Barwon Heads community rallies to support volunteer firefighters

REPRESENTATIVES from the Ocean Grove Barwon Heads Lions Club, and the Barwon Heads cricket and football clubs gathered last weekend to deliver a $1,500 donation to the local fire brigade.

The funds were raised last month during the annual Australia Day clash between the Barwon Heads Cricket Club and the Barwon Heads Football Club, which attracted a large crowd of supporters.

The Lions Club hosted a sausage sizzle across the day, raising $1,500 for the Barwon Heads Fire Brigade, a small volunteer brigade comprising about 30 members.

While the CFA provides the brigade with some of the funding and equipment it needs to respond to emergencies both in Barwon Heads and further afield, the brigade still relies on the support of the local community to upgrade and purchase additional equipment to assist its firefighting activities.

“We really do value the support from community groups like Lions and the cricket club and Bendigo Community Bank, because with that we can buy much-needed equipment,” Barwon Heads CFA captain John Crozier said.

“We can purchase things like a thermal imaging camera; we can purchase new nozzles for our hoses; we can get the equipment that makes a difference for us when we’re looking after our community and helping keep them safe.”

In addition to the donation from the Lions Club, Community Bank Barwon Heads has contributed an additional $1,000 this year to support the operation of the brigade.

Barwon Heads Football Netball Club president Russell Hyland said the annual Australia Day match was a “real community get together that ultimately supports the community”.

Both clubs have been supporting the CFA through the event since 2020, when the Black Summer bushfires devastated communities across Victoria.

“From there, it’s just rolled out every year and we just continue to support them, because they need all the support they can get,” Hyland said, noting the fire brigade was the most important volunteer base in the community.

Lions Club member Warren Halnon, who along with fellow Lion Norm Buckley oversaw the barbecue on the day, said raising the funds was a group effort and praised the community for their eagerness to support the initiative.

“It’s always a privilege to work in the community and serve the community,” he said.

“This also wouldn’t have occurred without the generosity of Bendigo Bank, who have sponsored us with our new barbecue trailer.”