESULTS – Sunday 19th March
Event 12 Hydrant – One Competitor, Under 17 Years
1st |
Grovedale (Aiden Couzens) |
12.32 |
seconds |
2nd |
Melton A (Devante Johns) |
12.75 |
seconds |
3rd |
Harvey (Brodie Hewer) |
13.35 |
seconds |
4th |
Warracknabeal A (Cody Polack) |
13.50 |
seconds |
5th |
Echuca A (Martyn Currey) |
13.62 |
seconds |
Event 13 Y Coupling – Two Competitors, Under 14 Years
1st |
Echuca A (Mason Whinfield and George Danswan) |
14.13 |
seconds |
2nd |
Maffra (Kristin Murphy and Tyler Schoenmaekers) |
16.27 |
seconds |
3rd |
Melton A (Ryder Millington and Mikaylah and Crawford) |
16.67 |
seconds |
4th |
Kyneton (Lea Sheridan and Charlie Tracey) |
16.89 |
seconds |
5th |
Sale (Thomas De Nobile and Conner Knights) |
17.44 |
seconds |
Event 14 Wet Hose Striking Second Disc – Four Competitors, Under 17 Years
1st |
Harvey (Daniel Martella, Brodie Hewer, Cam Wellington, Bailey Garrigan) |
18.01 |
seconds |
2nd |
Melton A (Devante Johns, Brodie Leitch, Lorelei Geysing, Jamie Millington) Run off conducted for second place |
18.14 |
seconds |
3rd |
Werribee A (Oscar Statharin, Ally Owen, Matthew Packer, Mitchell Inglis) Run off conducted for second place |
18.14 |
seconds |
4th |
Kellerberrin (Caiden Cox, Caysie Bubb, Savannah Wilkins, Amber Watkins) |
18.48 |
seconds |
5th |
Maffra (Charlotte Giles, Kasey Svenson, Jayde Parsons, Trinity Sherritt) |
18.67 |
seconds |
Event 15 Y Coupling – Four Competitors, Under 14 Years
1st |
Werribee A (Markus Weiss, Harindi Pethiyagoda, Oscar Weston, Piper Owen) |
11.05 |
seconds |
2nd |
Melton A (Poppy Arandt, Alexis Johnston, Ryder Millington, Mikaylah Crawford) |
11.37 |
seconds |
3rd |
Euroa A (Addison Godsmark, Matilda Kubeil, Kobee Mann, Zahara Johns) |
11.48 |
seconds |
4th |
Wangaratta (Scarlett McAndrew, Chelsea Heywood, Kayla Jose, Jack Ambrose) |
12.13 |
seconds |
5th |
Sale (Willow Goode, Danae Bhana, Thomas De Nobile, Connor Knights) |
12.40 |
seconds |
Event 16 Wet Hose Striking One Disc Twice – Four Competitors, Under 14 Years
1st |
Maffra (Kristin Murphy, Tyler Schoenmaekers, Kobe Parsons, borrowed Rowville competitor) |
17.38 |
seconds |
2nd |
Euroa A (Addison Godsmark, Matilda Kubeil, Kobee Mann, Zahara Johns) |
17.46 |
seconds |
3rd |
Echuca A (Mason Whinfield, George Danswan, Archie Collier, Gratton Harrison) |
17.59 |
seconds |
4th |
Melton A (Poppy Arandt, Alexis Johnston, Ryder Millington, Mikaylah Crawford) |
18.81 |
seconds |
5th |
Warracknabeal A (Hayden Polack, Eliza Williamson, Zander Jonasson, Maddison Bentley) |
20.02 |
seconds |
Event 17 Marshall – Two Competitors, Under 17 Years
1st |
Melton A (Devante Johns, Brodie Leitch) |
16.06 |
seconds |
2nd |
Harvey (Daniel Martella, Brodie Hewer) |
16.89 |
seconds |
3rd |
Echuca A (Martyn Currey, James Mead) |
19.07 |
seconds |
4th |
Melton B (Ryan Stone, Tia Stone) |
19.41 |
seconds |
5th |
Kyneton (Sam Foster, Luke Stanley) |
19.52 |
seconds |
Event 18 Wet Hose Striking One Disc Twice – Four Competitors, Under 17 Years
1st |
Kyneton (Sam Foster, Royce Sharp, Luke Stanley, Spencer Zan) |
14.87 |
seconds |
2nd |
Harvey (Daniel Martella, Brodie Hewer, Cam Wellington, Bailey Garrigan) |
16.11 |
seconds |
3rd |
Kellerberrin (Caiden Cox, Caysie Bubb, Savannah Wilkins, Amber Watkins) |
17.29 |
seconds |
4th |
Melton B (Ryan Stone, Tia Stone, Kenlou Williams, Ebony Falzon) |
17.41 |
seconds |
5th |
Rowville B (Matthew De Flippis, Cameron Ellis, Thomas Landells, Lauren Brayshaw) |
17.44 |
seconds |
FINAL AGGREGATE RESULTS
DRY AGGREGATE:
1st |
Melton A |
43 |
Points |
2nd |
Echuca A |
26 |
Points |
=3rd |
Euroa A and Harvey |
