Chipping in for local fireys

MORE than 70 players are already locked in to participate in the Barwon Heads Fire Brigade Charity Golf Day this April.

The event at 13th Beach Golf Links will raise vital funds to support the work of the local service and its volunteers.

Barwon Heads Fire Brigade have just come off their busiest January in many years, with members dedicating their time both at home and around the state.

Most notably, the team sent several groups to the Otways last month to be part of District 7 strike teams, protecting towns like Gellibrand and the Carlisle River.

Barwon Heads Fire Brigade captain Peter Burnett said a fundraiser of this kind would go a long way in improving their capabilities.

“It’s fantastic to have the community support not only in resources and fundraising, but also with hands on the ground.

“There’s a lot of specialist equipment that we have to buy, including thermal imaging cameras and blue tip branches on our hoses.There’s times we will have to replace a vehicle, four years ago we had to do so to afford a new forward command vehicle with lots of fancy radios.

“Ultimately, this fire season is a marathon, not a sprint. We are in the first week of February, and on any day a fire can start easily. We are all standing up to be vigilant and protecting our region.”

13th Beach Golf Links golf experience coordinator Ben Breguet said they were thrilled to be showing support for the Barwon Heads Fire Brigade and the incredible work they do for the local community year-round.

“This last month has really highlighted the importance of supporting groups like fire brigades, and that’s been reflected in the registrations for the event so far,” he said.

“A few months out, there is already money that has been raised and we are keen to see that continue to grow.”

The 4-person Ambrose tournament is set for April 2. To register a team, head to the 13th Beach Golf Links website.