VFBV

Bendigo, Sunday 16 October 2016

The Greater Midlands Fire Brigades Competition Association [GMFBCA], the Bendigo & District Combined Brigades [BDFBCC], Central & Hume & Western District are hosting a Come & Try Day for all firefighters [Male, Female & Juniors over the age of 16 years registered as Seniors] with the introduction of 3 new events for older Juniors or a resurgent senior team that has not competed for a few years.

The new events will be the Hose & Reel event for 4 competitors using the reel with 38mm hose flaked on to a holding tray, also a Disabled Hose for 6 competitors with Reel & Tray.  Another event to be trialled on the day will lbe a 3 Hose & Y event for 6 competitors [an event with all 3 hoses and fittings laid out on the track to be coupled together and striking discs).

The Come & Try Day will take place on Sunday 16 October from 10.30am, and will conclude with a sausage sizzle around 2.00pm.

It is open to all from across Victoria to muster a car load of people and come see the social side of fire brigade in a healthy friendly environment of like-minded firefighters.

During the day there will be demonstrations all of the other events in an Urban Championship, from the Marshalls to the Ladder, Hydrant & Pumper events for prospective competitors to see, try and/or take away and master. 

Please note that all Hoses, Hydrants Reels/Trays will be provided on the day so just turn up and enjoy.

So please consider this offer if you or your Brigade would like to be part of this fun and healthy side of the fire service and enjoy the social side of the CFA.

If you would like any more information please contact:

Barry Doye    Bendigo   0439 109 451 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Peter Hannon     Ararat     0407 008 282    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Greg Murphy     Kerang    0429 955 122    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Please let the organisers above know if you're planning to attend.

The 2016 VFBV State Urban Championships have concluded, with Maryvale taking the title of Champion Brigade with a convincing win over Kangaroo Flat and Melton .

The team from Werribee has been victorious in B Class, with Patterson River second and Sale third.

C Class honours were taken out by Whittlesea, with Stanhope in second place and Knox Group third.

Victoria won the Interstate Challenge, in a very closely fought contest.

Congratulations to the Mildura Committee on their organisation and commitment to the championships, and we hope to see all competitors, families and spectators next year for the VFBV 2017 State Urban Championships at Bendigo.

Detailed results are available for download below.

To see results from the 2016 VFBV State Urban Junior Championships, click here.

Tatura A has won the title of Champion Team.  You can download detailed results for every event below.

The Final Aggregate Results are as follows;

DRY AGGREGATE:
1st TATURA A 57 points
2nd SALE A 26 points
3rd KOOWEERUP A 18 points

WET AGGREGATE
1st TATURA A 32 points
2nd MOE A 24 points
3rd SALE A 15 points

UNDER 14 YEARS AGGREGATE
1st TATURA A 61 points
2nd KOOWEERUP A 26 points
=3rd MELTON A & MOE A 14 points

UNDER 17 YEARS AGGREGATE
1st SALE A 41 points
2nd TATURA A 28 points
3rd MOE A 23 points

GRAND AGGREGATE
1st TATURA A 89 points
2nd SALE A 41 points
3rd MOE A 37 points

EVENT RESULTS - FINAL

SATURDAY, 7^th MARCH

Click here to download Aggregate Spreadsheet and Champion Competitor event scores

Event 1, DISCIPLINE CONTEST

Section A:      

Section B:      

Section C:      

Event No. 2 – Ladder Race - One Competitor 

Event  3 - Hydrant Race - One Competitor 

Event 4 – B Section Pumper & Ladder – Five Competitors

Event No. 5 - C Section Marshall - One Competitor 

Event No. 6 - A Section Hose and Ladder Eights

Event  No. 7 - B Section Marshall - One Competitor 

Event No. 8 - C Section Hose and Reel Fours

Event No. 9 - A Section Marshall - One Competitor 

Event  No. 10 - B Section Hose and Reel Sixes 

Torchlight Procession

SUNDAY, 8^th MARCH

Event 11– C Section Pumper & Ladder – Five Competitors

Event 12 - A Section Marshall - Two Competitors 

Event 13 - B Section Hose and Ladder Eights 

Event 14 - C Section Marshall - Two Competitors

Event 15 - A Section Hose and Reel Eights

Event 16 - B Section Marshall - Two Competitors

Event 17 - C Section Hose and Reel Sixes

Event 18 - A Section Hose, Hydrant and Pumper

Event 19 - B Section Y Coupling and Ladder Eights 

Event 20 - C Section Hose, Hydrant and Pumper

Event 21 - A Section Y Coupling and Ladder Eights 

Event 22 - B Section Hose, Hydrant and Pumper  

Event 23 – C Section Y Coupling and Ladder Eights 

Event 24 - A Section Hose and Reel Sixes 

MONDAY, MARCH 9^th  

Event 25 – A Section Pumper & Ladder – Five Competitors

Event 26 - B Section Y Coupling - Four Competitors

Event 27 - C Section Hose and Ladder Fives 

Event 28 - A Section Y Coupling - Four Competitors 

Event 29 - B Section Hose and Reel Eights

Event 30 - C Section Y Coupling - Four Competitors 

Event 31 - Champion Fours 

FINAL AGGREGATE RESULTS

Dry Aggregate

Wet Aggregate

SECTION AGGREGATES:

