Lights..Camera...Action!

Three members of the Gisborne Fire Brigade had a taste of stardom yesterday when they were involved in shooting a short film.

An initiative by Macedon Ranges Council along with CFA, the short film is to promote fire safety and preparedness within the Macedon Ranges. It will include story's from locals on how best to make your property 'fire ready' and also reflecting on different experiences from Ash Wednesday.

It is to be realeased prior to the 2013/2014 fire season.

A big thank-you to Lt Mark Carter, FF Doug Peart and FF Jason Gruevski for giving up their time to participate in the filming which took up most of Tuesday afternoon.

Memorial service honours fireys

Dedicated men and women who have lost their lives while serving their communities were honoured yesterday at the CFA annual Memorial Service.

Held at Upper Beaconsfield, the service paid tribute to the 68 firefighters who have died in the line of duty since the inception of CFA in 1944.

CFA Chief Officer, Euan Ferguson said the service underlines the bravery shown by CFA’s members - ordinary Victorians, who year after year, risk their lives in the protection of the community.

“Today’s service is both a symbolic and tangible recognition of the extraordinary sacrifice of those CFA members who have lost their lives in their service to the state,” he said.

This year’s Memorial Service will also acknowledge CFA firefighter losses during the 2012-13 fire season.

CFA’s Peter Harry, a 2nd Lieutenant with Gisborne Fire Brigade, died while attending a house fire late last year.

DSE firefighter, Peter Cramer, died while deployed to the fires in Tasmania. He served 22 years with CFA as a volunteer at Gembrook, Swifts Creek and Tyers brigades. Two DSE firefighters, Steven Kadar and Katie Peters, also lost their lives while working on the Harrietville-Alpine fires.

CFA’s Manager of Volunteerism, Kate Harrap said the Annual Memorial Service is an opportunity to acknowledge those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

“Through loss, hardship and experience, we have learnt from all those who have come before. We honour the commitment, dedication and hard work from all who protect Victorian communities – and reflect on their legacy that lives on in CFA,” she said.

Today’s service also draws from CFA’s Memorial Wall at its Fiskville Training College, to remember those firefighters who died in the line of duty with the CFA and its predecessor organisations, the Country Fire Brigades Board and the Bush Fire Brigades Committee.

A banner representing the Memorial Wall is taken to each Memorial Service outside of Fiskville. Whenever an additional plaque is included on the memorial wall, the firefighter’s name and other details are also embroidered on the banner.

The CFA Annual Memorial service is held on the Sunday closest to International Firefighters’ Day and St Florian’s Day (May 4). St Florian is the Patron Saint of Firefighters.

For more information about the Firefighters Memorial or to see the Honour Roll, click here  

ANZAC Day

Each year the Gisborne Fire Brigade has the honour and opportunity to march alongside veteran Diggers for the ANZAC service held at the War Memorial in Howey Reserve, Gisborne.

"As a brigade we are very privileged to have an invitation extended to us each year to march alongside our nations war heroes. This year was no exception with an impressive attendance by the local community to pay their respects to our past and present soldiers," said Captain Sam Strang.

Before the commencement of the service, CFA fallen comrade 2nd Lt Peter Harry was acknowledged for his  dedicated support to the local RSL by providing and operating the music and sound system for the ANZAC day services for almost 30 years.

Lest we forget.

Training continues....

Despite fire restrictions being lifted, Gisborne firefighters will continue to train twice a month over the cooler period with a focus now on house fires, car accidents and other incidents that require regular training to deliver a professional and high quality service to the community.

Gisborne is also a LP Gas response brigade with a specialist team that are highly trained in this area. The LPG flareoff unit can be called in by neighbouring brigades at anytime a LP Gas cylinder has been compromised and/ or leaking. This unit covers a wide area, some areas included are Sunbury, Bacchus Marsh, Kyneton, Romsey and Woodend.

"With the fire season wrapping up and calls for grass and scrub fires slowing down, calls for other incidents don't stop and that's why it's important for our members to continue training and work on their skills over the cooler months" said 1st Lt Terry Borg.

 

Gisborne does it again!

The Gisborne community again dug deep this year and raised a record $41,117.50 for the Good Friday RCH appeal of which the Gisborne Fire Brigade along with the Gisborne Scouts and Cubs raised $11,117.50.

Fireys and Scouts from Gisborne went to the streets door knocking just about every house hoping to get some coin to go towards life saving equipment for the Royal Childrens Hospital. 

With the great co-ordination of 4th Lieutenant Mark Carter both firefighters and scouts were able to cover all of Gisborne by late afternoon which showed in the amount of which the members collected by the end of the day.

Williamsons Foodworks raised a whopping $30,000 from both their Gisborne and Sunbury stores by donating all profits by opening both stores between 9am and 1pm on the day, all staff volunteered their time and all wages contributed to the over all amount raised.

This is the second year Williamsons Foodworks has opened the doors on Good Friday, last year raising $20,000.

Also a big thankyou to GISBUS who donated four of thier buses for the day to ferry firefighters and scouts around the township.

On behalf of the RCH appeal, Gisborne Fire Brigade would like to thank Williamsons Foodworks and the Gisborne Community for digging deep this year and beating last years effort in which we will strive to better for years to come.