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Budget questions remain
By Adam Barnett, VFBV Chief Executive Officer
The most frequent questions I am receiving is about the state of the CFA budget. You would be forgiven for thinking that after the handing down of the Victorian State Budget for the 2024/25 financial year last month, that we would all have clarity around the CFA budget for the upcoming year. Sadly, it is impossible to determine what the CFA budget is through the budget papers.
In case you thought that was a typo, let me be clear. Believe it or not, trying to determine the level of fire service funding through the budget papers is an exercise in futility. One cannot help but reach the conclusion that this is by design. American revolutionist Patrick Henry puts it best: “The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure, when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them.”
The reality is – the budget papers do not detail the funding allocations to the fire service, but rather obfuscate and hide these budgets by lumping them all together under ‘Emergency Management Capability’ within the Department of Justice and Community Safety. In addition to CFA and FRV, also lumped into this category are expenses for EMV, SES and Triple Zero Vic.
And because EMV’s budget is secret – there is no transparency about where that funding goes to.
But we can infer some outcomes from the budget papers, and I’ll try to walk you through what we know so far. First, let’s start with the good news.
The Government has continued its support for the popular Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP), recommitting $15 million for this year’s program. The budget also allocates $18.58 million spread over the next three years to replace 15 CFA pumpers. We certainly welcome and commend these additional allocations.
Unfortunately though, that concludes the good news.
Let’s start with the capital budget. There was no new funding announced for any CFA tanker replacements. So when you hear announcements about MPs posing in front of new tankers – they were the tankers promised back in 2020.
Given VFBV’s estimates that CFA needs to invest at least $30 million a year just to stop the average fleet age going backwards, this year’s commitments are woefully short. This is yet another year where presumably the problem is just tucked under the rug for somebody else to sort out. What won’t go away is the 700 creaking old single cab tankers that still force firefighters to ride on the back of the truck separated from the driver and crew leader.
Some of these are now 35 years old, almost double their useful lifespan. The reality is as these tankers get older and older and are extended so far past their useful life, when they do become inoperable there will be no trucks in the pipeline to replace them. Given it will cost more than $350 million just to replace these aging vehicles alone, the seriousness of the chronic under funding to the fleet becomes clear.
And due to historic under investment, there is limited capacity in the local manufacturing industry to handle large urgent orders for new trucks, even if the agencies decided to order them all tomorrow. So, our warning to government continues to be it is approaching a cliff with potentially catastrophic outcomes if this problem continues to be ignored.
Then we get to CFA base budget. Again, the budget papers offer very little detail, but we can start to make some educated guesses. The budget has allocated the exact same amount to “Emergency Management Capability” for the 2024/25 period as it did for the 2023/24 budget. In other words, not a single extra dollar has been provided in the upcoming budget than was budgeted for in the previous year.
No new money means the budgets have not even been indexed, meaning CPI increases of everyday expenses will have to be absorbed by existing budgets. Using the current CPI means this is an effective cut of 3.6%
Further, it also means any wage increases negotiated into staff industrial agreements have not been budgeted for, meaning all annual increases to wages already approved in current agreements will need to be absorbed. In other words – agencies will need to make cuts elsewhere to afford increasing employee costs.
Then we have the government’s emergency service razor gang. This gang was established by the government last year and is made up of each of the departmental secretaries from the Department of Justice and Community Safety, Department of Treasury and Department of Premier and Cabinet. Calling themselves the “Emergency Services Organisation Finance Board” their job is rumoured to be to identify cuts to achieve another 10% in savings. Given the budget cuts already made to CFA over the last three years, and the historic chronic under funding, this represents one of the largest threats to emergency services in decades.
One can only hope this group looks very closely at the $24.7 million dollars the government has found over the next three years to flush money down the toilet by replacing the current State Control Centre Workforce with a new fulltime EMV public service workforce.
If that weren’t outrageous enough, the cherry on the cake comes from the government announcement that it is hiking the annual fire services properly levy tax to pay for FRV overspends. The increased levy is expected to collect an additional $186 million in taxes from property owners. Given CFA has not received a single extra dollar in their budget, and the levy can only be used for CFA and FRV, it does not take Einstein to figure out that residents in CFA areas are now cross subsidising FRV’s out of control costs for the 85 fire stations they operate, vs the 1,211 stations that CFA operates on just a third of the funding.
Now we get to what I call the long con. The government’s narrative for increasing the FSL is that it has been under collecting. Again it hopes Victorians have very short memories. Remember in 2017 during the height of the controversy over the government’s fire services reforms, and the exodus of CFA and MFB senior executives who, along with VFBV, warned anyone that would listen that the proposed reforms and generous deals would send the cost of delivering paid fire services through the roof?
To divert attention from these predictions, the government back then announced a temporary ‘freeze’ in the FSL, an obvious ploy to trick the general public into thinking the proposed reforms would have no impact on future fire service levies.
Throw in another freeze conveniently attributed to COVID, and then in 2020 it announced it was scrapping differential rates for CFA and FRV (MFB) areas and moving to a new “streamlined” system. In the same year, CFA’s budget was slashed. Under the “old” FSL system – these savings would have been passed onto residents living in CFA areas. But under the new system – these savings were evenly distributed to include residents in FRV areas that were now using the most expensive fire service in Australia.
The objective was obviously to hope the public would not connect this year’s hefty levy increase to the very reforms that hiked up costs in the first place. The MFB budget allocation in 2020 was $461 million, with FRV’s first year of operation in 2021 jumping to $859 million.
Brigades have already started to notify us of public backlash over the increased FSL, and rightly so – therefore it is critically important that members ensure they educate concerned members of the public that none of that increase is going to CFA.
Put the last three years of fire service budgets side by side, and CFA’s annual grant from government has decreased every year for the last three years. Below you will find a chart we have compiled comparing the last ten years of government funding to CFA. (a larger version of the graph can be downloaded at the bottom of this page)
(For a full size picture please click here.)
For members interacting with MPs at public events and functions, don’t allow them to get away with the statement they have invested more in Victoria’s Fire Services than any government previously. This is just another way of saying – they have invested more in FRV than any government prior, while funding for CFA has been slashed.
Now that Victorians are paying for these excesses through increased taxes and levies, it remains to be seen if government will respond to rising anger and concern and reverse its support for arrangements that are clearly not working and are no longer affordable, if they ever were. The secondment agreement should be the first thing thrown overboard.
VFBV is demanding that CFA receives its fair share of the Fire Service Levy, and we will continue to object to residents living in CFA areas effectively cross subsiding FRV’s out of control costs.
While this year’s CFA budget is yet to be announced, members are requested to seek an assurance from their local government MP that they commit to no more cuts to the CFA budget and ensuring CFA’s aging fleet age be addressed. Given they have hiked up the FSL to collect an additional $186 million dollars this year alone, this should not be a hard ask and members should ask how much of this extra revenue will flow to CFA.
You can find your members by visiting the Victorian Electoral Commission website.
NEW CFA CHAIR
I was extremely disappointed to learn of the recent resignation of CFA Chair Mr Greg Wilson, that was announced by government on 23 May.
Greg was appointed to the CFA Board in 2020 following reform and at a time that can only be described as one of the most tumultuous periods in CFA’s history. Greg not only won my personal respect but was broadly admired and respected throughout the VFBV network for his quiet but effective leadership.
Among other things, Greg oversaw the strengthening of CFA’s relationship with VFBV and its commitment to supporting volunteers and was instrumental in re-committing the board to honouring its obligations under the Volunteer Charter which had taken a serious hammering under previous leadership.
I will miss his wise counsel and his steady and reliable stewardship of Victoria’s largest emergency service. Greg has also stepped down from Chair of the SES as he enjoys some well-earned rest post-retirement.
We wish him all the best and thank him most sincerely for his contribution to CFA.
The government has announced CFA Deputy Chair Ms Jo Plummer has been appointed as CFA’s new Chair effective immediately and we welcome Jo to the role.
VALE
We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Association Life Member Ex Captain Michael “Mick” Sanderson AFSM on the 4th May.
Mick was a member of the Seymour Fire Brigade for almost 70 years, including significant service to the Association by way of serving as an Executive member to the Victorian Urban Fire Brigades Association (VUFBA) for 22 years, and was a District/Regional Council President of our D12 Council for more than 20 years. Mick was a recipient of the VFBV Gold Star, and was awarded his AFSM in 2008.
Mick was a well-respected member across the state, and was a regular fixture over many decades at State Urban Championships as a judge and official. His passion for encouraging juniors and supporting the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal was well known across the District.
On behalf of VFBV and all fellow CFA volunteers, we offer our deepest condolences to wife Yvonne, daughters Rhonda, Chris and Dianne, extended family, friends and loved ones including all members of the Seymour Fire Brigade.
VESEP
Applications close Friday 14th June 2024
Applications are now open for the 2024 Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP), with the closing date of 14 June fast approaching.
VFBV has updated its VESEP Help Pack to assist brigades and groups with their VESEP applications. The Help Pack is available for download from the VFBV website.
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 24th year, VESEP first started out as the Community Safety Emergency Support Program in 2000 and was designed in close consultation with VFBV, 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!
SOP feedback
A reminder that we are seeking feedback on various Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that are out for consultation. Thirteen SOPs have been modified and 10 are now available for review.
These are SOP 3.01 Management of Junior Members; 5.05 Use of CFA Equipment; 7.01 Local Procedure Development; 7.05 Water Supplies for Firefighting; 7.07 Station Siren Use; 8.01 Incident Controller and CFA Agency Commander; 8.04 Transfer of Control; 9.13 Keeping Logs and Documents; 9.16 Media Management; and 9.18 Use of Personal Mobile Devices During Incidents.
Given the importance of SOPs in CFA’s operational doctrine, VFBV encourages all senior volunteers to make themselves familiar with the proposed changes and provide feedback ASAP.
Please visit the VFBV website to access the draft SOPs. A feedback survey is also available from the VFBV website for those who prefer to provide feedback that way.
VFBV Board positions
Vacancies on the VFBV Board will arise wen the terms of four VFBV Board members expire on 1 October 2024. Of the four members whose terms are expiring, two are eligible for re-appointment.
VFBV invites applications from any CFA volunteer who is motivated by the prospect of making a difference and believes they have the skills to contribute to the VFBV Board.
The role of a board member involves contributing to VFBV direction, policy determination and monitoring the performance and governance of the Association. This includes actively contributing to policy discussion, consulting with CFA volunteers and contributing to the identification and management of strategic issues.
VFBV is seeking applications from gender and culturally diverse candidates in addition to a diverse range of skills and experience including applications from diverse brigade types and classifications.
Members should familiarise themselves with the VFBV Board member role statement and key selection criteria available from the VFBV website or via the office at (03) 9886 1141.
Applications close on Monday 2 September 2024.
‘Give us a hand’ campaign
This year’s CFA recruitment campaign continues, with a toolkit having been developed to assist brigades tailor and customise the various resources available.
Members can download and link to videos, tailor social media tiles, or customise a recruitment flyer or poster you can use in your local community.
Stock photo’s and audio are also included to assist the campaigns keep a consistent look, but allow brigades to tailor to their specific circumstance. Our delegates to the Joint Member Services Committee have been please to contribute to the suggestions, and encourage brigades to use the resources available to assist with local recruitment drives.
Volunteer Unity
Again in 2023/24, CFA Brigades and Groups showed it is more important than ever that volunteers have a strong, united, independent and credible voice with almost 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.
Brigade and Group secretaries have received the 2024/25 renewal notices for your Brigade/Groups’ VFBV Affiliation and Welfare Fund subscriptions with a due date of 30th June, 2024.
The Board is determined that brigades/groups should benefit from the strong governance of the association and have reduced the affiliation rate from $84 to $75.
Those who pay VFBV affiliations before 30 June will be automatically entered into a draw to win one of four extremely worthwhile prizes valued at approximately $4,000. Prizes have, for the fourth year running, been donated by GAAM Emergency Products and Powdersafe and we sincerely thank them for their continued support.
We strongly encourage Brigades to also subscribe to the VFBV Welfare Fund. The Welfare Fund is a capital fund and an exclusive benefit to affiliated members with VFBV funding all the administration and operating costs ensuring 100% of funds received go directly to CFA volunteers experiencing personal hardship. The VFBV Welfare Fund provides small grants up to $5,000 to assist volunteer members and long service ex members. The Welfare Fund has distributed more than $2.5 million dollars to volunteers in need since its inception.
Quarterly Supplement
Included with the June 2024 edition of Fire Wise is the latest edition of the VFBV Quarterly Supplement.
The Quarterly Supplement contains 16 pages of relevant news, updates, information on current issues being pursued by VFBV on behalf of members. It also includes additional resources or updates that are available via our website.
An electronic copy of the Quarterly Supplement can be downloaded here.
Brigade Captains and Secretaries, Group Officers and Group Secretaries as well as VFBV delegates are requested to please take the time to read this and future editions, and table at your upcoming meetings for the benefit and knowledge of your members.
Leading for Better Mental Health
The Emergency Services Foundation (ESF) has announced it has received funding for three ‘Leading for better Mental Health’ programs for 2024.
The Leading for Better Mental Health (LfBMH) program was developed from a comprehensive literature review, extensive consultation and targeted evidence gathering activities to understand the gaps between leadership for mental health leading practice and current agency activities.
A unique element of the Leading for Better Mental Health program is that the facilitators meet with participants in advance to understand their individual leadership challenges and expectations of the program. This provides a deeper understanding of the working environment and cultural issues to tailor the program to meet the specific needs of the group. This approach serves another purpose. It demonstrates how reflection and conversation can be applied by a team leader. It helps to build a trusted relationship that carries into the program and its coaching element.