22 |
Points |
WET AGGREGATE
1st |
Melton A |
28 |
Points |
=2nd |
Echuca A & Euroa A |
23 |
Points |
UNDER 14 YEARS AGGREGATE
1st |
Euroa A |
45 |
Points |
2nd |
Echuca A |
40 |
Points |
3rd |
Maffra |
21 |
Points |
UNDER 17 YEARS AGGREGATE
1st |
Melton A |
52 |
Points |
2nd |
Harvey |
35 |
Points |
3rd |
Grovedale |
23 |
Points |
GRAND AGGREGATE
1st |
Melton A |
71 |
Points |
2nd |
Echuca A |
49 |
Points |
3rd |
Euroa A |
45 |
Points |
2023 - Champion Team – Melton A
Coaches Anthony Rhodes, Bailey Rhodes and Ashley Goudie and competitors:
- Poppy Arandt
- Mikaylah Crawford
- Lorelei Geysing
- Devante Johns
- Alexis Johnston
- Brodie Leitch
- Jamie Millington
- Ryder Millington
The final Aggregate Board is below:
The 2023 State Urban Junior Championship will be held this coming Saturday and Sunday, 18 and 19 March 2023 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 50 year history. This year 41 teams from CFA brigades from across Victoria along with two teams, Harvey and Kellerberrin, who have travelled across from Western Australia will compete over the two days.
The 2023 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 2023 State Urban Junior Championship are:
Ararat | Melton A |
Bairnsdale | Melton B |
Colac | Melton C |
Diamond Creek | Mildura |
Echuca A | Red Cliffs A |
Echuca B | Red Cliffs B |
Euroa A | Rowville A |
Euroa B | Rowville B |
Euroa C | Sale |
Frankston | Seymour |
Grovedale | Stawell |
Hamilton | Swan Hill A |
Harvey (Western Australia) | Swan Hill B |
Hoppers Crossing | Upwey A |
Horsham | Upwey B |
Kangaroo Flat | Wangaratta |
Kellerberrin (Western Australia) | Warracknabeal A |
Kerang | Wendouree |
Kyneton | Warracknabeal B |
Maffra | Werribee A |
Werribee B |
Information for brigades competing this weekend can be downloaded from this page.
Next weekend 25th and 26th 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.
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 #EmbraceEquity. This year’s theme acknowledges that everyone starts from different places, so true inclusion and belonging require equitable action.
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.
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.
Members are reminded of our March editorial from last year 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. You can re-read that piece here: VFBV Newsletter - March 2022
We also take this opportunity on International Women’s Day to re-share below many of the profile stories of influential and inspirational women across CFA that continue to inspire us.
About VFBV: VFBV is established under the Country Fire Authority Act and is the peak body for CFA Volunteers in Victoria. VFBV works tirelessly to represent, advocate and support CFA volunteers to the CFA Board and management, governments, ministers, members of parliament, councils, instrumentalities, business and the public. Our vision is for Strong Volunteerism, Embraced to Build Community Resilience for a Safer Victoria. |
|
This article is part of our series celebrating women in CFA for International Women's Day. The first International Women’s Day gathering occurred in 1911, you can read more about the history of International Women’s Day on the International Women’s Day website. https://www.internationalwomensday.com/Activity/15586/The-history-of-IWD |
Volunteer Surge Capacity in Action
By Adam Barnett, VFBV Chief Executive Officer
By empowering, supporting and embracing local communities to contribute to fire safety, knowledge and participation, we build safer and more resilient communities.