‘A’ SECTION

‘B’ SECTION

‘C’ SECTION

2015 CHAMPION BRIGADE: Kangaroo Flat

The team members of Kangaroo Flat are Coach David Dargaville, and competitors:

Jackson Dargaville

Tomas Dargaville

Shane Every

Shane Harris

Tyler Harris

Jamie Hart

Jack Mactier

Adam Mellis

James Murphy

Craig Peters

Andrew Smith

Results for the 2015 Champion Competitor:

The Victoria / Western Australia Challenge took place after the final event, the Champion Fours, and was won by the Western Australian team in a time of 29.15 seconds with the Victorian team 29.96 seconds. The competitors of the two teams for the Victoria / Western Australia Challenge were:

Western Australian:

            Tim Egerton-Green     Harvey

            Cory Goodhill             Mandurah

            Scott Hendon              Mandurah

            Phil Johnson                Mandurah

            Luke Jones                  Harvey

            Levi Pope                    Harvey

            Steve Rees                  Harvey

            Jarrod White               Mandurah

            Catcher Vaea Peterson, Carterton N.Z.

            & Coach - Richard Epplett, Carterton N.Z.  

Victoria:

Jackson Dargaville,    

Tom Dargaville &

Jamie Hart                  Kangaroo Flat

Evan Bramley             Drouin/Bunyip

Michael Coleman        Maffra

Dale Hutchinson         Narre Warren

Nathan Rennie                        Tatura

Matt Royal                  Maryvale

Catcher Peter Fiddes, Tatura

& Coach David Dargaville, Kangaroo Flat

Tatura's juniors have dominated the 2015 VFBV Urban Junior Championships at Horsham, with a strong win from Benalla and Drouin/Bunyip.

Click here for full results.

More than 700 junior CFA volunteers from Victoria and WA took part, in events involving fitness, skill and speed with hoses and equipment, and putting water onto a target.

One thousand spectators and supporters were there to see 75 teams from 46 Brigades competing, in events hosted by Horsham Fire Brigade and Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria.

Aggregate results are;

WET AGGREGATE

1^st TATURA A 37 points

2^nd SWAN HILL A 16 points

=3^rd EUROA A & MOE A 13 points

UNDER 14 YEARS AGGREGATE

1^st TATURA A 43 points

2^nd DROUIN/BUNYIP 26 points

3^rd BENALLA 18 points

UNDER 17 YEARS AGGREGATE

1^st TATURA A 29 points

2^nd SWAN HILL A 24 points

3^rd MOE A 22 points

GRAND AGGREGATE

1^st TATURA A 72 points

2^nd BENALLA 28 points

3^rd DROUIN/BUNYIP 26 points

2015 -Champion Brigade Members – TATURA A

Coaches Martin Rennie, Darren Rennie & Damian Briese, and competitors:

Leigh Dann

Guilz Meola

Hayley Rennie

Matthew Rennie

Nathan Rennie

Grady Tyson

Floyd Vincitorio

Jeremey Withal

Click here for the events program, list of competing Brigades, championship rules and media contact detaills.

Programs and teams for the 2015 VFBV Urban Championships and Junior Urban Championships are now available for download.

Click here for the Urban Championships page

Expression of Interest to conduct a State Urban Senior Championship, 2016 to 2018

All Brigades/Committees interested in hosting an Urban Senior Championship during the years 2016 to 2018, are invited to lodge an Expression of Interest with the VFBV office. 

VFBV strongly encourages all Brigades/Committees to consider their ability and willingness to host a State Championship to ensure the continuation of our competitions. 

Expressions of Interest to be forwarded to VFBV by Friday 15^th August 2014.

Enquiries may be made to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (03) 9886 1141.

Kangaroo Flat has won the title of Champion Brigade, at the 2014 Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria (VFBV) Urban Championships, at Bendigo.

Jamie Hart and Tom Dargaville, of Kangaroo Flat, were named Champion Competitors.

The Championship weekend included a torchlight procession through central Bendigo and featured hundreds of competitors in 67 teams including several from WA.

The event was hosted by the Bendigo & District Fire Brigades Championship Committee, CFA and Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria.