Each program has a maximum cohort of 25 participants, and involved four days face to face over a 12 week period and is available to all current and emerging emergency service leaders, including Group Officers, Captains and Lieutenants.
To find out more, or apply, please visit the ESF website.
Recent articles on the VFBV website
National Volunteer Week 2024
2024 VESEP Applications Now Open and VFBV Help Pack
Feedback Requested – Standard Operating Procedures (Various)
Presumptive Legislation Update
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This week (20 – 26 May) is National Volunteer Week, a week that provides an opportunity to highlight the important role of volunteers in our communities and invites people not currently volunteering to give it a go.
The theme for National Volunteer Week this year is, Something for Everyone. Which fits emergency service volunteering quite nicely considering the myriad of roles available within CFA and other emergency services.
The theme also recognises the diverse passions and talents that everyone brings to an organisation when they volunteer as well as emphasising that there is a place for everyone in the world of volunteering.
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. Victorians are safer because of your work and we could not be more proud of you, your brigades and all those that support you in your work protecting lives and property.
It’s not just CFA volunteers who contribute to the safety of Victoria however, there 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. Each of these organisations work together to contribute time, skills and resources to ensure the safety of Victorians.
The value of these 100,000 emergency service volunteers to the Victorian economy was conservatively estimated by The 3V’s report by Lateral Economics to be between $1.9 and $2.5 billion in value each year.
From VFBV, thank you and well done for your incredible dedication and service to the people of Victoria, not just this week, but every hour, day, week and month of the year.
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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 to find out more information.
Everyone can help someone
By Adam Barnett, VFBV Chief Executive Officer
Later this month we will celebrate National Volunteer Week, which this year runs between the 20th–26th May 2024.
This year’s theme is ‘Something for Everyone’ which fits emergency service volunteering quite nicely considering the myriad of roles available within CFA. The key message for this year’s theme is about emphasising that there’s a place for everyone in the world of volunteering.
And while my go to Ronald Reagan quote is usually his tongue in cheek wise crack: “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government and I’m here to help”, I will pivot to the more subject appropriate quote of “We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.”
As you would expect, I spend a lot of my time talking about all things ‘volunteer’ to many people who may not volunteer themselves. This is often the case when dealing with government, the public service and even business groups. Sadly, it has also become more common when dealing with people within the emergency management sector itself, and even when meeting some new CFA staff.
While I don’t think being an emergency service volunteer should be a mandatory prerequisite, it is important for those that have influential roles or responsibilities within the sector to have a very good understanding of the volunteer ethos, its culture, and how volunteers should be encouraged, respected, supported and appreciated.
When people roll their eyes over what they deem to be a pretty inconsequential complaint by volunteers, I ask how many of their staff would show up for work if the agency sent out an email advising all staff they wouldn’t be paid for the next two weeks due to budget cuts.
Think of all the things an organisation would need to do to encourage its staff to still want to come to work for free, and then think about what’s required to run a fully volunteer organisation not for two weeks, but for 365 days of the year.
Of late, some think its is totally acceptable to mirror arrangements for employees and expect volunteers to be treated exactly the same. Follow this through its logical conclusion, and if roles were reversed and employees had to give up their salaries but still continue to come to work – imagine the chaos and low morale.
Why then is it so difficult to understand treating volunteers like employees will similarly result in chaos and low morale.
And while just being a volunteer does not automatically qualify you as understanding these things or being proficient in the principles of volunteer management, it certainly goes some way to provide valuable context and personal experiences that may enlighten further development down the track.
For those that do have a background in volunteering, more often than not it is often involvement in non-formal volunteering, which is kind of the- ‘all care and no responsibility’ flavour of volunteering. That’s not to say that this type of volunteering is bad, and I certainly mean no disrespect - it just simply does not create a reference point for people who have not had experience in formal volunteering for an emergency service that also includes a significant amount of obligation, the real risk of hurting yourself, as well as the removal of the flexibility to volunteer where and when they would like.
Anyone with a pager knows that emergency incidents rarely occur when convenient, nor can they be planned or blacked out in one’s diary when planning the week.
It’s not until you start truly appreciating the sacrifices that CFA and other emergency service volunteers make that you can start to really appreciate and respect it. Then there is the type of incidents emergency service volunteers frequently attend that can weigh on your soul. I often describe CFA volunteers as being with Victorians on what is often the worse day of their lives. Therefore, the mental toll is as real as the physical, and often requires significant cognitive energy to ensure these aftereffects are managed and treated.
All this is to say, that when people tell me they really respect volunteers, I often pause to consider the context with which the statement is made. The words are easy, but genuine respect can only be given if the role and duty that emergency service volunteers give is truly understood. Only then can one really value and respect something.
I reflect on the occasions when someone has been accused of disrespecting CFA volunteers, and this is often followed by an exclamation that no this isn’t so - they love volunteers and really admire what they do.
It then takes patience and deliberate effort to walk them through the logic of an ignorant though well-meaning sentiment, versus an informed knowledge of and appreciation of how volunteers differ from a paid workforce. Again, these sentiments are often not made maliciously, but the effect is none the less often the same.
In this vein, I wish to use this year’s Volunteer Week to continue to contribute towards a better understanding of the value that emergency service volunteers bring to Victoria.
We know from the work we did with Lateral Economics a few years back, that Victoria’s emergency service volunteers generate more than $2.5 billion dollars of value to Victoria each and every year. Of that, $1.4 billion is what we call emergency management value per year. This is defined as the contribution of volunteers to the direct outcomes achieved by emergency services before, during and after emergencies. This includes response, but also considers prevention/mitigation, preparedness, as well as recovery.
It should be pointed out this is not the replacement value and only represents a very conservative partial cost approach to quantify the value. That is value and saved money that gets diverted to schools, hospitals and other essential programs.
The more misunderstood component of the $2.5 billion is the $900 million that is generated every year that emergency service volunteers provide in community strengthening value. This refers to the broader and sometimes indirect ways in which emergency service volunteering helps to strengthen communities. In other words - visible, active, positive emergency volunteerism in a community can make a difference to society as a whole. Concepts fire service outcome measurements do not even pretend to contemplate.
Rather than paraphrase, I’ll reproduce the observations of Nicholas Gruen the CEO from Lateral Economics after studying Victoria’s emergency service volunteers. Nicholas is a widely published and respected Australian economist, visiting professor at King’s College London’s Policy Institute, and is the former chair of the Australian Centre for Social Innovation.
“Thinkers and philosophers have deliberated through the eons over the question of which is more important—the individual or society? The discipline of economics is built on ‘methodological individualism’ in which the wellbeing and functioning of groups is seen as no more than the sum of their individual constituents. Nevertheless economics’ ‘founding father’, Adam Smith, had a different view, building his economics around a view of humanity set out in his first book – The Theory of Moral Sentiments in which individuals became individuals as we know them through the process of being socialised into the values of their family and, beyond that, their community.”
“It is not necessary to decide the question definitively for our purposes. What we can say is that certain outcomes of the 3Vs [Volunteers, Volunteering & Volunteerism] are far more concrete than others. The value of saving a house from being engulfed in a bushfire is clear to all conceptually, and, at least in principle, it is easy to measure its economic value.”
“This is far less true of the value individuals get from volunteering and even less true of the value communities gain from individuals within them volunteering. In this regard those close to volunteering— volunteers themselves and many who help organise them—are anxious that the value creation that is easiest to measure not crowd out that which is no less real for being difficult to measure.”
So during this year’s Volunteer Week while I acknowledge the incredible work our members do each and every day in protecting their communities from fire and other emergencies, I would also like to especially thank you for the community building, social capital and cohesion you each contribute to, that makes up a large part of the public value generated by your efforts.
‘Public value’ is the philosophy of performance measurement used to evaluate the value produced normally but not exclusively by public bodies and that is ‘consumed’ collectively by the citizenry rather than individually by clients or customers.
When you drill down into the four main domains that are often used to measure public value, it is clear the value proposition that CFA generates for Victoria. Public value can be measured by the outcomes achieved; the extent to which the organisation and activities are trusted and perceived to be legitimate; the extent to which the services delivered are high quality and match the need; and finally the extent to which an organisation is achieving maximal benefits with minimal resources. When you compare the public value of some current government priorities using these measurements, the disparity is clear.
With that in mind, we will be closely monitoring the Victorian budget due early this month. CFA volunteers will have every right to judge the tangible level of respect that the Victorian Government really has for its emergency service volunteers by way of its investment and resourcing (or lack thereof) of these essential emergency services.
If CFA and volunteer emergency services are truly judged by their public value and not by other measures such as political convenience, or industrial relations alignment, then CFA volunteers and the millions of Victorians that rely on their services will have nothing to worry about.
And while I fear this may not be the case, please take this moment to celebrate the incredible work that you do and the lives that you change for the better - each and every day.
SOP Feedback
A reminder that we are seeking feedback on various Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that are out for consultation.
Thirteen SOPs have been modified and ten are now available for review. These are SOP 3.01 Management of Junior Members; 5.05 Use of CFA Equipment; 7.01 Local Procedure Development; 7.05 Water Supplies for Firefighting; 7.07 Station Siren Use; 8.01 Incident Controller and CFA Agency Commander; 8.04 Transfer of Control; 9.13 Keeping Logs and Documents; 9.16 Media Management; and 9.18 Use of Personal Mobile Devices During Incidents.
Given the importance of SOPs in CFA’s operational doctrine, VFBV encourages all senior volunteers to make themselves familiar with the proposed changes and provide feedback ASAP.
Please visit the VFBV website to access drafts and change logs to help guide your feedback. A feedback survey is also available from the VFBV website for those who prefer to provide feedback that way.
National Volunteer Week
The week of 20-26 May is National Volunteer Week, a week that provides an opportunity to highlight the important role of volunteers in our communities and invites people not currently volunteering to give it a go.
The theme for National Volunteer Week is Something for Everyone. This recognises the diverse passions and talents everyone brings to the act of volunteering. It’s an invitation to explore the myriad of opportunities available, emphasising that there’s a place for everyone in the world of volunteering.
VFBV passes on our deep gratitude, respect and appreciation to all CFA volunteers for the work you do in your communities, 24/7. Victorians are safer because of your work and VFBV could not be more proud of you, your brigades and all those that support you in your work protecting lives and property.
We acknowledge 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 for their wonderful contribution.
VESEP
Applications are now open for the 2024 Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP), with the closing date fast approaching.
VFBV has updated its Help Pack to assist brigades and groups with their applications. The Help Pack is available for download from the VFBV website.
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.
In its 24th year, VESEP first started out as the Community Safety Emergency Support Program in 2000 and was designed in close consultation with VFBV, with the intent of being a grants program designed by volunteers with minimal administration required from volunteers.
VFBV wishes all CFA Brigades and Groups well with your applications.
VFBV Board positions
Vacancies on the VFBV Board will arise when the terms of four VFBV Board members expire on the 1st October 2024. Of the four members whose terms are expiring, two are eligible for re-appointment.
VFBV invites applications from any CFA volunteer who is motivated by the prospect of making a difference and believes they have the skills to contribute to 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 2nd September 2024.
CFA Memorial Service
On Sunday May 5th, the Annual CFA Memorial Service was held at the Victorian Emergency Services Memorial in Treasury Gardens in the Melbourne CBD to honour firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
This year’s service was particularly poignant as it acknowledged and recognised the loss of two of CFA’s long-serving members who died in the line of duty in the past year; Greg Godkin of Donald brigade in August 2023 and Garry Mallen of Portland brigade in January 2024.
If you were unable to attend the service, you can view a livestream of the service on CFA’s YouTube channel.
Volunteer unity
Thank you for members’ strong show of support!
Again in 2023/24, CFA Brigades and Groups showed it is more important than ever that volunteers have a strong, united, independent and credible voice with almost 95% of Brigades demonstrating strong support for VFBV’s important work representing and advocating for all CFA volunteers. Thank you to all that affiliated last year.
In the coming weeks, Brigade and Group secretaries will receive the 2024/25 renewal notices for your Brigade/Groups’ VFBV Affiliation and Welfare Fund subscriptions with a due date of 30th June, 2024.
The Board is determined that brigades/groups should benefit from the strong governance of the association and have reduced the affiliation rate from $84 to $75.
Those who pay VFBV affiliations before 30th June will be automatically entered into a draw to win one of four extremely worthwhile prizes valued at approximately $4,000. Prizes have, for the fourth year running, been donated by GAAM Emergency Products and Powdersafe and we sincerely appreciate their continued support.
We strongly encourage Brigades to also subscribe to the VFBV Welfare Fund. The Welfare Fund is a capital fund and an exclusive benefit to affiliated members with VFBV funding all the administration and operating costs ensuring 100% of funds received go directly to CFA volunteers experiencing personal hardship. The VFBV Welfare Fund provides small grants up to $5,000 to assist volunteer members and long service ex members and has distributed more than $2.5 million dollars to volunteers in need since its inception.
Fire Wise – May 2024 online only edition
The May 2024 edition of Fire Wise has been published online only, this edition and past editions are available from the Fire Wise website.
You can support Fire Wise and the role it plays as an independent voice in keeping volunteers informed by becoming a subscriber. To become a subscriber visit the Fire Wise website or contact the Managing Editor of Fire Wise, Gordon Rippon-King either by phone 0402 051 412 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ESF Residential Wellbeing Program Pilot
In April 2024 the Emergency Services Foundation (ESF) started a pilot Residential Wellbeing Program.
The pilot will involve six groups of ten people in residence for four days to work with two mental health counsellors familiar with the emergency services environment. The six pilot programs will take place between April and October this year and are open to members from ESF member agencies who met certain criteria.
For more information about the Residential Wellbeing Program and to register please visit the ESF website.
