Freshwater Creek CFA making community safety a priority

It’s time to celebrate another one of the successful Ashbury Community Fund grant applicants, the Freshwater Creek CFA.

The Country Fire Authority was established in 1944 to reform rural fire management in Victoria after a succession of devastating bushfires. The new CFA brought together the existing local community brigades under the one piece of legislation.

Freshwater Creek CFA is one of over 1,200 brigades located around regional Victoria, and plays a vitally important role in the community, and is responsible for fire suppression, rescues, and response to other accidents and the local area – especially during the long hot Australian summer months!

We spoke with the Brigade’s Tony McMeel to learn a little more about the organisation and about how he became involved.

Tell is about how you became involved with Freshwater Creek CFA and your role there?

“Over the past 30 years, I’ve been involved with three different CFA brigades, largely based on where I’ve been living and farming. First up I was a member of the Bannockburn CFA. Then I joined Bostock’s Creek CFA which is part of the Cobden Group. And for the past 5 years I’ve been with the Freshwater Creek CFA brigade where I currently occupy multiple roles – my rank is 4^th Lieutenant; I’m also the Recruitment Officer; plus I oversee Brigade’s Community Safety and Community Engagement programs.”

Tell us a little about the Freshwater Creek CFA?

“The brigade had been established a little before the CFA in the early 1940s, making it one of CFA Victoria’s original brigades, and there are still a small handful of members who have been involved with it for most of that time, or who joined the Brigade because their fathers were founding members. One of them, Les Grossman, who unfortunately passed away last year, spent over 70 years of service with the Brigade, and for most of that time he played an active role in the brigade including a significant stint as the group communications officer.”

What are the most rewarding things about being involved in the local CFA?

“Being a member of the broader CFA is definitely rewarding because it performs such vital functions for both the State and the local community, especially in the area of community safety. At a more grassroots level, I liken being a member of a local brigade, like ours, to being a member a fantastic team where everyone is working towards a common goal of doing their best for the local community.”

What are the biggest challenges facing Freshwater Creek CFA?

“Like all CFA brigades, we face two key challenges. The first of these is finding volunteers who are both locally based in the brigade area and who are also actually available to turn out to incidents on a weekday or whenever fires or other emergencies strike. Secondly, there’s the challenge that comes with managing, directing and caring for visitors who travel through the Brigade area on high fire risk days (i.e. heading to the beach), who don’t fully understand the fire risks they could be facing.”

What are the most critical and/or frequently called upon services run by Freshwater Creek CFA? 

“The Brigade is regularly called up to respond to wildfires, grass and scrub fires, structure fires and motor vehicle incidents – basically any emergency incidents that typically require fire brigade assistance. We work primarily in the Freshwater Creek area, but from time to time we’re also called upon to also support neighbouring brigades, and sometimes to assist with other fires and emergencies across the State. Some members will travel much further. For instance, this time last year I was in Queensland as part of a Victorian team supporting the Queensland Rural Fire Service’s firefighting efforts!”

If you were granted one wish for Freshwater Creek CFA, what would it be?

“As is the case throughout most of regional Victoria, for the Freshwater Creek community to continue to have a vibrant brigade, successfully supporting community safety.”

How can people become involved, support Freshwater Creek CFA, donate, volunteer, etc?

“We’re always on the hunt for more volunteers! If you are interested, you should visit the CFA website and select Volunteer Recruitment. If you live or work in or near Freshwater Creek, you can make an expression of interest through the website, and I’ll follow it up with you.”