The three days of competition included events based on practical firefighting activities, building fitness, team skills and capabilities with hoses, hydrants and other equipment that make them a useful addition to each Brigade’s regular weekly training regime.

The championships also offer one of same benefits as staging a major fire brigade exercise; giving Brigades and volunteers the chance to build the networks that pay off when they work together on large scale bushfires and other major emergencies.

The firefighters’ championships are one aspect of VFBV’s role as a statewide network of CFA’s 60,000 volunteers.  The events continue a Victorian volunteer fire brigade tradition of more than 140 years.

FINAL AGGREGATE RESULTS

Coming soon: 27 October, 9 and 17 November, 14 December.

In place of the annual VFBV Coaches/Judges School this year, there will be 4 Urban Competition Hands On Skills Workshops conducted at 4 locations around the state. 

These Workshops are being organised and facilitated by experienced Competitors/Coaches, and all Brigades are encouraged to attend their nearest Workshop.  Current or prospective competitors and coaches will gain an insight into the techniques of successful competitors and teams, which will not only lead to better competition but safer competition.

Each Workshop is being facilitated by your fellow competitors/coaches – so take advantage of their experience and skill, support their willingness to assist you, and attend a Workshop. 

There is no limit on numbers attending, but please advise VFBV office of numbers for catering purposes by returning the reply slip (download below), or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 9886 1141.

Central area:

Co-ordinator: Leigh Schintler (Bendigo)

Date:             Sunday 27^th October 2013, 10am to 2pm

Venue:           Bendigo track

Facilitators:     Leigh Schintler, Steve Ellis, Wayne Ellis,  

                    Barry Doye, Bruce Payne & Wayne Patterson  

Gippsland area:

Co-ordinator:  Robert Johnson (Maryvale)

Date:             Saturday 9^th November, 12pm to 3pm

Venue:           Traralgon track

Facilitators:     Robert Johnson, Dominic Keating, Stuart Kelso,

                    Col Flowers, Brian White & Rod Atkinson

Western area:

Co-ordinator: Anthony Rhodes (Melton)

Date:              Sunday 17^th November 2013, 10am to 2pm

Venue:           Ballarat track

Facilitators:     Anthony Rhodes, Steve Ellis, Wayne Ellis,

                       Lee Schintler Tom Waterson, Col Jordan,

                       Brendan Hawkes & Craig Briody

Outer metro area:

Co-ordinator:   Andy Waterson (Dandenong)

Date:              Saturday 14^th December 2013, 10am to 2pm

Venue:            Dandenong track

Facilitators:      Adrian Jones, Craig Lansdown, Chris Mullins,

                     Andy Waterson & Rick Owen 

UPDATED - the Bendigo workshop has been cancelled - the clash with Melbourne Cup weekend was preventing many participants from attending

Volunteers in the Bendigo area should consider the workshop at Ballarat - see below for dates for Traralgon, Ballarat and Dandenong

The workshops include Junior events this year.

The workshops are facilitated by experienced Competitors/Coaches, and all urban competition brigades are encouraged to attend. 

Current or prospective competitors and coaches will gain an insight into the techniques of successful competitors and teams, which will not only lead to better competition but safer competition. 

You are encouraged to take advantage of the facilitators’ experience and skill, support their willingness to assist you, and attend a Workshop. 

This year Junior events are being incorporated into the program of each Workshop for the benefit of Junior Coaches and competitors.

There is no limit on numbers attending, but please advise VFBV office of numbers attending for catering purposes; ph 9886 1141 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Workshop dates & venues are:

• Traralgon track, Saturday 8^th November 2014
• Ballarat track, Sunday 16^th November 2014
• Dandenong track, Saturday 22^nd November 2014

See below to download the flier with full details of each workshop.

2025 State Urban Junior Championship

The 2025 State Urban Junior Championship will be held at Mooroopna on the weekend of 22 and 23 March 2023, the weekend prior to the State Urban Senior and Rural State Championships.

2025 State Urban Senior Championship, Mooroopna

The 2025 State Urban Senior Championship will be held at Mooroopna on the weekend of 29 and 30 March 2025, in conjunction with the 2025 State Rural Junior and Senior Championships. 

Urban Competition Conditions & Rules

A copy of the Urban Competition Conditions & Rules book is available as a PDF document from the link below. The rule book was last updated in September 2024. If you require a printed copy, please reach out to the VFBV office via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone (03) 9886 1141.

Information for Competing Brigades 

A memo from the Urban Competition and Rules Committee was forwarded to competing brigades in August, October and December 2024, a copy of this can be downloaded at the bottom of this page. 

2024-25 Urban Competition Season

The schedule for local urban competitions for the 2024-25 Competition Season are available for download at the bottom of this page. 

Upcoming State Championships

The 2025 State Championships will all be held in Mooroopna over consecutive weekends in March for the fifth year in a row.