Recent articles on the VFBV website
Open for Consultation Dashboard
VFBV Board Vacancies – Invitation to Apply
Feedback Requested – Standard Operating Procedures (Various)
2024 VESEP Applications Now Open and VFBV Help Pack
CFA Annual Memorial Service 2024
Presumptive Legislation Update
Enjoy the VFBV monthly newsletter?
If you enjoy reading the VFBV newsletter each month, why not share it with your fellow volunteers?
Either share this page with others who may enjoy the articles or encourage other volunteers to sign up to receive their own copy via email each month here.
Want to read the VFBV 2-minute briefings from the CFA/VFBV Joint Committees?
The latest edition along with previous editions can be downloaded from the VFBV website here.
The Annual Memorial Service will be held on Sunday 5 May at Treasury Gardens, Melbourne to honour firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
This year’s memorial service will mark the 36th 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 Victorian Emergency Services Memorial in Treasury Gardens, 2-18 Spring Street, East Melbourne
Date: 2.00pm on Sunday 5 May
Dress: CFA uniform or smart casual
The 2024 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 0428 406 012
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.
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 82 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.”
Applications should be submitted to your District ACFO by Friday 14th June, 2024.
Applications are now open for the 2024 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 24th 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 2,300 projects totalling more than $170 million dollars, as an 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 31st May, 2024. 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 2024 to assist Brigades and Groups in completing their application, with the pack divided into easily downloadable sections at the bottom of this page.
| VFBV 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 Special Access Grant can reduce or in some cases eliminate all together the Brigade/Group contribution |
| 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
| Program Dates | Process |
| 19th April 2024 | Program opened |
| 31st May 2024 |
Registrations close for Minor Works Applications. Email registration to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
| 14th June 2024 |
Applications Close. All applications to be forwarded to District ACFO |
| 14th June - 24th June 2024 | DPC Meetings to review and endorse applications. |
| 12th August 2024 | CFA Steering Committee meeting to review/endorse projects |
| October 2024 | 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 2024 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!
Chicken or egg
By Adam Barnett, VFBV Chief Executive Officer
Which came first – the chicken or the egg? Before you get too uptight, no – I’m not about to prattle on about this causality dilemma considered by many ancient philosophers exploring things like infinite regress and origin paradox’s. Religion has had a crack with origin stories, and scientists have their evolutionary biology explanations. From a science perspective, tempted as I may be, I won’t even publish a spoiler, but I will say that perhaps the answer isn’t as clear cut as you may think. For the inquisitive among you, I have short linked an Australian source – the Australian Academy of Science that provide their answer – (https://tinyurl.com/vfbv-chicken)
But I digress. My main point is around the difficulty posed by situations where it is challenging to determine between alleged causes and effects. One of the most common discussion points that I frequently hear among brigades is the age-old recruitment and retention riddle. Again, people often approach this as a binary decision between does CFA have a recruitment or a retention problem? One or the other.
If we look at these separately, lets start with recruitment. While “volunteering” is generally thought to be in decline in Australia, these often-simplistic measurements often hide what’s really going on in the detail. For example, recent longitudinal studies often don’t separate out the COVID period and lockdowns that made many volunteering opportunities impossible and wiped out most of the “formal” volunteering sector during these periods.
These prophecies also ignore the fact that our form of volunteering – emergency service volunteering – accounts for just a tiny little fraction of total volunteers – so the potential pool of volunteers is still massive providing we look after them and meet their volunteering “needs”.
The COVID period of disruption proved what many of us have said for a very long time. Protect emergency service volunteering – as once you lose something as valuable as our volunteering culture – it is very hard to get it back. And while arguably CFA volunteers were able to participate in some activities during the COVID years – many discovered just how pervasive their volunteering had become over other facets of their lives. It’s not unusual for this to be a bit of a light bulb moment for some who now desire a more balanced work/life balance.
But there is also some positive in this.
This reckoning has occurred across the entire population, not just among CFA and other emergency service volunteers - and it has changed the way people want to volunteer, and what they want to get out of their volunteer experience.
The most common motivation popping out of research is many people are looking for opportunities to make a difference. They want to help people; they want to make a difference; and they want to do things that have social impact. And with more limited time on their hands with dual income families and cost of living pressures etc. people want their volunteering time to be not only impactful but efficient.
On the one hand – CFA provides a wonderful opportunity for people who want to make a difference. We literally change lives each and every day. By our very being – we literally respond to peoples’ calls for help and are often with them on the worst days of their lives. There are few vocations that are not as impactful nor rewarding as CFA.
But how do we fair on the “efficient” part of that equation. Being a CFA volunteer is not exactly time efficient. Factor in the lengthy application process, onboarding, minimum training, mandatory skills maintenance and a lot of hurry up and wait, and we don’t tick all that many boxes.
The good news for us is most people understand that if they want to be involved in a role as hazardous and impactful as that of a CFA volunteer, there is a certain amount of “overhead” that comes with that. CFA remains a very attractive organisation of choice for the first-time volunteer. This is evidenced by the high number of expressions of interest that flow in each and every year. After large summer campaigns, literally thousands of EOI’s flow in from well intentioned people wanting to pitch in and give us a hand. These aren’t evenly distributed, and the more remote brigades frequently miss out.
I only half-jokingly opined to a CFA executive recently that given all the hoops we place in front of an aspiring CFA volunteer just to get into the organisation – we really should award them a medal on day one just to acknowledge their persistence and tenacity in actually getting through it all.
This is evidenced by the massive disparity between those that express an interest and those that actually join. While the numbers fluctuate, I estimate on average only about one-fifth to one-quarter of expressions of interest actually translate to a completed application. I have cautioned many a Minister about jumping up in Parliament to extoll the thousands of people signing up to join CFA during a campaign fire. Usually timed to dodge criticism around falling vol numbers, this mirage of applicants quickly disappears when tracking the actual number of applications completing their enrolment process.
And can anyone really blame them? While the cynic in me thinks that the application process is a very good test for aspiring applicants, as really – if they are not willing to jump through some hoops to get into the organisation at the start of their career – God help them when they realise how many more hoops will remain for the rest of their involvement just to stay. Maybe its better they learn the lesson up front and set their expectations accordingly?
But when you think about it – that’s a pretty lousy excuse for a system and model that seems to delight in testing the human limits for patience and tolerance. A recent review of a nine-page medical form gives me the impression that the only Victorian likely to be worthy of membership these days is off training for the Olympics. We’ve got to do better.
Which gets us to the retention side of the equation. I saw this dilemma on full display when I observed a recent news article in a regional newspaper appealing to members of the community to get involved. The stories pointed out the excessive red tape and bureaucracy, the journalist pointed out that due to inadequate government funding the fire truck was now 30 years old and CFA can’t afford a new fire shed for them, even though the current one has no toilet. Quite correctly they pointed out how difficult it was to attract new members, especially more diverse members when people have to use the paddock or public toilet block up the hill just to go to the bathroom. The article then invited people to apply.
It’s not the brigade’s fault they are in this position. Here we have a crucial emergency service starved of funding that leaves these civic minded community champions out in a tin shed with aging equipment, and dare I say – an aging workforce. Is this not the embodiment of the ultimate disrespect that government has for its volunteer emergency services? Who thinks this would be attractive to today’s youth?
This is the impossible position the government is putting brigades and CFA more generally into. How do we possibly attract new members when budgets are being slashed and burned? It’s not exactly a great advert when we can’t afford new trucks, or new stations and we are forced to continually ration out protective equipment and clothing to try and make it go around. While government MPs sweat about 15 year old FRV trucks yet ignore 34 year old trucks rusting away in CFA sheds, and where a paid firefighter gets an automatic allocation of multiple sets of PPC, uniforms, gloves and individual portable radios for every seat in the truck, volunteers are forced to make do with much less each and every time. Despite being ten orders of magnitude larger than the paid service, CFA receives just one third of its funding and all the cuts that go along with that, rationing every glove, boot, chainsaw and hose.
For example, the new radios recently announced are fantastic – but we can’t even afford to pop a portable radio in the truck for every seat in the cabin like our sister service does. So again, CFA is forced to make do and ration them out under fancy sounding terms like “risk assessment” and “operational justification” that if we’re lucky will allocate three portables for every five seater truck, which given the incident controller often requires two – paints the picture of what volunteers have to put up with on the fireground.
And while CFA often gets blamed for these type of policy positions – what else can it do with such systemic under funding? And for those in any doubt, I will continue dropping these little budget facts in every newsletter for every week that cuts continue to be made to CFA, in the hope you will continue to raise it with your local member of parliament and keep raising it until CFA’s budget is restored.
So when people ask me if we have a recruitment problem or a retention one, I go back to my analogy of the chicken or the egg. While it may sound trivial – there is a complex story in each. I think the recruitment problems are easier to solve. This explains why recruitment is often the first thing under siege governments usually latch onto. They are quick and results are fast. But just adding more meat to the sausage machine is not the answer if the sausage machine is broken. We have to fix the sausage machine first.
At time of writing, thousands of CFA volunteers are preparing to fundraise for the Royal Children’s Hospital. Our members will selflessly rattle tins, give up a long weekend and stand on intersections to raise millions of dollars for some of Victoria’s most vulnerable children. They will then return to raising funds for their own community’s fire station, trucks and gear. They will do so while protecting their communities and responding to all manner of emergencies that will arise over the Easter long weekend, and beyond - just like every other day of the year. They will do so proudly, and humbly.
This is the epitome of a CFA volunteer. Our reason for being. Just wanting to help others. It shouldn’t have to be this hard. Victorians rely on us, and our fight for fairer funding isn’t for us – it’s for them.
State champions crowned
Over two weekends in March almost 1,000 competitors contested the 2024 State Urban and Rural Championships in Mooroopna.
Melton A had two successful weekends, winning the Grand Aggregates at both the Urban Junior and Senior Championships. While the Rural Senior Championship saw Eldorado win both the Division 1 and Division 3 Aggregate’s while Truganina A took out the Division 2 aggregate. For the Rural Junior Championship, Ascot & District won both the 11-13 years and Grand Aggregates while Napoleons-Enfield A took the honours in the 11-15 years aggregate.
The Torchlight Procession was this year held in Mooroopna with the new LED powered torches replacing the traditional kerosene torches with Melton continuing their success taking out first place with 98%. Full results from all four State Championships can be found on the VFBV website or on pages 10 to 12 of this months edition of Fire Wise and on the VFBV website.
Of course, the State Championships wouldn’t be possible without the 200 judges and officials who volunteer their time over the two weekends to ensure that the championships are run at a high standard for all competitors involved. VFBV also passes on our appreciation to the competitors, coaches, supporters and families of the competitors who keep the competitions going, as well as all CFA staff who contributed to the success of the championships.
A special thank you also to the Mooroopna State Championships committee for their hard work in preparing the competition venue for the Championships alongside the Greater Shepparton City Council who continue to support the Championships.
VFBV’s competition committees will be meeting in the coming months to review this year’s Championships. If any brigades, competitors or spectators have any feedback they would like considered by either committee please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Affiliation
Thank you for members’ strong show of support!
Again in 2023/24, CFA Brigades and Groups showed it is more important than ever that volunteers have a strong, united, independent and credible voice with 95% of Brigades demonstrating strong support for VFBV’s important work representing and advocating for all CFA volunteers. Thank you to all brigades and groups who affiliated last year.
In the coming weeks, Brigade and Group secretaries will receive the 2024/25 renewal notices for your Brigade/Groups’ VFBV Affiliation and Welfare Fund subscriptions with a due date of 30th June, 2024.
The Board is determined that brigades/groups should benefit from the strong governance of the association and have found efficiencies to allow the reduction of the affiliation rate from $84 to $75. The price set when the rural and urban associations joined together in 2013/14.
To thank Brigades and Groups for their support, those who pay VFBV affiliations before 30th June will be automatically entered into a draw to win one of four extremely worthwhile prizes valued at approximately $4,000. Prizes have, for the fourth year running, been donated by GAAM Emergency Products and Powdersafe and we sincerely thank them for their continued support. A flyer detailing prizes on offer will be included with your renewal notices.
As well as affiliating, we strongly encourage Brigades to subscribe to the VFBV Welfare Fund. The Welfare Fund is a capital fund and an exclusive benefit to affiliated members with VFBV funding all the administration and operating costs ensuring 100% of funds received go directly to CFA volunteers experiencing personal hardship.
The VFBV Welfare Fund provides small grants up to $5,000 to assist volunteer members and long service ex-members. The Welfare Fund has distributed more than $2.5 million dollars since its inception.
SOP Feedback
A reminder that we are seeking feedback on various Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that are out for consultation. The Driving SOPs will close for feedback shortly. An additional 13 SOPs have been modified and are now available for review.
These are SOP 3.01 Management of Junior Members; 5.05 Use of CFA Equipment; 7.01 Local Procedure Development; 7.05 Water Supplies for Firefighting; 7.07 Station Siren Use; 8.01 Incident Controller and CFA Agency Commander; 8.04 Transfer of Control; 9.13 Keeping Logs and Documents; 9.16 Media Management; and 9.18 Use of Personal Mobile Devices During Incidents.
Given the importance of SOPs in CFA’s operational doctrine, VFBV encourages all senior volunteers to make themselves familiar with the proposed changes and provide feedback ASAP.
Please visit the VFBV website to access drafts and change logs to help guide your feedback.
VFBV Board Vacancies
Vacancies on the VFBV Board will arise when the terms of four VFBV Board members expire on 1 October 2024. Of the four members whose terms are expiring, two are eligible for re-appointment.
VFBV invites applications from any CFA volunteer who is motivated by the prospect of making a difference and believes they have the skills to contribute to VFBV Board.
The role of a board member involves contributing to VFBV direction, policy determination and monitoring the performance and governance of the Association. This includes actively contributing to policy discussion, consulting with CFA volunteers and contributing to the identification and management of strategic issues.
