Vital funds raised for Wye fire truck

WYE River’s fire brigade is a step closer to buying a replacement fire truck after a successful community fundraiser this month.

The Otways CFA unit raised more than $17,000 at its annual New Year’s fete last week, with brigade members and auxiliary volunteers setting up market stalls, demonstrations and food sales to raise cash for the local firefighting crew.

The brigade is aiming to raise more than $30,000 to for a replacement light tanker and “slip-on” firefighting unit – which includes a water tank, pump and hoses that can be loaded onto a volunteer’s ute – that complements its CFA-supplied primary vehicle.

Wye River CFA captain Andrew Hack said the money was vital to ensure the service could stay at the top of its game for its emergency responses.

“Working off old figures, the total cost [of new equipment] is in excess of 230,000. With a [state government] grant, we’re looking at a contribution of $30,000-plus.

 

“If we end up getting a grant, it makes a huge difference.

“We turn over those secondary vehicles anywhere between five and 10 years, we’ll in a position where within the next couple of years we’ll have to turn over both our light tanker and our slip-on.

“This money goes towards those essential appliances, which are key to being able to provide the emergency service that we do.

“We’re quite often called out to assist the coastal area group, like Lorne and Anglesea.

“It’s equipment that will help keep the whole Great Ocean Road area safe.”

 

Mr Hack said the brigade would stockpile cash raised from the recent New Year’s fete and the coming event at Easter to go towards its tanker drive.

It would then apply for a grant from the Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP) to finish the funding contribution.

“With the money we’ve received there, and hopefully the money we receive from the Easter fete, should be sufficient to help the brigade make its contribution towards one of those appliances if we’re successful with the VESEP grant.

“Otherwise we’ll have to do more fundraising within the club… that’s a lot of sausages to sell to raise that kind of money.”