The weekend 22 and 23 March will host the State Urban Junior Championship. The following weekend, 29 and 30 March, will see the State Urban Senior Championship run over both days. While the State Rural Senior Championship will be run on Saturday 29 March and the State Rural Junior Championship on Sunday 30 March. The events for each championship will be conducted separately on their own competition tracks, but alongside each other at the same location, on the same weekend, in what is a showcase of CFA to the wider community.

On the evening of Saturday 29 March, the Torchlight Procession will be held in Mooroopna from 8.30pm with all CFA brigades invited to take part even if they are not competing in the Championships.      

VFBV State Championship History and Introduction

VFBV State Championships are one of Victoria's proudest and longest traditions, running for nearly 150 years with the first State Championship held in Melbourne in 1873, with the volunteer associations running and organising these events some 70 years before CFA even existed.  State Championships have continued annually since 1873 with no state event cancelled due to fire, flood, weather or natural disaster – the only cancellations being due to WW1, WWII and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The establishment of volunteer fire brigades in country Victoria began in 1854 with brigades formally established at Geelong and Sandhurst (now Bendigo). The introduction of hose reels into the Fire Service to assist in getting hose and other necessary equipment to the scene of a fire relatively quickly, was a major catalyst for fire brigade competitions, as we know them. 

The Championships, initially known as ‘Demonstrations’ as they were viewed as a demonstration of firefighting skills, arose from an awareness that fire brigade operational response and training could be enhanced if it was performed in a competitive environment. Brigades soon discovered their training and efficiency improved by engaging in training and competitions with neighbouring brigades, with the State Championship evolving as the pinnacle of the season’s competitions conducted by Districts and Associations across the state.

After the first two Championships were held in Melbourne 1873 and 1874, and given the vast distance many country and regional Brigades travelled to attend the Melbourne events, it was agreed that other venues should have the opportunity of hosting future Championships. This was also seen as a way to fairly distribute the economic benefits of increased tourism and patronage in townships as a result of each year’s competitions, and honoured volunteer firefighters dedication to putting their communities first.

Today, competitions and the State Championships remain an integral part of CFA activities, attracting every year volunteer and career firefighters from across the state and interstate, competing against each other in a range of events designed to hone their firefighting skills and put their skills to the test in a demonstration of their unique life and property saving skills.  Speed and accuracy are vital as the firefighters compete in events using a range of traditional and modern-day firefighting equipment. 

Since 1873 - VFBV (and its predecessor associations) coordinate and arrange all Fire Brigade championships and competitions in Victoria, and selects the venues, approves the events and rules of the competitions, and appoints/supports all track officials and judges for the Championships. Under the CFA Act, we must seek the approval of CFA for each year’s events held within the country area of Victoria. CFA support the running of these Championships through the provision of annual grants to contribute to the running costs of hosting each year’s events, as well as reimbursing competitors for travel expenses to attend the State Championship – in recognition that many Brigades are required to travel hundreds of kilometres to attend each years State Championships.

State Championships allow volunteer firefighters to test their skills and prowess against opposing Brigades in a congenial atmosphere and provides an opportunity to strengthen existing friendships and form new bonds with Brigade members throughout Victoria and interstate.  Unlike a real bushfire or structural fire situation, which often pits firefighters against mother nature and where lives and property are at risk, these drill competitions are more firefighter versus firefighter, and Brigade versus Brigade, which allows for a more friendly opponent than mother nature.

The urban championships in the main involve traditional events and many still include the use of the reel as was the case in the early 1900s.

On the other hand the events at the rural championships which evolved in the 1950's are based around more current fire ground practices and most use either tankers or replica tanker stands for most of their events. Earlier rural championships held competitions such as rope climbs and knapsack races which have now been discontinued in favour of more tanker based activities.

The benefits and objectives of our competitions and State Championships are to:

1. increased operational firefighting efficiency and discipline
   
   
2. develop, maintain and enhance the operational skills of firefighters by providing a competitive environment to promote and hone training and skills maintenance in core and fundamental firefighting skills and practices
   
   
3. develop teamwork and leadership skills of individuals and Brigades
   
   
4. increased health and fitness development and promotion of healthy lifestyle and its correlation to increased firefighting efficiency and effectiveness
   
   
5. promote comradeship amongst firefighters, sense of belonging and networking
   
   
6. encourage family participation and strengthen community engagement and involvement in local Fire Brigade’s
   
   
7. encourage our future CFA volunteer firefighters and provide early exposure to young people to instill a sense of community service and the importance of local Fire Brigade’s
   
   
8. promote a professional image of CFA to the community
   
   
9. instill and promote the Australian tradition of having a go, and doing your best
   
   
10. promote and recognise our future CFA, Brigade and VFBV leaders and celebrate excellence