VFBV is seeking applications from gender and culturally diverse candidates in addition to a diverse range of skills and experience including applications from diverse brigade types and classifications.
Members should familiarise themselves with the VFBV Board member role statement and key selection criteria available from the VFBV website or via the office at (03) 9886 1141.
Applications close on Monday 2 September 2024.
CFA Annual Firefighter Memorial Service
This year’s Annual Firefighter Memorial Service will be held on Sunday 5th May to honour firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
The service will be held at the Victorian Emergency Services Memorial in Treasury Gardens, East Melbourne and will begin at 2pm.
Family members and friends, CFA and VFBV executives as well as government representatives will come together to lay wreaths, light candles, remember lives and honour the personal sacrifices and commitment firefighters make each and every day.
Junior CFA members will also attend the memorial service and will be actively involved throughout the ceremony by assisting wreath layers and patrons.
The Annual Memorial service is a free event, to attend please RSVP to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 0428 406 012 by Monday 22nd April.
Mental Health Matters Workshops
The Emergency Services Foundation (ESF) is again offering mental health matters workshops to emergency service volunteers across Victoria.
This year ESF will travel to regional areas to deliver the 2.5 hour workshop at a time that suits the brigade and volunteers. The Mental Health Matters workshop is a free, no pressure, conversational workshop with a focus on involving partners and family members in the workshop.
Topics covered in the workshop include: what is mental fitness; identifying the signs and symptoms; who is in your support crew and where to get help; stigma around mental health; and how to effectively ask R U OK?
For more information or to register your interest in holding a workshop, visit the ESF website.
VEC – Local Council Elections
The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) is seeking local people to help run the 2024 local council elections in specific regional areas.
Applications are open for join the VEC as a senior election official who take on specialised election management roles during election events.
For more information or to see a list of areas where the VEC is seeking senior election officials please visit the VFBV website.
Applications close on Sunday 7th April 2024.
Fire Wise – April 2024 online only edition
The April 2024 edition of Fire Wise has been published online only, this edition and past editions are available from the Fire Wise website.
You can support Fire Wise and the role it plays as an independent voice in keeping volunteers informed by becoming a subscriber. To become a subscriber visit the Fire Wise website or contact the Managing Editor of Fire Wise, Gordon Rippon-King either by phone 0402 051 412 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Recent articles on the VFBV website
Open for consultation dashboard
Victorian Electoral Commission
2024 Bushfire and Storm Recovery Resources
Feedback Requested – Standard Operating Procedures (Various)
Feedback Requested – Standard Operating Procedures (Driving)
VFBV Board Vacancies - Invitation to Apply
2024 State Urban Senior Championship Results
2024 State Rural Junior Championship Results
2024 State Rural Senior Championship Results
2024 State Urban Junior Championship Results
International Women’s Day 2024
Presumptive Legislation Update
Enjoy the VFBV monthly newsletter?
If you enjoy reading the VFBV newsletter each month, why not share it with your fellow volunteers?
Either share this page with others who may enjoy the articles or encourage other volunteers to sign up to receive their own copy via email each month here.
Want to read the VFBV 2-minute briefings from the CFA/VFBV Joint Committees?
The latest edition along with previous editions can be downloaded from the VFBV website here.
The VEC is seeking local people to help run the 2024 local council elections. This is a message from the VEC.
The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) is seeking organised hands-on leaders in specific regional areas for key roles at the October 2024 local council elections.
Applications are now open to join our pool of senior election officials (SEOs), who take on specialised election management roles during election events. As an SEO you will play a major role in the delivery of elections across Victoria. Our pool of staff will be appointed as election managers and assistant election managers for each local council area at the October 2024 local council elections. Each local council area will have one election manager and up to 3 assistant election managers appointed. If appointed, you will work in election offices, overseeing many election activities which will vary depending on the type of election.
To help us with the challenge of recruiting for several vacancies in rural areas, we are reaching out to you as part of the VFBV network to help share this opportunity.
VFBV members have what it takes to be senior election officials: you are civic-minded, hands-on, calm under pressure and have valuable local knowledge!
Our SEOs come from all walks of life: Victorians who are retired or transitioning into retirement; professionals, freelancers or small business owners with the flexibility to take extended leave; parents returning to work and more.
Prior electoral work experience is not essential and full training is provided.
If you live in or near any of the following areas, they want to hear from you!
Western Victoria
Hindmarsh Shire Council, Horsham Rural City Council, Northern Grampians Shire Council, Pyrenees Shire Council, West Wimmera Shire Council and Yarriambiack Shire Council
North-western Victoria
Gannawarra Shire Council, Greater Bendigo City Council, Loddon Shire Council, and Swan Hill Rural City Council
North-eastern Victoria
Benalla Rural City Council, Indigo Shire Council, Mansfield Shire Council, Strathbogie Shire Council, Towong Shire Council, and Wodonga City Council
South-western Victorian
Colac Otway Shire Council, Corangamite Shire Council, and Southern Grampians Shire Council
Gippsland
Latrobe City Council.
Read more about SEOs by clicking here, or apply now by clicking here or visiting: https://careers.vic.gov.au/job/senior-election-officials-792285?returnurl=https%3A//careers.vic.gov.au/jobs/premier-and-cabinet/victorian-electoral-commission .
Applications close on Sunday 7 April 2024.
Please note that, in accordance with Section 17A of the Electoral Act 2002, the VEC may ask applicants for disclosure of specific political activities that could compromise the perceived independence of the organisation.
Final results for the 2024 State Urban Senior Championships held in Mooroopna on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 March 2024 are now available.
The full results are available for download at the bottom of this page.
Photo's of presentations are being progressively uploaded to VFBV's dedicated Championships Facebook Page. Team times for each event are available for download at the bottom of this page.
Grand Aggregate Winner - Melton A
B Section Aggregate Winner - Cohuna
Wet Aggregate Winner - Melton A
Female Aggregate Winner - Tatura
Final Aggregate Board
SATURDAY, 23rd MARCH
Event 1 – Ladder Race, One Competitor
|
1st |
MARYVALE (1) (Matt Royal) |
6.92 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
OSBORNE PARK A (2) (Jordan Winsall) |
7.02 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
EAGLEHAWK (1) (Steven Matthews) |
7.03 |
seconds |
|
4th |
PATTERSON RIVER (2) (Mark Mullins) |
7.34 |
seconds |
|
5th |
OSBORNE PARK B (1) (Jaxon Winsall) |
7.35 |
seconds |
Event 2 – B Section Hose & Ladder, Five Competitors
|
1st |
HOPPERS CROSSING |
23.57 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
KYNETON |
25.08 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
COHUNA |
25.40 |
seconds |
|
4th |
WARRACKNABEAL |
25.43 |
seconds |
|
5th |
ECHUCA A |
26.13 |
seconds |
Event 3 – A Section Y Coupling, Four Competitors
|
1st |
OSBORNE PARK A |
7.94 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
DANDENONG |
8.09 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
WENDOUREE |
8.21 |
seconds |
|
4th |
OSBORNE PARK B |
8.23 |
seconds |
|
5th |
MORWELL |
8.48 |
seconds |
Event 4 – A Section Hose and Ladder, Eight Competitors
|
1st |
OSBORNE PARK A |
22.76 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
MARYVALE |
22.90 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
OSBORNE PARK B |
24.61 |
seconds |
|
4th |
MORWELL |
24.72 |
seconds |
|
5th |
WENDOUREE |
25.31 |
seconds |
Event 5 – B Section Y Coupling, Four Competitors
|
1st |
ECHUCA A |
7.90 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
ECHUCA B |
8.96 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
COHUNA |
9.05 |
seconds |
|
4th |
CRESWICK |
9.20 |
seconds |
|
5th |
KYNETON |
9.24 |
seconds |
Event 6 – Female Y Coupling, Two Competitors
|
1st |
TATURA – NEW RECORD (Hayley Rennie, Charlotte Freemantle) |
12.05 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
MELTON A (Gabby Keats, Lorelei Geysing) |
12.27 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
MILDURA (Lucy Garraway, Katrina Garraway) |
13.60 |
seconds |
|
4th |
ECHUCA B (Hannah Norman, Charlee Amos) |
14.02 |
seconds |
|
5th |
SWAN HILL B (Jasmin Stayner, Sarah Scott) |
14.14 |
seconds |
Event 7 – A Section Y Coupling Ladder Eights
|
1st |
OSBORNE PARK A |
32.99 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
DANDENONG |
37.07 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
OSBORNE PARK B |
39.05 |
seconds |
|
4th |
PATTERSON RIVER |
39.86 |
seconds |
|
5th |
SALE |
40.24 |
seconds |
Event 8 – B Section Hose, Hydrant and Pumper
|
1st |
WARRNAMBOOL |
15.03 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
ECHUCA A |
15.45 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
HALLAM |
15.85 |
seconds |
|
4th |
COHUNA |
16.03 |
seconds |
|
5th |
HOPPERS CROSSING |
16.76 |
seconds |
Event 9 – B Section Wet Hose Striking One Disc Twice with Removable Back Cap
|
1st |
WARRACKNABEAL – NEW RECORD |
16.49 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
ECHUCA A |
18.10 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
HOPPERS CROSSING |
19.08 |
seconds |
|
4th |
KYNETON |
19.77 |
seconds |
|
5th |
KNOX GROUP |
20.12 |
seconds |
Event 10 – A Section Hose, Hydrant and Pumper
|
1st |
MELTON A |
12.62 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
NARRE WARREN |
12.89 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
OSBORNE PARK A |
13.66 |
seconds |
|
4th |
PATTERSON RIVER |
14.00 |
seconds |
|
5th |
WERRIBEE |
14.67 |
seconds |
Event 11 – A Section Hose & Reel Sixes
|
1st |
MELTON A |
28.66 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
MARYVALE |
30.17 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
WENDOUREE |
30.22 |
seconds |
|
4th |
DANDENONG |
32.35 |
seconds |
|
5th |
SALE |
33.55 |
seconds |
Event 12 - B Section Marshall, One Competitor
|
1st |
MAFFRA (1) (Brent McKenzie) |
27.90 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
SWAN HILL A (2) (Adam Saunders) |
27.99 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
HORSHAM (2) (Jonathon Hornsby) |
28.27 |
seconds |
|
4th |
ECHUCA A (1) (Jordan Simpson) |
28.29 |
seconds |
|
5th |
ECHUCA A (2) (Martyn Currey) |
29.59 |
seconds |
Chief Officer’s Challenge Event
|
1st |
MELTON A (Bayllie Arandt, Poppy Arandt, Leah Steele, Jayson Cassar) |
20.07 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
CHIEF’S CHARGERS (Jason Heffernan, Rohan Luke, Brett Boatman, Adrian Gutsche) |
29.41 |
seconds |
Event 13 – B Section Wet Hose Striking One Disc Twice
|
1st |
COHUNA |
16.76 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
KNOX GROUP |
16.84 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
WARRNAMBOOL |
17.15 |
seconds |
|
4th |
KYNETON |
17.58 |
seconds |
|
5th |
WARRACKNABEAL |
17.87 |
seconds |
