New station at Port Fairy

Port Fairy brigade members are looking forward with excitement to moving into their new station in the next few months. More than half of the new Port Fairy Fire Station had been completed when the magazine went to press. It should be completed by October and be operational by the end of November. The original station, built to accommodate the brigade when it was formed in 1861, was sold in 1940 and replaced by the current station which no longer meets the needs of the brigade. The new station is being built at 116 Princess Highway, Port Fairy – an architect’s drawing is shown below. It will feature updated facilities including change rooms for women to cater for the increase in female volunteers, a kitchen, brigade office, multi-purpose room and three-bay motor room. Just under $2 million of the total cost to build the station was funded through CFA’s Base Capital Works Program, while the brigade contributed $72,700. The brigade also successfully applied for additional VESEP grant funding so that the station could have bifold doors instead of the standard roller doors at the front of the motor room. State Emergency Service (SES) contributed $150,000 for shared services and facilities because it will construct a separate SES building on the site following a Victorian Government funding announcement earlier this year. Port Fairy captain Hugh Worrall said it was exciting to see the project coming to fruition. “It’s a very nice building and will meet the requirements of the brigade for at least the next 20 to 30 years,” Hugh said. With members needing to reverse the fire trucks across traffic to get into the current station, Hugh said the biggest improvement would be the three drive-through bays. He also welcomed change rooms for both women and men firefighters, who currently have to get changed into turnout gear in the motor room. “We’re also getting a nice new meeting room that will also be available for the community to use. As a brigade we can’t wait to get in and furnish it and make sure it’s an inviting place for members and the community,” he said. Hugh was previously a CFA member at Port Campbell before moving to Port Fairy and joining the local brigade seven years ago. He said Port Fairy was a close-knit brigade of dedicated members who protect the small seaside community which swells to five times the population over summer. “The camaraderie is great – we’re all volunteers of course and the local people really appreciate the work we do,” Hugh said. “We’re really lucky that our employers support us to respond to incidents.”

STORY LISELOTTE GEARY

Following in the family’s footsteps

Sophie Maher is currently 1st Lieutenant at Red Cliffs Fire Brigade and also a DELWP firey. She spoke about how her passion for CFA first started and why she continues to keep volunteering. “I first joined CFA in 2009 as a Junior member,” Sophie said. “My dad was a real CFA supporter and was with the brigade for over 48 years. “I have 10 siblings and we have all been part of the brigade at some point in our lives, and it’s really because of the passion my dad had.” Sophie (pictured, right, with her dad Glenn) spent two years in the Junior brigade before stepping up to seniors. “I’ve stayed with CFA for over 10 years now and I guess It’s because I love being a part of the community and helping. A lot of people play sports, but I fight fires. Volunteering with CFA is different, it’s really about giving back. “My husband and I actually first met at CFA,” she added. “He was a DELWP firey at the time as well and he encouraged me to apply for a job there as I loved firefighting, so I thought why not. “When I first got the job, DELWP and CFA were quite separate. Now there are a fair few volunteers who also work at DELWP so we have a few points of contact. Our brigade and DELWP have a really great relationship and we often work alongside each other. “Having experience in CFA definitely helped me when I first started in my role at DELWP. Although they are quite different, I was able to pick things up quite easily. “My job now actually helps me as a volunteer too,” she added. “As we deal with a lot of wildfires in DELWP, I’m able to bring this knowledge back to the brigade. While on a call-out Sophie saw the perfect composition for a photo – a sunset, a big red truck and her siblings – and couldn’t resist taking a beautiful shot (see above). “The photo is actually of my little brother Lockie and also Joel and Rhianna. We were responding to a fire at a local water treatment facility. There were a lot of hazardous trees so we weren’t able to do much. That’s why I took the shot, and I’m glad I did. It’s awesome. “Joel and Rhianna are siblings too who have also followed in their dad’s footsteps by joining the brigade. “The passion for CFA is really past down through generations; it becomes part of your family. I’m really thankful for CFA and what it’s given me and I hope that I’ve been able to give back too.”