Summer Crew returns to Lorne for busiest time of the year

LORNE’S fire brigade has thanked its Summer Crew volunteers who assisted with daily operations during the Christmas and New Year period.

Lorne Fire Brigade welcomed Bellbrae CFA’s Eric Messer, Belmont Fire Brigade’s Nick Wojcik, Highton CFA’s Aidan Stary and Ocean Grove Fire Brigade’s Jayden Harrison-Roberts were among the 30 volunteers that assisted in Lorne over the holiday period as the Surf Coast town ballooned in population size from 1,400 to over 20,000.

Veteran CFA volunteer and Surf Coast District Commander Wayne Aylmer said the volunteers were part of the local brigade’s annual initiative, the Lorne Summer Crew, a concept first created in 2016 to bolster the brigade during the peak summer period keeping locals and tourists safe.

“The brigade members say we can run the brigade for 50 weeks of the year but during the other two we need extra volunteers to help out,” Mr Aylmer said.

“For some Lorne volunteers the two weeks over the holiday period is the bulk of their income, so being able to continue working in their business is vital.

“The extra volunteers are invaluable.”

 

 

The Lorne Summer crew consists of a rotating group of volunteers and an additional truck on standby during Lorne’s Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and Pier to Pub weekend festivities.

“Up to 30 members from brigades around Victoria choose to volunteer at different times over the summer,” Mr Aylmer said.

“We sell the message as have a day out, go for a walk, bring a family member, do what you like, but just be available on the truck when it’s needed.”

The four volunteers arrived for Boxing Day, allowing locally-based CFA members to work in their businesses during peak traffic times. This year’s Summer Crew departed Lorne last weekend.

“The Summer Crew also allows members from different brigades to work together,” Mr Aylmer said.

“You could have a member from Bannockburn working with someone from Highton.

They probably wouldn’t cross paths all that often in the district.”

The Summer Crew volunteers were on standby for urban response callouts and day-to-day incidents ranging from children locked in cars, motor vehicle collisions, campfires, to barbecue incidents.