Event 14 - A Section Marshall, One Competitor
|
1st |
MARYVALE (2) (Jordan Royal) |
24.88 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
DANDENONG (1) (Millar Anderson) |
25.39 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
MELTON A (1) (Bailey Rhodes) |
25.57 |
seconds |
|
4th |
PATTERSON RIVER (2) (Mark Mullins) |
26.04 |
seconds |
|
5th |
MARYVALE (1) (Matt Royal) |
26.07 |
seconds |
Event 15 – Female Marshall, One Competitor
|
1st |
HOPPERS CROSSING (Amanda Lawrence) |
31.38 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
KERANG (Kendall Ash) |
32.15 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
NARRE WARREN (Samantha McKean) |
32.54 |
seconds |
|
4th |
MAFFRA (Charlie Giles) |
34.12 |
seconds |
|
5th |
HORSHAM/WARRACKNABEAL (Claire Longstaff) |
34.54 |
seconds |
Event 16 - B Section Pumper & Ladder
|
1st |
COHUNA |
16.42 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
HOPPERS CROSSING |
17.08 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
ECHUCA A |
17.62 |
seconds |
|
4th |
WARRNAMBOOL |
18.23 |
seconds |
|
5th |
MAFFRA |
19.82 |
seconds |
Event 17 - A Section Hydrant & Tanker
|
1st |
MELTON A – NEW RECORD |
12.41 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
WENDOUREE |
12.42 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
KANGAROO FLAT |
13.37 |
seconds |
|
4th |
DANDENONG |
14.43 |
seconds |
|
5th |
OSBORNE PARK B |
14.64 |
seconds |
SUNDAY, 24th MARCH
Event 18 – Hydrant Race, One Competitor
|
1st |
OSBORNE PARK A (1) (Aiden Couzens) |
11.91 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
SWAN HILL A (2) (Adam Saunders) |
12.32 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
DANDENONG (1) (Millar Anderson) |
12.78 |
seconds |
|
4th |
MARYVALE (1) (Matt Royal) |
12.80 |
seconds |
|
5th |
PATTERSON RIVER (2) ( |
12.82 |
seconds |
Event 19 – Female Hydrant Race, One Competitor
|
1st |
NARRE WARREN (Samantha McKean) |
14.60 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
HORSHAM/WARRACKNABEAL (Isabella Orszulak) |
15.23 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
SALE (Dana King) |
15.42 |
seconds |
|
4th |
EUROA (Teagan Kubeil) |
15.61 |
seconds |
|
5th |
HALLAM (Melanie Naujok) |
16.21 |
seconds |
Event 20 – A Section Pumper & Ladder
|
1st |
MELTON A |
14.98 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
WENDOUREE |
16.41 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
DANDENONG |
16.73 |
seconds |
|
4th |
MARYVALE |
16.88 |
seconds |
|
5th |
OSBORNE PARK A |
17.48 |
seconds |
Event 21 – B Section Hydrant & Tanker
|
1st |
SWAN HILL A – NEW RECORD |
12.88 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
COHUNA |
13.05 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
MELTON B |
16.75 |
seconds |
|
4th |
ECHUCA B |
16.94 |
seconds |
|
5th |
ECHUCA A |
19.06 |
seconds |
Event 22 – Female Marshall, Two Competitors
|
1st |
TATURA (Hayley Rennie, Charlotte Freemantle) |
18.89 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
SWAN HILL A (Porsha Bruton, Sienna Kruger) |
19.31 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
KNOX GROUP (Isabella Gluskie, Jessica Walker) |
20.42 |
seconds |
|
4th |
ECHUCA B (Kirra Stickleton, Hannah Norman) |
20.51 |
seconds |
|
5th |
MILDURA (Lucy Garraway, Katrina Garraway) |
21.02 |
seconds |
Event 23 – B Section Hose & Reel Sixes
|
1st |
HOPPERS CROSSING |
33.03 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
KYNETON |
33.21 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
WARRACKNABEAL |
33.45 |
seconds |
|
4th |
HORSHAM |
37.88 |
seconds |
|
5th |
WARRNAMBOOL |
39.06 |
seconds |
Event 24 – A Section Marshall, Two Competitors
|
1st |
WENDOUREE (1) (Craig Broidy, Damon Sutton) |
15.19 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
OSBORNE PARK A (2) (James Mullins, Aiden Couzens) |
15.73 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
MELTON A (2) (Bailey Rhodes, Devante Johnes) |
15.99 |
seconds |
|
4th |
WERRIBEE (1) (Aiden Trifilio, Michael Trifilo) |
16.35 |
seconds |
|
5th |
MELTON A (1) (Jack Geysing, Ben Geysing) |
16.46 |
seconds |
Event 25 – A Section Hose and Reel Eights
|
1st |
OSBORNE PARK A |
28.09 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
MELTON A |
29.84 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
OSBORNE PARK B |
30.41 |
seconds |
|
4th |
SALE |
30.58 |
seconds |
|
5th |
NARRE WARREN |
32.93 |
seconds |
Event 26 – B Section Marshall, Two Competitors
|
1st |
ECHUCA A (1) (Jordan Simpson, Martyn Currrey) |
15.96 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
MAFFRA (1) (Brent McKenzie, Cameron Hood) |
17.06 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
HOPPERS CROSSING (2) (Christopher Trawn, Gary Trawn) |
17.46 |
seconds |
|
4th |
KNOX GROUP (1) (William Johnson, Benjamin Landells) |
17.51 |
seconds |
|
5th |
COHUNA (1) (Adrian Stone, Shannon Treacy) |
17.81 |
seconds |
Event 27 – Champion Fours
|
1st |
MELTON A |
17.30 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
OSBORNE PARK A |
17.59 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
PATTERSON RIVER |
17.77 |
seconds |
|
4th |
ECHUCA A |
19.04 |
seconds |
|
5th |
KANGAROO FLAT |
19.80 |
seconds |
Vic./W.A. Challenge Event
Victorian team time – 29.08 seconds
East vs West Challenge Events
Hose & Reel Eights – Open
|
1st |
West |
30.59 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
East |
31.03 |
seconds |
Wet Hose Striking One Disc Twice – Female
|
1st |
West |
17.89 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
East |
18.56 |
seconds |
Torchlight Procession
|
1st |
MELTON |
98.00% |
|
|
2nd |
DIAMOND CREEK |
97.00% |
|
|
=3rd |
EUROA, MARYVALE, PATTERSON RIVER, WERRIBEE |
95.00% |
|
FINAL AGGREGATE RESULTS
Dry Aggregate
|
1st |
OSBORNE PARK A |
23 |
Points |
|
2nd |
MARYVALE |
19 |
Points |
|
=3rd |
DANDENONG & ECHUCA A |
11 |
Points |
Wet Aggregate
|
1st |
MELTON A |
90 |
Points |
|
2nd |
OSBORNE PARK A |
66 |
Points |
|
3rd |
COHUNA |
52 |
Points |
Female Aggregate
|
1st |
TATURA |
16 |
Points |
|
2nd |
NARRE WARREN |
11 |
Points |
|
3rd |
HOPPERS CROSSING |
8 |
Points |
SECTION AGGREGATES:
‘A’ SECTION
|
1st |
MELTON A |
97 |
Points |
|
2nd |
OSBORNE PARK A |
92 |
Points |
|
3rd |
MARYVALE |
43 |
Points |
‘A’ SECTION WET AGGREGATE
|
1st |
MELTON A |
90 |
Points |
|
2nd |
OSBORNE PARK A |
66 |
Points |
|
3rd |
WENDOUREE |
28 |
Points |
‘B’ SECTION
|
1st |
COHUNA |
56 |
Points |
|
=2nd |
ECHUCA A & HOPPERS CROSSING |
53 |
Points |
‘B’ SECTION WET AGGREGATE
|
1st |
COHUNA |
52 |
Points |
|
2nd |
HOPPERS CROSSING |
50 |
Points |
|
3rd |
ECHUCA A |
34 |
Points |
APPLIANCE AGGREGATES
‘A’ SECTION
|
1st |
MELTON A |
48 |
Points |
|
2nd |
WENDOUREE |
20 |
Points |
|
=3rd |
DANDENONG & NARRE WARREN |
10 |
Points |
‘B’ SECTION
|
1st |
COHUNA |
30 |
Points |
|
2nd |
WARRNAMBOOL |
20 |
Points |
|
3rd |
ECHUCA A |
18 |
Points |
2024 CHAMPION BRIGADE:
The team members of MELTON A are:
- James Arandt
- Jake Carrol
- Ben Geysing
- Jack Geysing
- Lorelei Geysing
- Ashley Goudie
- Denzel Johns
- Devante Johns
- Gabby Keats
- Brodie Leitch
- Bailey Rhodes
- Cooper Rhodes
- Ryan Stone
- Jacob Steel
- Coach & Competitor Anthony Rhodes
Results for the 2024 Champion Competitor:
|
1st |
Bailey Rhodes – Melton A |
30 |
Points |
|
=2nd |
Craig Briody and Damon Sutton – Wendouree |
18 |
Points |
Final results for the 2024 State Rural Junior Championship held in Mooroopna on Sunday 24 March 2024 are now available.
The results are available for download at the bottom of this page.
Presentation photos and times for all events will be posted on VFBV's dedicated Championships Facebook Page.
Results for all events are available to view here.
Champion Team - Ascot & District A
11 - 13 Years Aggregate Winner - Ascot & District A
11 - 15 years Aggregate Winner - Napoleons-Enfield A
Event 1A: Low Down Pump & Ladder – 11-13 Years
|
1st |
Miners Rest A |
20.21 |
Seconds |
|
2nd |
Maiden Gully A |
20.59 |
Seconds |
|
3rd |
Mandurang A |
20.60 |
Seconds |
|
4th |
Beazley’s Bridge B |
20.68 |
Seconds |
|
5th |
Gapsted A |
20.70 |
Seconds |
Event 1B: Low Down Pump & Ladder – 11-15 Years
|
1st |
Napoleons-Enfield A |
16.95 |
Seconds |
|
2nd |
Ascot & District A |
18.25 |
Seconds |
|
3rd |
Napoleons-Enfield B |
19.02 |
Seconds |
|
4th |
Beazley’s Bridge A |
19.58 |
Seconds |
|
5th |
Dunrobin/Nangeela A |
20.36 |
Seconds |
Chief Officer’s Challenge Event, Low Down Pump & Ladder
|
1st |
Miners Rest A 11-13 Years (Levi Watt, Harry Walls, Maden Irving & Ed McHoul) |
|
2nd |
Napoleons-Enfield 11-15 Years (Billy Bedgood, Mitch Hazlett, Harrison VanGaans & Charlotte Roberts) |
|
3rd |
Chief Officer’s Charges: Chief Officer Jason Heffernan, DCO Brett Boatman, Acting DCO Adrian Gutsche & ACFO Tony Owen) |
Event 2A: Wet Hose & Ladder – 11-13 Years
|
1st |
Ascot & District A |
23.56 |
Seconds |
|
2nd |
Mandurang A |
24.58 |
Seconds |
|
3rd |
Maiden Gully A |
25.49 |
Seconds |
|
4th |
Miners Rest B |
25.77 |
Seconds |
|
5th |
Beazley’s Bridge A |
26.19 |
Seconds |
Event 2B: Wet Hose & Ladder – 11-15 Years
|
1st |
Napoleons-Enfield A |
20.50 |
Seconds |
|
2nd |
Beazley’s Bridge A |
22.07 |
Seconds |
|
3rd |
Ascot & District A |
22.29 |
Seconds |
|
4th |
Napoleons-Enfield B |
22.96 |
Seconds |
|
5th |
Eldorado A |
23.04 |
Seconds |
Event 4A: Tanker – Priming, Pumping & Ladder – 11-13 Years
|
1st |
Ascot & District A |
29.36 |
Seconds |
|
2nd |
Napoleons-Enfield A |
30.58 |
Seconds |
|
3rd |
Beazley’s Bridge C |
30.97 |
Seconds |
|
4th |
Gapsted A |
34.24 |
Seconds |
|
5th |
Mandurang A |
34.85 |
Seconds |
Event 4B: Tanker – Priming, Pumping & Ladder – 11-15 Years
|
1st |
Beazley’s Bridge B |
26.18 |
Seconds |
|
2nd |
Ascot & District A |
26.65 |
Seconds |
|
3rd |
Napoleons-Enfield A |
26.90 |
Seconds |
|
4th |
Dunrobin/Nangeela A |
27.83 |
Seconds |
|
5th |
Napoleons-Enfield B |
29.54 |
Seconds |
Event 5A: Hydrant & Tanker – 11-13 Years
|
1st |
Beazley’s Bridge A |
28.06 |
Seconds |
|
2nd |
Ascot & District A |
29.69 |
Seconds |
|
3rd |
Beazley’s Bridge B |
30.15 |
Seconds |
|
4th |
Miners Rest A |
33.52 |
Seconds |
|
5th |
Maiden Gully A |
33.63 |
Seconds |
Event 5B: Hydrant & Tanker – 11-15 Years
|
1st |
Beazley’s Bridge A |
25.34 |
Seconds |
|
2nd |
Mandurang A |
27.12 |
Seconds |
|
3rd |
Beazley’s Bridge B |
27.35 |
Seconds |
|
4th |
Napoleons-Enfield B |
28.56 |
Seconds |
|
5th |
Ascot & District A |
29.26 |
Seconds |
Event 6A: Tanker – Drawing Water from Tank – 11-13 Years
|
1st |
Beazley’s Bridge A |
23.09 |
Seconds |
|
2nd |
Ascot & District A |
24.37 |
Seconds |
|
3rd |
Miners Rest A |
27.73 |
Seconds |
|
4th |
Gapsted A |
28.05 |
Seconds |
|
5th |
Napoleons-Enfield B |
28.18 |
Seconds |
Event 6B: Tanker – Drawing Water from Tank – 11-15 Years
|
1st |
Mandurang A |
20.80 |
Seconds |
|
2nd |
Beazley’s Bridge B |
22.47 |
Seconds |
|
3rd |
Eldorado A |
22.57 |
Seconds |
|
4th |
Ascot & District A |
24.46 |
Seconds |
|
5th |
Napoleons-Enfield A |
27.71 |
Seconds |
FINAL AGGREGATES
11-13 YEARS AGGREGATE
|
1st |
Ascot & District A |
52 |
Points |
|
2nd |
Beazley’s Bridge A |
34 |
Points |
|
3rd |
Miners Rest A |
26 |
Points |
11-15 YEARS AGGREGATE
|
1st |
Napoleons-Enfield A |
40 |
Points |
|
2nd |
Beazley’s Bridge B (on a countback) |
32 |
Points |
|
3rd |
Ascot & District A (on a countback) |
32 |
Points |
CHAMPION TEAM:
|
1st |
Ascot & District A |
84 |
Points |
|
2nd |
Beazley’s Bridge A |
64 |
Points |
|
3rd |
Napoleons-Enfield A |
50 |
Points |
VFBV State President Encouragement Award winner: Maiden Gully B
Stan Ross Conduct Trophy winner: Springhurst Brigade
Junior Firefighter Sprint winners:
11-13 Years – Female: Tilly McErlain, Ascot & District
11-13 Years – Male: Tom Griffiths, Gapsted
11-15 Years – Female: Charlotte Roberts, Napoleons-Enfield
11-15 Years – Male: Equal 1st – Aiden Bryant, Mannerim and Otis Patton, Beazley’s Bridge
Final results for the 2024 State Rural Senior Championship held in Mooroopna on Saturday 23 March 2024 are now available.
The results are available for download at the bottom of this page.
Presentation photos and times for all events will be posted on VFBV's dedicated Championships Facebook Page.
Results for all events are available to view here.