The volunteer CFA model is based on the fundamental tenant of partnering with our communities to share responsibility for fire safety. It is based on the philosophy that if we share an understanding of how to recognise and understand risk and jointly accept responsibility for managing that risk, then we will be far more effective at reducing the occurrence and reduce the impact should an emergency occur. It accepts that because of the size and speed at which emergencies can develop, the best way to protect Victorians is to partner with them to prepare, prevent, mitigate, respond and support recovery from emergencies. Not to mention the incredible social capital and empowerment that emergency volunteering creates across the community.
This shared responsibility model encourages all Victorians to take actions, commensurate with their abilities to prevent, prepare and safely respond to emergencies. An integrated approach to emergency management brings together agencies, state government, local government, industry, non-government organisations and everyday Victorian’s to work together to protect lives and property from fire and other emergencies.
The strength of the CFA system is because it is built from the community and for the community – it is therefore intrinsically linked. It does not need to parachute personnel into communities in times of disaster, as its people are already living inside and part of each community. They already have existing relationships, partnerships and understanding of the local context. Members of the community come together to learn the skills and knowledge of disaster preparation, prevention, response and recovery that builds a timeless legacy that embeds these emergency management skills into the community.
When disaster does strike, these citizens don’t need to look up or study local priorities or seek local knowledge, it is already built into the system. Communities with strong brigades don’t look outside their community for help, they look within first. And provided they are adequately supported by government, they have the tools, equipment, resources and morale to provide the initial response as emergencies develop.
This is just as important during the recovery stages as well, because long after many others leave, it is the local brigades that remain to support and care for their communities as they transition to recovery.
The beauty of the CFA model is as a disaster grows, the system can top-up and provide critical backup and support to assist those communities during their times of need. What we refer to as the CFA volunteer surge capacity is exactly that – it is the ability of the 1,214 communities across Victoria who have all established, supported and contributed to their local volunteer fire brigade pitching in to help neighbouring communities, and at times even those from afar.
This massive surge force provides unparalleled weight of attack when fires threaten and can be mobilised quickly and efficiently right across the entire state without leaving any communities unprotected. Crews stay behind to defend the local community, while the surge is sent afar to assist others. Volunteer brigades have planned for these contingencies for decades, with many adding their own fundraising funds and precious time to purchase trucks and equipment above the minimum allotment that government provides. In what other workplace do the workers volunteer their own time and efforts to fundraise for critical equipment just to do the job they have been asked to do by the State? Imagine the boss passing around a cap for workers to donate to buy the pens and paper used by the office. Yet the State very generously provides that same equipment to its paid workforce paid for…you guessed it – by you and your community through tax dollars. This is why VFBV is so passionate about educating decision makers on the inequity and unfairness of the current system, that sees CFA as the most poorly funded fire service in Victoria, despite it also being by far the largest, most trusted and efficient.
Often times, volunteers have had to fight the very organisation they are donating the trucks to just to get permission to build and fund these critical assets. In fairness to CFA, their opposition often stems from the fact that once the asset is added to the organisation, CFA receives no additional funding from government to actually cover the maintenance and running costs. And pulled from the pages of a comedy skit, that leaves us with a shambolic arrangement where the agency can’t actually afford to accept millions of dollars of donated equipment that would ultimately become assets of the state and be on call during times of emergency.
Returning to the incredible surge capacity provided by volunteers, when it works well, we usually don’t hear much about it – because the emergency has been nipped in the bud, and controlled long before it has grown to a size that makes for compelling TV.
Case in point was the most recent TFB days that occurred in late February. With high temperatures, high gusty winds and a large amount of grassland fuel loads, these were the perfect conditions for dangerous fire behaviour.
For example, on the 24th Feb, a TFB was declared for the Wimmera and Southwest fire districts. Over the course of the day, 25 significant grass and scrub fires were responded to. The majority of those were controlled within an hour or two, with all of them controlled by the end of the day. In each case, the local response and weight of attack was outstanding. Our highly trained and professional volunteers did outstanding work sizing up the incidents and establishing control points on arrival. Each initiated calls for “make tankers” and provided word backs early, matching resources to the risk and ensuring an appropriate weight of attack could be achieved early and effectively. Volunteers doing what volunteers do best – just getting on with it.
The established practice of brigades pre-planning and having crews on standby was again highly effective and meant requests for additional tankers was met with ease.
