In the dire situation of saving a home, stock animals or people from a bushfire, every moment counts and so too does every detail of equipment.
A grant from the Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal has made one small difference in a CFA brigade’s procedure, but it could be the one that counts on the day.
More than $8000 was granted to the Cosgrove and Pine Lodge CFA Brigade to install purpose-built hose drying racks at their Cosgrove station, with the brigade raising a further $1500 toward the project.
Brigade captain Jason Watts said the racks made a difference to fire hose maintenance.
“The racks allow us to dry the hoses, preserve them and identify holes for repairs more easily,” Mr Watts said.
“The angles of the racks make them easier to drain and then we can inspect them in case they need repairs.”
Prior to the installation, hoses were laid out on the station’s floor and driveway to drain, posing an OHS risk to volunteers.
The new racks allow for quicker draining safely above the ground and raise the hoses for easier inspection.
“If the hoses don’t fully dry, they can disintegrate.”
FRRR has delivered more than $177 million to nearly 14,000 projects since 2000.
Most projects are funded by small grants through programs like Strengthening Rural Communities.
FRRR’s place portfolio lead Jill Karena said wonderful volunteers in local groups continued to find meaningful ways to support their communities.
“One of the best parts of my job is seeing the way people in remote, rural and regional areas come together to support one another to make things better for their community,” Ms Karena said.
“And we see the amazing impact that these small grants can have on a rural community."
Mr Watts has been involved in the brigade for 15 years, following in his father-in-law’s footsteps, becoming captain in 2019.
The brigade normally averages about 20 to 25 attendances at fires each summer, but Mr Watts said this summer had been ‘pretty quiet’.
“We have gone to about a dozen incidents since October,” he said.
Mr Watts also praised members of the brigade who volunteered time to install the racks.
“Three people assembled and installed them, but without the grant from FRRR, our ability to do this is pretty much non-existent.
“We don’t have much ability in the local district to raise funds, so we are very grateful for grants.”
Past grants to the station include a quick-fill trailer provided by Bendigo Bank, which contained a large pump designed to quickly refill three fire trucks at the same time from any channel or dam.
New members to the brigade were always being sought, with Mr Watts saying they need people who are nearby in the district to help with day-time turnouts.
“That would be great to get some young people,” he said.
“The satisfaction for me is always talking to my brigade members, to remind them that we are here to protect the community who live here, who work here and the people who are travelling through.
“And that’s for fire, flood, road accident or whatever it may be.
“The pager goes off in the middle of the night or two in the afternoon - whenever - you drop what you’re doing to go help someone and that’s where you know you’ll get a good bit of satisfaction from that.
“Whatever it is, we are here to protect people on our patch.”