Division 1 Aggregate Winner - Eldorado A
Division 2 Aggregate Winner - Truganina A
Division 3 Aggregate Winner - Eldorado D
Event 1: Low Down Pump & Ladder
|
Division 1: |
1st |
Eldorado A |
16.28 |
Seconds |
|
|
2nd |
Leopold A |
16.55 |
Seconds |
|
|
3rd |
Beazley’s Bridge A |
17.40 |
Seconds |
|
|
4th |
Beazley’s Bridge B |
17.47 |
Seconds |
|
|
5th |
Mandurang A |
17.53 |
Seconds |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Division 2: |
1st |
Truganina A |
17.01 |
Seconds |
|
|
2nd |
Elaine A |
17.13 |
Seconds |
|
|
3rd |
Dunrobin/Nangeela B |
18.10 |
Seconds |
|
|
4th |
Swan Hill A |
19.09 |
Seconds |
|
|
5th |
Pearcedale A |
19.66 |
Seconds |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Division 3: |
1st |
Maiden Gully A |
19.37 |
Seconds |
|
|
2nd |
Napoleons-Enfield A |
21.16 |
Seconds |
|
|
3rd |
Doreen A |
21.57 |
Seconds |
|
|
4th |
Eldorado D |
22.65 |
Seconds |
|
|
5th |
Truganina B |
23.25 |
Seconds |
Event 2: Wet Hose & Ladder
|
Division 1: |
1st |
Leopold A |
14.44 |
Seconds |
|
|
2nd |
Beazley’s Bridge B |
15.53 |
Seconds |
|
|
3rd |
Beazley’s Bridge A |
16.56 |
Seconds |
|
|
4th |
Eldorado A |
16.70 |
Seconds |
|
|
5th |
Sedgwick A |
17.16 |
Seconds |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Division 2: |
1st |
Dunrobin/Nangeela B |
16.28 |
Seconds |
|
|
2nd |
Pearcedale A |
16.73 |
Seconds |
|
|
3rd |
Truganina A |
17.14 |
Seconds |
|
|
4th |
Eldorado B |
17.64 |
Seconds |
|
|
5th |
Eldorado C |
18.55 |
Seconds |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Division 3: |
1st |
Moorooduc B |
17.48 |
Seconds |
|
|
2nd |
Maiden Gully A |
17.92 |
Seconds |
|
|
3rd |
Moorooduc A |
18.40 |
Seconds |
|
|
4th |
Eldorado D |
18.92 |
Seconds |
|
|
5th |
Napoleons-Enfield A |
19.36 |
Seconds |
Event 3: Tanker Hose Reel & Ladder
|
Division 1: |
1st |
Eldorado A |
41.53 |
Seconds |
|
|
2nd |
Leopold A |
41.68 |
Seconds |
|
|
3rd |
Connewarre A |
44.13 |
Seconds |
|
|
4th |
Beazley’s Bridge A |
44.64 |
Seconds |
|
|
5th |
Sedgwick A |
46.53 |
Seconds |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Division 2: |
1st |
Truganina A |
47.97 |
Seconds |
|
|
2nd |
Elaine A |
48.74 |
Seconds |
|
|
3rd |
Pearcedale A |
52.56 |
Seconds |
|
|
4th |
Leopold B |
53.33 |
Seconds |
|
|
5th |
Mannerim A |
53.68 |
Seconds |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Division 3: |
1st |
Maiden Gully A |
55.93 |
Seconds |
|
|
2nd |
Eldorado D |
57.70 |
Seconds |
|
|
3rd |
Truganina B |
58.19 |
Seconds |
|
|
4th |
Mannerim B |
58.25 |
Seconds |
|
|
5th |
Chiltern A |
59.24 |
Seconds |
Event 4: Tanker - Priming, Pumping & Ladder
|
Division 1: |
1st |
Springhurst A |
21.16 |
Seconds |
|
|
2nd |
Sedgwick A |
22.15 |
Seconds |
|
|
3rd |
Hurstbridge A |
23.07 |
Seconds |
|
|
4th |
Leopold A |
23.26 |
Seconds |
|
|
5th |
Hurstbridge B |
23.71 |
Seconds |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Division 2: |
1st |
Eldorado C |
24.61 |
Seconds |
|
|
2nd |
Truganina A |
25.24 |
Seconds |
|
|
3rd |
Elaine A |
25.69 |
Seconds |
|
|
4th |
Swan Hill A |
25.95 |
Seconds |
|
|
5th |
Dunrobin/Nangeela B |
26.98 |
Seconds |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Division 3: |
1st |
Eldorado D |
26.42 |
Seconds |
|
|
2nd |
Doreen A |
26.98 |
Seconds |
|
|
3rd |
Moorooduc A |
31.41 |
Seconds |
|
|
4th |
Chiltern A |
31.87 |
Seconds |
|
|
5th |
Mannerim B |
33.09 |
Seconds |
Event 5: Hydrant & Tanker
|
Division 1: |
1st |
Hurstbridge A |
18.76 |
Seconds |
|
|
2nd |
Strathmerton A |
19.95 |
Seconds |
|
|
3rd |
Beazley’s Bridge A |
20.17 |
Seconds |
|
|
4th |
Dunrobin/Nangeela A |
20.24 |
Seconds |
|
|
5th |
Leopold A |
20.47 |
Seconds |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Division 2: |
1st |
Eldorado B |
22.95 |
Seconds |
|
|
2nd |
Dunrobin/Nangeela B |
23.05 |
Seconds |
|
|
3rd |
Truganina A |
23.45 |
Seconds |
|
|
4th |
Pearcedale A |
24.15 |
Seconds |
|
|
5th |
Rutherglen A |
24.23 |
Seconds |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Division 3: |
1st |
Moorooduc A |
20.58 |
Seconds |
|
|
2nd |
Napoleons-Enfield A |
22.83 |
Seconds |
|
|
3rd |
Eldorado D |
23.11 |
Seconds |
|
|
4th |
Maiden Gully A |
24.69 |
Seconds |
|
|
5th |
Moorooduc B |
25.98 |
Seconds |
Event 6: Tanker – Drawing Water from Tank
|
Division 1: |
1st |
Eldorado A |
16.63 |
Seconds |
|
|
2nd |
Hurstbridge A |
17.18 |
Seconds |
|
|
3rd |
Beazley’s Bridge B |
18.84 |
Seconds |
|
|
4th |
Hurstbridge B |
19.76 |
Seconds |
|
|
5th |
Leopold A |
19.77 |
Seconds |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Division 2: |
1st |
Truganina A |
18.25 |
Seconds |
|
|
2nd |
Eldorado C |
18.31 |
Seconds |
|
|
3rd |
Dunrobin/Nangeela B |
18.90 |
Seconds |
|
|
4th |
Swan Hill A |
19.08 |
Seconds |
|
|
5th |
Elaine A |
19.55 |
Seconds |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Division 3: |
1st |
Eldorado D |
20.44 |
Seconds |
|
|
2nd |
Moorooduc A |
21.07 |
Seconds |
|
|
3rd |
Napoleons-Enfield A |
21.51 |
Seconds |
|
|
4th |
Maiden Gully A |
22.99 |
Seconds |
|
|
5th |
Moorooduc B |
24.65 |
Seconds |
FINAL AGGREGATES
DIVISION 1 AGGREGATE
|
|
1st |
Eldorado A |
52 |
points |
|
|
2nd |
Leopold A |
44 |
Points |
|
|
3rd |
Hurstbridge A |
32 |
Points |
|
|
|
|
|
|
DIVISION 2 AGGREGATE
|
|
1st |
Truganina A |
70 |
Points |
|
|
2nd |
Dunrobin/Nangeela B |
40 |
Points |
|
|
=3rd |
Elaine A & Eldorado C |
28 |
Points |
DIVISION 3 AGGREGATE
|
|
1st |
Eldorado D |
56 |
Points |
|
|
2nd |
Maiden Gully A |
50 |
Points |
|
|
3rd |
Moorooduc A |
38 |
Points |
Alan King AFSM Memorial Conduct Trophy winner: Moorooduc Brigade
Outstanding Female Team: District 9/27 Women’s Network
Winners of the Firefighter Sprint:
Female competitors: 1st Alicia Roberts, Napoleons-Enfield
2nd Trinity Williams, Chiltern
3rd Emma Templeton, Swan Hill
Male competitors: 1st Lachlan Wilkinson, Leopold
2nd Yee Zhao, Pearcedale
3rd Nathan Bolger. Connewarre
More...
The 2024 State Urban Senior Championship and the State Rural Senior and Junior Championships will be held this coming Saturday and Sunday, 23 and 24 March 2024 at the Mooroopna Recreation Reserve, Midland Highway, Mooroopna.
Once again the Urban Senior and Rural State Championships will be held on the same weekend, at the same venue on their own competition tracks. Competing across the two days will be 40 junior teams and 76 senior teams including a number of new and returning teams.
The Championships will commence with an opening ceremony on Saturday morning at 8:20am, before competition begins on each competition track from 9am.
The popular and impressive Torchlight Procession will be conducted on the evening of Sunday 23 March in Mooroopna. The Torchlight Procession will begin at 8:30pm on Saturday evening.
Sunday mornings events will commence at 8:30am on each track.
Results from the Championship will be progressively posted over the weekend on VFBV’s dedicated Championships Facebook Page.
Teams competing in the Rural State Championships:
Seniors:
| Division 1 | Division 2 | Division 3 |
| Beazley’s Bridge A Beazley's Bridge B Connewarre A Dunolly A Dunrobin-Nangeela A Dunrobin-Nangeela C Eldorado A Hurstbridge A Hurstbridge B Hurstbridge C Leopold A Mandurang A Sedgwick A Sedgwick B Springhurst A Strathmerton A |
Beazley's Bridge C Dunrobin/Nangeela D Dunrobin-Nangeela B Elaine A Eldorado B Eldorado C Eltham A Gapsted A Leopold B Mannerim A Pearcedale A Rutherglen A Springhurst B Swan Hill A Truganina A Yarroweyah A |
Beazley's Bridge D Chiltern A District 9 & 27 Women's Network A Doreen A Eldorado D Leopold C Maiden Gully A Mannerim B Moorooduc A Moorooduc B Napoleons-Enfield A Pearcedale B Strathmerton B Truganina B |
Juniors:
| Ascot & District A | Maiden Gully A |
| Beazley's Bridge A | Maiden Gully B |
| Beazley's Bridge B | Mandurang A |
| Beazley's Bridge C | Mannerim A |
| Chiltern A | Miners Rest A |
| Doreen A | Miners Rest B |
| Doreen B | Napoleons-Enfield A |
| Dunolly A | Napoleons-Enfield B |
| Dunrobin/Nangeela A | Pearcedale A |
| Elaine A | Pearcedale B |
| Eldorado A | Springhurst A |
| Gapsted A | Strathmerton A |
| Gapsted B | Wodonga West A |
Teams competing in the State Urban Senior Championship:
| A Section | B Section |
| Dandenong Eaglehawk Kangaroo Flat Maryvale Melton A Morwell Narre Warren Osborne Park A Osborne Park B Patterson River Sale Tatura Wendouree Werribee |
Bendigo Cohuna Creswick Echuca A Echuca B Euroa Hallam Hamilton/Colac Hoppers Crossing Horsham Kerang Knox Group Kyneton Maffra Melton B Mildura Mooroopna Pakenham/Narre Warren Red Cliffs Seymour Stawell Swan Hill A Swan Hill B Warracknabeal Warrnambool Whittlesea |
Final results for the 2024 State Urban Junior Championships held in Mooroopna on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 March 2024 are now available.
The results are listed below and are also available for download at the bottom of this page.
Presentation photos and placegetters for all events have been posted on VFBV's dedicated Championships Facebook Page. Team times for each event are available for download at the bottom of this page.
