The Pakenham Upper crew posted at the fires (from left): Second Lieutenants Neville Walsh, Steve Bayer, Brendan Bertram, Nick Pawley, Mitchell Walsh, Tristan Thompson and Captain Mick Bedford and Richard Hogg.By Sarah Schwager
RAGING bushfires near Erica and Anakie have had Cardinia’s volunteer firefighters working day and night to keep them under control.
Of the more than 100 crews deployed in Gippsland, many came from Cardinia Shire.
Since rain brought relief to the fire areas, the shire’s CFA volunteers have slowly been returning home.
But Pakenham CFA Brigade administration support officer Lisa Hicks said: “Don’t be fooled by the rain in recent days, our fire season has only just started.
“This rain has helped us out this time but we can’t count on it being around next time.”
Ms Hicks said brigade members had been working on a threeday roster in crews of up to 30 firefighters.
Among the strike teams were Pakenham Upper’s Second Lieutenant Neville Walsh and his son Mitchell, whose duties were asset protection on the eastern side of the fires near Mount Carmel.
The recently returned Mr Walsh is selfemployed as a concrete cutter, yet spent a total of seven days away fighting fires.
Captain John Glazzard from Tynong Brigade was a deputy strike team leader and divided his time between Erica and Geelong.
“I worked on two night shifts and two day shifts for asset protection,” Capt Glazzard said.
“We were well looked after by the locals with food and any other requirements that they could help with.”
Pakenham Upper Brigade Captain Mick Bedford said: “Most members had the opportunity to attend at least one strike team if not two.
“It was a great experience for our younger crew members who will be our future leaders”
Mitchell Walsh and Tristan Thompson were both firsttimers at the fire fronts and said it had been an amazing experience. They were in awe at the number of trucks in one area at any given time.
“It was like one large family, plus the fact that we got to operate other trucks not just your own,” Mitchell said.
Ms Hicks said as well as the large numbers of members who had been at the fires, local brigades had been busy with fires in the Western Port area.
“It’s not only the volunteers on the end of hoses that are sent away,” Ms Hicks said.
“Local brigade members have also been working within the incident management teams.”
For information regarding the fire situation, check the CFA website at www.cfa.vic.gov.au.
