Help is on its way

By Jessica Howard

Elderly residents will be better prepared in the event of a house fire thanks to a group of
local volunteers.

Bacchus Marsh Rotary and Bacchus Marsh CFA will provide residents aged over 75 with
the opportunity to have their smoke alarm batteries replaced annually.
The project will commence on Sunday October 1 to coincide with the change to daylight
savings.

Sue Hansen from the Rotary Club of Bacchus Marsh said the project was designed to
make senior citizens more aware of the need for working smoke alarms and fire safety.
“[It will also help senior citizens] avoid the possibility of injury by trying to change the
batteries themselves and will help to prevent the trauma of losing their life possessions
through fire,” she said.

The free service will see a friendly Bacchus Marsh Rotarian and uniformed CFA member
knock on the door of those who are registered and test their smoke alarm before changing
its batteries.

Door knocks will occur between either 10am and 12:30pm or 12:30pm and 3pm.
Moorabool Shire Council has identified 215 dwellings that house at least one person aged
over 75 in Bacchus Marsh – all of whom are eligible for the service.

Registrations officially opened on Monday (September 4) and will close on Wednesday
September 27.

The service is supported by Moorabool Shire Council, Bendigo Bank Bacchus Marsh and
Wilson’s Home Timber and Hardware.

To register, contact Bendigo Bank Bacchus Marsh with your address, contact details,
preferred time slot and ceiling height (above or below 10”) on 5367 4660.