RESULTS – Saturday 16th March
Event 1 Hydrant – One Competitor, Under 14 Years
|
1st |
MELTON A (Ryder Millington) |
10.43 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
KANGAROO FLAT (Chris Mason) |
11.09 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
ECHUCA A (Gratton Harrison) |
11.21 |
seconds |
|
4th |
MELTON C (Ricky Cassar) |
11.51 |
seconds |
|
5th |
KYNETON (Bonnie Tracey) |
11.69 |
seconds |
Event 2 Y Coupling – Two Competitors, Under 17 Years
|
1st |
MELTON A (Devante Johns, Brodie Leitch) |
11.61 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
KYNETON (Sam Foster, Royce Sharp) |
12.09 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
MELTON B (Jay Challis, Riley Hunter) |
13.17 |
seconds |
|
4th |
ECHUCA A (Mason Whinfield, Sophie Amos) |
13.17 |
seconds |
|
5th |
SALE (Daniel King, Ruth King) |
13.38 |
seconds |
Event 3 Wet Hose Striking Second Disc – Four Competitors, Under 14 Years
|
1st |
MAFFRA (Kobe Parsons, Tyler Schoenmaekers, Kristin Murphy, Kye Bence) |
19.12 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
MELTON A (Ryder Millington, Tyler Goudie, Poppy Arandt, Lily Leitch) |
19.19 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
ECHUCA A (Gratton Harrison, Archie Collier, Rick Ronnan, Connor Drinkwell) |
19.65 |
seconds |
|
4th |
KYNETON (John Perace, Charlie Tracey, Bonnie Tracey, Patrick Sutton) |
20.71 |
seconds |
|
5th |
SWAN HILL A (Xavier Morpeth, Orla Scott, Isiah Blair, Sasha Hayes) |
21.01 |
seconds |
Event 4 Y Coupling – Four Competitors, Under 17 Years
|
1st |
KANGAROO FLAT (Dylan Gilbee, Lucy Gilbee, Oliver Lowndes, Katrina O;Neill) |
8.32 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
MELTON A (Devante Johns, Brodie Leitch, Bayllie Arandt, Leah Steele) |
8.64 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
MELTON C (Ryan Stone, Jyce Pascoe, Jayson Cassar, Mikaylah Crawford) |
9.46 |
seconds |
|
4th |
ROWVILLE A (Matthew De Flippis, Thomas Landells, Lauren Braysahw, Brenton Radford) |
9.63 |
seconds |
|
5th |
ECHUCA A (Sam Schmedje, Mason Whinfield, Sophie Amos, Kaylea Blake) |
9.98 |
seconds |
Event 5 Wet Hose Striking 1st & 2nd Discs – Four Competitors, Under 17 Years
|
1st |
MELTON A (Devante Johns, Brodie Leitch, Bayllie Arandt, Leah Steele) |
18.51 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
MELTON C (Ryan Stone, Jyce Pasco, Jayson Cassar, Mikaylah Crawford) |
19.12 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
ROWVILLE A (Matthew De Flippis, Thomas Landells, Laurne Brayshaw, Brenton Radford) |
19.26 |
seconds |
|
4th |
WERRIBEE A (Matthew Packer, Mitchell Inglis, Noah Carver, Rose Higgs) |
20.13 |
seconds |
|
5th |
GISBORNE (Asher Kroon, Lincoln Moyes, Zac Dickson, Dylan Anderson-Treacy, Riley Judd) |
21.28 |
seconds |
Event 6 Marshall – One Competitor, Under 14 Years
|
1st |
ECHUCA A (Archie Collier) |
31.09 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
KANGAROO FLAT (Chris Mason) |
33.95 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
SWAN HILL A (Isiah Blair) |
34.38 |
seconds |
|
4th |
MELTON A (Tyler Goudie) |
34.73 |
seconds |
|
5th |
HAMILTON (Jordan Uebergang) |
37.07 |
seconds |
Event 7 Wet Hose Striking 1st & 2nd Discs – Four Competitors, Under 14 Years
|
1st |
SWAN HILL A (Xavier Morpeth, Orla Scott, Isiah Blair, Sasha Hayes) |
21.61 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
ECHUCA A (Gratton Harrison, Archie Collier, Rick Ronnan, Connor Drinkwell) |
21.87 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
MELTON A (Ryder Millington, Tyler Goudie, Poppy Arandt, Lily Leitch) |
22.30 |
seconds |
|
4th |
MAFFRA (Kobe Parsons, Tyler Schoenmaekers, Kristin Murphy, Kye Bence) |
23.19 |
seconds |
|
5th |
KYNETON (John Pearce, Charlie Tracey, Bonnie Tracey, Patrick Sutton) |
23.51 |
seconds |
Event 8 Marshall – One Competitor, Under 17 Years
|
1st |
ROWVILLE A (Matthew De Filippis) |
26.93 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
SWAN HILL A (Hunta Lindsay) |
28.18 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
MELTON A (Devante Johns) |
28.41 |
seconds |
|
4th |
MELTON C (Ryan Stone) |
28.65 |
seconds |
|
5th |
ECHUCA A (Mason Whinfield) |
28.75 |
seconds |
Event 9 Wet Hose – Two Competitors, Under 17 Years
|
1st |
MELTON A (Devante Johns, Brodie Leitch) |
10.12 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
MELTON C (Jyce Pasco, Ryan Stone)) |
10.25 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
SWAN HILL A (Hunta Lindsay, Amity Scott) |
10.81 |
seconds |
|
4th |
WERRIBEE A (Mitchell Inglis, Noah Carver) |
10.92 |
seconds |
|
5th |
KYNETON (Sam Foster, Royce Sharp) |
11.03 |
seconds |
Event 10 Marshall – Two Competitors, Under 14 Years
|
1st |
MAFFRA (Kobe Parsons, Tyler Schoenmaekers) |
19.46 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
MELTON A (Ryder Millington, Tyler Goudie) |
19.69 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
ECHUCA A (Gratton Harrison, Archie Collier) |
20.18 |
seconds |
|
4th |
MELTON C (Jyce Pasco, Jayson Cassar) |
20.20 |
seconds |
|
5th |
SALE (Tom de Nobile, Connor Knights) |
22.06 |
seconds |
Event 11 Wet Hose – Two Competitors, Under 14 Years
|
1st |
MELTON A (Ryder Millington, Tyler Goudie) |
12.98 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
ECHUCA A (Gratton Harrison, Archie Collier) |
13.54 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
KYNETON (Charlie Tracey, Patrick Sutton) |
13.59 |
seconds |
|
4th |
SWAN HILL A (Isiah Blair, Sasha Hayes) |
13.75 |
seconds |
|
5th |
HAMILTON (Amely Pech, Jayda Bruni) |
13.93 |
seconds |
RESULTS – Sunday 17th March
Event 12 Hydrant – One Competitor, Under 17 Years
|
1st |
MELTON A (Devante Johns) |
12.23 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
WARRACKNABEAL (Cody Polack) |
13.69 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
KANGAROO FLAT (Dylan Gilbee) |
13.71 |
seconds |
|
4th |
ECHUCA A (Sam Schmedje) |
14.15 |
seconds |
|
5th |
MELTON C (Ryan Stone) |
14.78 |
seconds |
Event 13 Y Coupling – Two Competitors, Under 14 Years
|
1st |
SWAN HILL A (Xavier Morpeth, Isiah Blair) |
13.11 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
WARRACKNABEAL A (Zander Jonasson, Ben Wright) |
13.97 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
ECHUCA A (Gratton Harrison, Archie Collier) |
15.77 |
seconds |
|
4th |
SALE (Tom De Noble, Connor Knights) |
15.82 |
seconds |
|
5th |
MELTON C (Ronan Steele, Ricky Cassar) |
16.70 |
seconds |
Event 14 Wet Hose Striking Second Disc - Four Competitors, Under 17 Years
|
1st |
MELTON A (Devante Johns, Brodie Leitch, Bayllie Arandt, Leah Steele) |
15.46 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
MELTON C (Ryan Stone, Jyce Pasco, Jayson Cassar, Mikaylah Crawford) |
17.48 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
SWAN HILL A (Hunta Lindsay, Amity Scott, Sarah Scott, Madison Roberts) |
17.89 |
seconds |
|
4th |
MELTON B (Alexis Johnston, Riley Hunter, Jay Challis, Matilda Franzo) |
18.48 |
seconds |
|
5th |
ROWVILLE A (Matthew De Filippis, Thomas Landells, Lauren Brayshaw, Brenton Radford) |
18.55 |
seconds |
Event 15 Y Coupling – Four Competitors, Under 14 Years
|
1st |
MAFFRA (Kobe Parsons, Tyler Schoenmaekers, Kristin Murphy, Kye Bence) |
9.31 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
SWAN HILL A (Xavier Morpeth, Orla Scott, Isiah Blair, Sasha Hayes) |
10.30 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
MELTON A (Ryder Millington, Tyler Goudie, Poppy Arandt, Lily Leitch) |
10.35 |
seconds |
|
4th |
ECHUCA A (Gratton Harrison, Archie Collier, Rick Ronnan, Connor Drinkwell) |
10.66 |
seconds |
|
5th |
WARRACKNABEAL A (Zander Jonasson, Ben Wright, Maddison Bentley, Riley Bish) |
11.62 |
seconds |
Event 16 Wet Hose Striking One Disc Twice – Four Competitors, Under 14 Years
|
1st |
MAFFRA (Kobe Parsons, Tyler Schoenmaekers, Kristin Murphy, Kye Bence) |
16.53 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
ECHUCA A (Gratton Harrison, Archie Collier, Rick Ronnan, Connor Drinkwell) |
16.92 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
MELTON C (Ronan Steele, Ricky Cassar, Charlotte Crawford, Jayden Nixon) |
17.65 |
seconds |
|
4th |
KYNETON (John Pearce, Charlie Tracey, Bonnie Tracey, Patrick Sutton) |
18.72 |
seconds |
|
5th |
MELTON A (Ryder Millington, Tyler Goudie, Poppy Arandt, Lily Leitch) |
19.11 |
seconds |
Event 17 Marshall – Two Competitors, Under 17 Years
|
1st |
MELTON A (Devante Johns, Brodie Leitch) |
15.57 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
KANGAROO FLAT (Dylan Gilbee, Oliver Lowndes) |
18.60 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
SALE (Daniel King, Izac Thexton) |
19.30 |
seconds |
|
4th |
WARRACKNABEAL A (Cody Polack, Hayden Polack) |
19.73 |
seconds |
|
5th |
RED CLIFFS A (Dylan Leerson, Tay Oliver) |
20.44 |
seconds |
Event 18 Wet Hose Striking One Disc Twice – Four Competitors, Under 17 Years
|
1st |
MELTON A (Devante Johns, Brodie Leitch, Bayllie Arandt, Leah Steele) |
14.14 |
seconds |
|
2nd |
KANGAROO FLAT (Dylan Gilbee, Lucy Gilbee, Oliver Lowndes, Katrina O’Neill) |
15.25 |
seconds |
|
3rd |
MELTON C (Ryan Stone, Jyce Pasco, Jayson Cassar, Mikaylah Crawford) |
15.61 |
seconds |
|
4th |
KYNETON (Sam Foster, Royce Sharp, Steph Sharp, Milika Fortune) |
16.72 |
seconds |
|
5th |
WARRACKNABEAL A (Cody Polack, Hayden Polack, Rohan Richards, Eliza Williamson) |
17.61 |
seconds |
FINAL AGGREGATE RESULTS
DRY AGGREGATE:
|
1st |
MELTON A |
50 |
Points |
|
2nd |
KANGAROO FLAT |
26 |
Points |
|
3rd |
ECHUCA A |
25 |
Points |
WET AGGREGATE
|
1st |
MELTON A |
49 |
Points |
|
2nd |
MELTON C |
21 |
Points |
|
=3rd |
ECHUCA A & KANGAROO FLAT |
18 |
Points |
UNDER 14 YEARS AGGREGATE
|
1st |
ECHUCA A |
37 |
Points |
|
2nd |
MELTON A |
35 |
Points |
|
3rd |
MAFFRA |
34 |
Points |
UNDER 17 YEARS AGGREGATE
|
1st |
MELTON A |
64 |
Points |
|
2nd |
MELTON C |
24 |
Points |
|
3rd |
KANGAROO FLAT |
21 |
Points |
GRAND AGGREGATE
|
1st |
MELTON A |
99 |
Points |
|
2nd |
ECHUCA A |
43 |
Points |
|
3rd |
SWAN HILL A |
38 |
Points |
2024 - Champion Team – Melton A
Coaches Anthony Rhodes, Bailey Rhodes, Ashley Goudie and Denzel Johns and competitors:
- Bayllie Arandt
- Poppy Arandt
- Tyler Goudie
- Devante Johns
- Brodie Leitch
- Lily Leitch
- Ryder Millington
- Leah Steele
Final Aggregate Board
Under 14 Years Aggregate Winner - ECHUCA A
Under 17 Years Aggregate & Grand Aggregate Winner - MELTON A
2024 State Urban Junior Championship This Weekend
Written by Adam Barnett
The 2024 State Urban Junior Championship will be held this coming Saturday and Sunday, 16 and 17 March 2024 in Mooroopna. This year will be the 50th time the State Urban Junior Championship has been held.
Come along and see tomorrow’s CFA volunteers proudly demonstrate their skills.
If you are not involved with the CFA juniors program or haven’t witnessed the value the State Urban Junior Championship provides for young volunteers to develop practical skills and to be actively involved in CFA, then get along and be inspired.
Urban junior competitions have a proud 51 year history. This year 38 teams from CFA brigades from across Victoria will compete over the weekend.
The 2024 Championship is being held at the Mooroopna Recreation Reserve, Midland Hwy, Mooroopna and events will begin at 8:30am each morning.
Results from the Championship will be progressively posted over the weekend on VFBV’s dedicated Championships Facebook Page.
Teams competing in the 2024 State Urban Junior Championship are:
| Ararat Colac Diamond Creek Echuca A Echuca B Echuca/Mildura Euroa A Euroa B Eynesbury Frankston Gisborne Grovedale Hamilton Hoppers Crossing Horsham Kangaroo Flat Kyneton Maffra Melton A Melton B Melton C |
Red Cliffs A Red Cliffs B Rowville A Rowville B Sale Seymour Stawell Swan Hill A Swan Hill B Upwey A Upwey B Wangaratta Warracknabeal A Warracknabeal B Wendouree Werribee A Werribee B |
Information for brigades competing this weekend can be downloaded from this page.
Next weekend 23rd and 24th March will see the State Urban Senior Championship along with the State Rural Senior and Junior Championships take place at the Mooroopna Recreation Reserve also. With the popular Torchlight Procession to be held on Saturday 23rd March in Mooroopna.
International Women’s Day
Each year on March 8 International Women’s Day celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women as well as calling for action to accelerate women’s equality.
The theme for International Women’s Day this year is #InspireInclusion. This year’s theme acknowledges that when we inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion, we forge a better world.
Throughout CFA and VFBV, there are many examples of the contribution women make to our communities and our fire services. The work and decisions being made today to embrace diversity and inclusion will ensure more women are supported and encouraged into the fire services for future generations.
To each of the dedicated, highly skilled and much appreciated women in CFA and across all fire and emergency services, thank you for the contribution you make to making communities safer today and every day of the year.
Members are reminder of our CEO’s editorial that covered International Women’s Day history in great detail, including some helpful hints and tips that invite CFA members to reflect on how each of us can contribute to building inclusive brigade cultures where women are not only welcomed, but thrive. That piece and profile stories on influential and inspirational women across CFA who continue to inspire us can be found on the VFBV website.
Each of us can play a part in actively supporting and embracing equity within our own sphere of influence. This can include simple steps such as challenging stereotypes, calling out discrimination, drawing attention to bias and actively seeking out how to include others within our brigades, workplaces, communities, CFA and the wider emergency services across Victoria.
Enormity of bushfires
By Adam Barnett, VFBV Chief Executive Officer
It has been an incredibly busy month, both on and off the fireground, and I want to acknowledge the incredible work of all our people in battling the large fires from last month’s spike days, including the two catastrophic fire danger ratings declared in Feb. Thank you also to those that supported communities through the storm events of the past month that left many thousands of Victorians without power, some for over a week.
