Big-hearted boost for fire brigade

HUGE fundraising efforts over the past 24 months have helped the Smythesdale Fire Brigade go shopping for vital new equipment.

“It’s astronomical what we’ve been donated,” said Brigade captain Damian Merrett.

“Each month there’s been a barbecue at the Country Grocers at Smythesdale and they’ve provided the food free of charge and that’s raised $4567.

“Also the Country Grocers’ token fundraiser, that ran for six weeks earlier this year, raised $6278.

“And the Scarsdale Mens Shed has done a lot of fundraising over the 24 months and donated $6056.

“With many people experiencing financial hardship, the amount of contribution from the community has blown my mind and we’d just like to say thank you for all of those contributions and let people know what we’ve put the money to as well.”

Merrett said the Brigade has been able to buy three Halligan tools, a thermal imaging camera, and some specialist branches – or nozzles – for the hoses.

“We’ve also got new seats in the station for our meetings and we’ve purchased a square EFTPOS terminal for future fundraising. That’s about $10,000 worth of equipment we’ve bought so far,” he said.

“We’ve also put some money away towards replacement of our firefighting appliances.

“Two of our brigade-owned tankers will need replacing over the next ten years.

“We’re also looking to get some mobile data terminals in our appliances. They are $3500 each to buy and we need to buy two, and we’re also looking at more branches and UHF radios still to purchase.”

Merrett was speaking on Good Friday afternoon following a morning spent collecting for the annual Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, which had also brought together the Men’s Shed, the Country Grocers and the CFA volunteers who, by that stage, had collected many hundreds of dollars toward the appeal.