So far, the largest blaze was the Flowerdale grass and scrub fire that began on the afternoon of the 21st February. Burning through very steep and inaccessible country, this fire was fanned by strong wind gusts and grew to over 500 hectares by the early evening. 56 CFA appliances, 15 FFMVic appliances and 9 aircraft battled the fire into the evening.
Three days later, the fire was brought under control, despite having grown to 1,000 hectares in size. An incredible achievement. Despite posing a threat to multiple homes, there have been no confirmed loss of homes, nor any confirmed reports of livestock losses. This is an outstanding result and has been attributed to early asset protection initiated by the crews and the incredible skill of the responding crews. Only measuring the success by loss is always flawed, with these examples highlighting the incredible ‘saves’ that occur at each incident.
These are just a couple of examples of the fantastic work that gets done every day by CFA volunteers in partnership with other ESO’s and the community to protect and defend their communities during emergencies.
Why is this all so important. Because Victoria is one of the most fire prone places in the world. With changing weather, longer fire seasons driven by our changing climate and urban sprawl encroaching our forested areas, the need to build, strengthen and protect Victoria’s CFA volunteer surge capacity is critical.
Asking less people to do more is not going to be sustainable nor in the best interests of the Victorian public. It would be a very brave politician, commissioner or bureaucrat that is prepared to testify at the next Bushfires Royal Commission that they were comfortable not doing anything to bolster and grow Victoria’s volunteer capacity to deal with the ever increasing emergencies that we will face in the future.
VFBV continues to advocate for greater government support in recognising and promoting the great work all our emergency service volunteers do, and the need to encourage, educate and promote the importance to the wider community in order to drive recruitment, retention and high morale. The need to protect the large volunteer surge capacity drawn from metropolitan areas is critical to ensure we are prepared for those major disasters when they strike. The regularity of large fires like Ash Wednesday, Black Saturday and the 2019/20 Australian eastern seaboard fires provide a clear impetus of what we must plan and prepare for, and what is at risk if we don’t.
Anything or any policy that continues to erode or disincentivise Victoria’s emergency service volunteers will one day be scrutinised by public enquiry. And the question we will be asking is - what did you do to build, protect, support or encourage Victoria’s most treasured and efficient pubic asset, Victoria’s CFA?
VALE
It is with great sadness we learned of the passing of VFBV Life member Ron Jacobs OAM AFSM on the 25th February.
Ron was a Life Member of the Chelsea Fire Brigade (now Patterson River) and held the position of Association Secretary for the Victorian Urban Fire Brigades Association (VUFBA) from July 1984 until July 1993 and was honoured with VUFBA Life Membership in 1995.
Ron was awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) in the 1992 Queen’s Birthday Honours list and was further recognised with the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2012 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for service to the local community through roles with historical, local government and emergency service organisations.
Ron was also heavily involved in urban competitions as a competitor and also spent more than 30 years on the Executive of the Eastern Districts and Flinders Associations and was awarded the VUFBA Gold Star in 1986.
Ron was also the father of long serving VFBV Staff Member and fellow Association Life Member Jenni Laing.
We pass on our deepest condolences to Jenni, her siblings Bruce and John and the wider family, and members of Patterson River Fire Brigade.
International Women's Day 2023
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 #EmbraceEquity. This year’s theme acknowledges that everyone starts from different places, so true inclusion and belonging require equitable action.
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.
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.
Members are reminded of our March editorial from last year 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. You can re-read that piece here.
We also take this opportunity on International Women’s Day to re-share many of the profile stories of influential and inspirational women across CFA that continue to inspire us, visit the VFBV website for links to these profiles.
Tony’s Trek
On 10 March 2023, Inspector-General for Emergency Management (and Chair of the Emergency Services Foundation) Tony Pearce will start Tony’s Trek – a 1440km solo charity walk through Victoria to support new mental health initiatives to benefit our emergency management community.
Covering the area from Melbourne to Mallacoota and across the Alpine Range to Wodonga before heading back to Melbourne, Tony’s Trek aims to raise awareness and support for building collaborative sector-wide mental health initiatives led by the Emergency Services Foundation (ESF).
VFBV encourages brigades and groups to get behind Tony’s Trek, and think about how they might be able to assist with fundraising and promoting the initiative as Tony’s Trek makes its way across the route.