Our Welfare Fund and the VFBV Volunteer Support and Recovery Trust have activated and are supporting members across the fire devastated areas, with six CFA members having lost their homes during last month’s fires.
The skill and dedication of our volunteers has been remarked on by many over the past weeks and it is a timely reminder that the regularity of bushfires in Victoria has resulted in volunteer firefighting skills and experience that are simply unmatched anywhere else in the world. And time and time again I have had reports about how local knowledge has been used to quickly mop up spot fires and suppress them before they could take hold. An incredible achievement given the weather conditions.
And while there has been some minor criticism about the warnings issued in the lead up to the days in question, again we must remind the public that Fire Danger warnings are not an estimate of how likely a fire is going to occur on those days but rather the seriousness of the if and when and how a fire would behave should one be started and our capacity to bring it under control. To conflate the leave early warnings with the fact that luckily very few out of control fires actually started on those days is a mistake we must not let take hold. Just ask any bushfire survivor about the importance of early community warnings and you will not be left with any doubt as too their importance.
And while I know many hundreds of volunteers that were prepositioned on these days may feel they did not have much to do, the hundreds that were in situ and could pounce on fire starts from strategic locations with an overwhelming weight of attack when fire did occur is what stopped the various fires from developing any further. So be proud of your sacrifice waiting in hot fire trucks or humid staging areas – it was not for nought even if it felt that way. For those that did see action - impact assessments demonstrated over and over the incredibly skilled work done by CFA members to protect lives and property. And while there were some losses, considering the areas affected it wasn’t just plain luck that there were not more. It was pure skill and incredibly hard work, with surveys of the fire damaged areas showing very prominent fire perimeters around saved properties and clearly visible tyre marks left by CFA tankers as they circled homes and extinguished spot fires around townships and residential streets.
If we want to talk about luck, let’s talk about the chance of a creaking 34 year old fire truck, 14 years past its use by date having zero mechanical problems on the day when the mercury hits 40 and we need it the most. Let’s talk about the firefighters sitting on the back in the open air on those hot smouldering days. Those odds are fast evaporating, and the Government is playing a game of Russian roulette each and every year that our trucks get older and older with no replacements in sight. And just to be clear, when you hear a recycled announcement from two years ago promising 40 new trucks, understand it is exactly that – a recycled announcement. With more than 2,300 trucks in the fleet, announcements of 40 new trucks will take another 58 years to replace the fleet.
Returning to February’s fires – and while the workforce was overwhelmingly volunteer – I wish to acknowledge the contribution of our partner agencies, especially our friends at Forest Fire Management Victoria who stood shoulder to shoulder with us on the fireground. Thank-you also to all other agency personnel who assisted.
I also want to acknowledge the thousands of volunteers who have put themselves on call or stayed behind or worked from home to ensure local coverage remained. Thank you also to those non-operational personnel who have worked diligently in the background to get everything ready and provided critical support to our frontline operations. You don’t appear on a fire report or get counted in the government’s figures – but the work you do is essential.
These spike days are a reminder that as one of the most fire prone places on the planet, we don’t need to have a bad fire season to have bad fires. A single day with just the right (or wrong) weather conditions can present a very real risk of catastrophic fires.
A lesson the current government would be well advised to remember as they contemplate de-funding our CFA. With a $3 million cut already applied to CFA’s budget this year, the prospect of additional budget cuts in the upcoming budget cycle looms large. As I reported back in January, a secret razor gang from Department Premier and Cabinet, Treasury and Justice have formed an “Emergency Services Organisation Finance Board” whose job it is to recommend further cuts.
The Governments current track record on CFA funding since its controversial fire services reforms is clear for all to see. Based on CFA Annual Reports since 2020, Government funding has been:
2020: $807M
2021: $351M
2022: $347M
2023: $341M
That represents a cut every year since reform.
To contemplate additional cuts to CFA after the spectacle of fire services reform seems very ill advised and very brave considering how much Victorians rely on CFA to deal with the increasing frequency of natural disasters.
And while I hope with all my might that Victorians won’t have to pay the ultimate price of these foolish decisions with their lives, history very clearly demonstrates a direct link between government investment and the outcomes of catastrophic fire events. If the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission wasn’t plain enough, I’m not sure what more warning can be provided on the importance of preserving Victoria’s volunteer workforce and service.
I noted in recent days that senior counsel assisting and former Supreme Court Judge - Rear Admiral the Honourable Jack Rush AO RFD KC RAN commenting on the lack of action taken since the 2009 Bushfires Royal Commission on moving overhead electrical cables underground in fire prone areas. The sound of exasperation in his voice was clear as he reflected on the absurdity that just 15 years after the tragedy of Black Saturday that we could so easily forget the effects and enormity of bushfires in Victoria.
He concluded that as a government and as a society for not forcing our government to act, we are remiss and doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past. One wonders how Victorians will react following the next Black Saturday when they discover that funding to CFA and a reduction in the number of support staff and services will be judged. Harshly I hope.
Which leads me to address the absurd statement run out by the government’s media team dismissing concerns around the reduction of volunteers over recent years. I kid you not, but the statement “CFA has never drawn on its full reserves of volunteers” is not only the most stupid non-fact ever uttered, but also one of the most disrespectful statements to our brave and selfless volunteer firefighters I have ever heard. And while this statement was first used during fire services reform, it has been on high rotation recently when officials are squirming to respond to concerns about falling volunteer numbers.
When I talk about the importance of respecting volunteers, use this as a prime example of what you should not do.
Statements such as this ignores the very apex principle of volunteer services that you don’t treat your volunteer workforce like some disposable cache of on-call employees.
Are they suggesting fathers and mothers are to simply leave the kids at home while both jump on the fire truck? Are they suggesting volunteers, who are also frontline workers across health, transport and other essential industries in their everyday lives, should abandon their posts to attend a fire? Should a volunteer who is battling a cost of living crisis risk losing their job and the roof over their head by not considering their employers situation before responding to an incident? Should they never go on holiday, be unwell or take a leave of absence to look after a sick family member? This is the practical effect of “drawing down” on CFA’s full reserves. Shame on them for normalising such a deceitful and immoral argument. Volunteering should never be exploitative, and asking less people to do more work and make more sacrifice than what they can already sustain is neither fair nor ethical. Yet this is exactly what these statements imply and why they are so offensive.
Volunteer services are built on the principle that you must amass a large number of volunteers to provide coverage, acknowledging not all will be available at the exact same time, and each are balancing their own needs. To run the system into the ground that then guilts what volunteers are left into sacrificing more than they can afford and comes at a great cost to them, their families and their employers is not acceptable.
For example, did SES “draw down” its full complement during last year’s floods? Using the government’s math - they did not. So why then did we need almost 12,000 CFA deployments to help them out?
In fact, the principle is not only well established for volunteers, but paid firefighting services operates on the principle of a 1:5 ratio that requires it to employ five firefighters for every one firefighter it wants to be on duty. This ratio factors in sickness, sleep, leave and other eventualities. To not consider a similar ratio for its volunteer workforce is outrageous.
The fact that the government spokespeople uttered these statements with a straight face to brush away concerns with volunteer numbers while in the next breath announcing that Victoria had requested 100 NSW RFS volunteers to come down to Victoria to assist with the firefight should demonstrate the utter absurdity of the comments.
In fact, this notion of wanting less volunteers is actually government policy – documented in last year’s DJCS annual report that actually reduced Victoria’s target for emergency management volunteers downwards by another 1,500. Yes - you read that right, they actually reduced their aspirational target to aim for less.
I have yet to see a climate model that predicts fire events will become less frequent and less damaging, so I urge the department to share the data that is providing this unhinged peace of mind so we can all share in its reassurance that we don’t have anything to worry about.
Does anyone actually believe that attracting more people to CFA and other volunteer emergency services will be served by cutting funding so that volunteers have to keep battling just to get decent equipment, clothing, fire stations, trucks and support? To borrow a phrase - tell ‘em they’re dreamin’.
2024 Bushfire and Storm Recovery Resources
VFBV has prepared a fact sheet to assist members and their families to navigate the various sources of assistance that is available to those affected by the recent fire and storm events across the state. The fact sheet outlines the various local, state and Commonwealth support available and provides links to the resources where available.
The fact sheet is available from the VFBV website and printed copies can be provided by calling the VFBV office on 9886 1141 or by contacting your local VFBV Support Officer.
We will continue to update the fact sheet as we become aware of additional support available.
2024 State Championships
Final preparations are being made for the 2024 State Championships to be held at the Mooroopna Recreation Reserve later this month.
The first weekend of competition on 16 and 17 March, will see the 38 teams from across the state compete in the Urban Junior Championship. The next weekend will see even more action with 47 teams taking part in the Rural Senior Championship on Saturday 23 March and another 38 teams on Sunday 24th March will compete in the Rural Senior Championship. The Urban Senior Championship will also be contested this weekend with 40 teams taking part from all across Victoria. Information for competing teams is available from the VFBV website.
The popular Torchlight Procession will also take place in Mooroopna on the evening of Saturday 23 March, with 46 brigades taking part. If your brigade is interested in marching in the Torchlight Procession, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. as soon as possible.
All of this competition would not be possible without the assistance of the more than 200 judges and officials who volunteer their time and expertise to ensure that each of the Championships is run at a high standard. Both the Urban and Rural competition committees are always on the lookout for additional judges and officials. If you are able to volunteer as a judge or official for any of the State Championships please contact the VFBV office via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 9886 1141.
SOP Feedback
A reminder that we are seeking feedback on various Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that our out for consultation. The Driving SOPs will close for feedback shortly. An additional thirteen SOPs have been modified and are now available for review.
These are SOP 3.01 Management of Junior Members; 5.05 Use of CFA Equipment; 7.01 Local Procedure Development; 7.05 Water Supplies for Firefighting; 7.07 Station Siren Use; 8.01 Incident Controller and CFA Agency Commander; 8.04 Transfer of Control; 9.13 Keeping Logs and Documents; 9.16 Media Management; and 9.18 Use of Personal Mobile Devices During Incidents.
Given the importance of SOPs in CFA’s operational doctrine, VFBV encourages all senior volunteers to make themselves familiar with the proposed changes and provide feedback ASAP.
Please visit the VFBV website to access drafts and change logs to help guide your feedback.
Presumptive Leg
QLD is the latest State to expand its firefighter presumptive legislation scheme to pick up the additional cancers added to the Commonwealth scheme in 2022. This now aligns QLD, TAS, WA, NT and ACT, leaving Victoria falling further behind.
VFBV continues pursuing further expansion of the scheme to pick up the remaining six cancers that were added to the Commonwealth’s scheme being primary site lung, skin, penile, pancreatic and thyroid cancers and malignant mesothelioma.
VFBV is calling on the Victorian Government to align its scheme to ensure Victorian firefighters enjoy the same protections and support as their federal counterparts, and firefighters in the other State’s.
We have published a national overview table on our website that allows members to compare each of the presumptive schemes in operation across the country. As you will see, Victoria is falling behind other jurisdictions. VFBV is seeking the support of all government, opposition and minor party MPs including independents to support the amendments introduced by the Greens, that would see Victoria’s scheme expanded to the same 21 cancers that the Tasmanian government has introduced.
Thank you
Thank-you to all members who completed this year’s VFBV Volunteer Welfare and Efficiency Survey. You are helping us make CFA a better place to volunteer.
As soon as we have finished compiling and analysing your responses, we will publish the results.
Quarterly Supplement
Included with the March 2024 edition of Fire Wise is the latest edition of the VFBV Quarterly Supplement.
The Quarterly Supplement contains 16 pages of relevant news, updates, information on current issues being pursued by VFBV on behalf of members. It also includes additional resources or updates that are available via our website.
An electronic copy of the Quarterly Supplement can be downloaded here.
Brigade Captains and Secretaries, Group Officers and Group Secretaries as well as VFBV delegates are requested to please take the time to read this and future editions, and table at your upcoming meetings for the benefit and knowledge of your members.
Aussie Fire Pumps competition
In appreciation of the efforts of CFA volunteers in protecting their communities Australian Pump Industries is running a competition where one lucky CFA brigade or group will win an Aussie Fire Captain firefighting pump.
To enter simply explain in 50 words or less “what motivates a CFA volunteer”. Entries are limited to one entry per CFA brigade or group. To submit your entry and view the competition terms and conditions, visit the Aussie Pumps website.
Entries close on 23 March 2024.
VFBV Board Vacancies
Invitation to all CFA volunteers to apply
Closing date for written applications is 2 September 2024.
VFBV advances the interests of all Victorian fire brigade volunteers
Vacancies on VFBV Board will arise when the terms of four VFBV Board members expire on 1 October 2024. Of the four members whose terms are expiring, two are eligible for reappointment. VFBV invites applications from any CFA volunteer who is motivated by the prospect of making a difference and believes they have the skills to contribute to the VFBV Board.
The role of a board member involves contributing to VFBV direction, policy determination and monitoring the performance and governance of the Association. This includes actively contributing to policy discussion, consulting with CFA volunteers and contributing to the identification and management of strategic issues.
VFBV is seeking applications from gender and culturally diverse candidates in addition to a diverse range of skills and experience including applications from diverse brigade types and classifications.
Members should familiarise themselves with the VFBV Board member role statement and key selection criteria available from the VFBV website or via the office at (03) 9886 1141.
Applications close on Monday 2 September 2024 and must be lodged to VFBV, 9/24 Lakeside Drive, Burwood East 3151; email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; telephone 9886 1141; fax: 9886 1618.
Recent articles on the VFBV website
International Women’s Day 2024
2024 Bushfire and Storm Recovery Resources
Feedback Requested – Standard Operating Procedures (Various)
Feedback Requested - Standard Operating Procedures (Driving)
2024 State Championships – Information for competing brigades
Presumptive Legislation Update
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