Firefighting got competitive and you’re safer because of it

BACK-to-back state rural titles has proven Leopold CFA’s 2025 win was no feat of luck, but the brigade’s captain says there is more to the competition than winning.

Leopold sent three senior teams to the CFA Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria State Rural Championships in Stawell last weekend, returning with two podium finishes.

But while Leopold’s seniors put on an impressive performance, it was the brigade’s juniors that most impressed the captain.

Captain Chris Wilkinson has been involved in competition since he was a child, following in his father’s footsteps.

It is a passion he has passed onto Leopold’s senior teams, as well as the brigade’s first junior squad, which finished second in the junior event.

“Competing was how I got into the CFA,” Wilkinson said.

“It is a way to get juniors involved with the CFA before they could actively firefight.

“Competing brings a community feeling. Watching these kids come out of their shells at the competitions, it really sets them up for success, not just with firefighting.

“They become community leaders; they develop skills and communication that they’ll use throughout their life. Even if they don’t remain with CFA, it’s just really fulfilling.”

Wilkinson said for those who remain within the CFA once they are old enough to participate in active firefighting provide a better service to their community.

Competitions allow volunteers to develop and maintain their skills, making them better and more efficient firefighters.

“It does create a higher quality fire service,” Wilkinson said.

The junior team were aggregate runners-up, an impressive showing for a team barely six months old.

“It’s such a credit to them,” Wilkinson said. “They’ve worked really hard for it.

“They’re kicking goals and doing a really good job.”

Wilkinson’s own senior side were division 1 champions for the second year running while the brigade’s B team were division two runners-up.

It was a win that 12 months ago Wilkinson did not saw coming.

“It was a long time coming to win it last year,” he said.

“It was many, many years between winning it. Last year was a bit of a ‘one more go’ sort of a thing.

“When we did finally pull it off, we’re like ‘I guess we need to go and prove it wasn’t a fluke and at least try’. So, it was refreshing to be able to walk on in there and back it up.”