Posters and promotional material are available to support brigades get behind this important initiative. To find out more, donate or get involved go to www.esf.com.au/tonys-trek/
2023 State Championships
Later in March the 2023 State Championships will be held over consecutive weekends at the Mooroopna Recreation Reserve.
The first weekend of competition will be for the Urban Junior State Championship on 18 and 19 March with 41 teams competing in 18 events over the two days. Harvey and Kellerberrin brigades are also making the trip across from Western Australia to compete in the Urban Junior Championship with Harvey also competing the Urban Senior Championship the following weekend.
On the following weekend, 25 and 26 March the Urban Senior Championship and the Rural Senior and Junior Championships will be held. Across this weekend there will be 75 senior teams and 40 junior teams.
Across both weekends the Championships will also be supported by more than 200 judges and officials who have volunteered their time and expertise to ensure the successful conduct of the State Championships.
The popular and impressive Torchlight Procession will again also be conducted on the evening of Saturday 25 March at Victoria Lake Park in Shepparton, with 2023 marking 150 years since the first demonstration and display of Victoria’s volunteer firefighters was held in 1873 which included a Torchlight Procession through the streets of Melbourne.
Participation in the Torchlight Procession is also open to brigades not competing in State Championship events. Any brigade wishing to participate in the Torchlight Procession should contact Peter Davis This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 0458 933 797 as soon as possible.
Information for competing brigades has been sent out, this information is also available for download from the VFBV website for the State Rural Championships and the State Urban Junior and Urban Senior Championships.
Radio Allocation Policy
Feedback is being sought on CFA’s proposed new Radio Allocation policy and procedure.
The new policy and procedure has been developed in preparation for the planned rollout of CFA’s replacement to the operational radio fleet. The revised policy and procedure covers the radio justification criteria and outlines the initial allocation of radio’s to brigades, groups, appliances and officers.
Feedback can be provided by individuals, brigades, groups and District Councils. Due to procurement activities, feedback is due by Wednesday 15th March 2023.
Please visit the VFBV website for more information, including copies of the policy and procedure.
CFA Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy
Feedback is being sought on a new draft policy covering Alcohol and other drugs, including prescription medication.
The draft policy covers arrangements for the appointment of a ‘responsible officer’, when alcohol can be consumed and a ban on brigades from applying for a new liquor license, with existing licenses able to be kept.
All members are encouraged to read and provide feedback ASAP. Feedback is due by Monday 8th May 2023.
Please visit the VFBV website for more information and a copy of the draft policy.
CFA Board Positions
The CFA Act recognises that it is important that the CFA Board has strong volunteer expertise, knowledge and an understanding of CFA volunteers. To support this, four of the skills-based CFA Board members are appointed by the Minister for Emergency Services from a panel of names submitted by VFBV.
This year, the terms of two volunteer nominees will expire in December 2023, with both members eligible for re-appointment. One is for a volunteer from brigades predominantly serving rural communities, and the other being for a volunteer from brigades predominantly serving urban communities.
CFA volunteers who believe they have the skills, experience and capacity to make a contribution to the Board of CFA are invited to apply. In addition to volunteer experience and knowledge, nomination will have regard to any of the following - knowledge of or experience in; commercial; technical; operational; legal or financial matters; expertise in fire or emergency management; land management; or any other field relevant to the performance of the functions of CFA.
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 CFA Board Charter and further information on the application process is available from the VFBV website or via the office at (03) 9886 1141.
Applications close on Monday 26th June 2023.
VFBV Board Positions
Vacancies on the VFBV Board will arise when the terms of four VFBV Board members expire on the 1st October 2023. 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 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 28th August 2023.
Quarterly Supplement
Included with the March 2023 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.
Nominations for Trust Fund
VFBV is calling for nominations to the CFA and Brigades Donations Fund.
The purpose of the fund is to raise and receive money and donations of goods and services from the public for distribution to brigades to assist with costs of purchasing and maintaining firefighting equipment, facilities, training and administrative expenses which are associated with their firefighting functions.
Following nominations, five new or reappointed members will be appointed by the VFBV Board to serve as VFBV Trustees on the fund for a term of two years.
All current trustees are eligible for re-appointment.
Please visit the VFBV website for details.
Nominations close on Monday 19th June 2023.
Recent articles on the VFBV website
Feedback Requested – Revised Radio Allocation Policy and Procedure
Feedback Requested – Draft CFA Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy
CFA & Brigades Donations Fund Nominations
International Women's Day 2023
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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.