Gift commands respect

By Jade Lawton
THE SUPPORT of the Cardinia Shire community has helped purchase a new command vehicle for the shire’s 20 fire brigades.
The Nissan Pathfinder, equipped with GPS, two radios, lights and sirens, and bigger tyres and axles for off-road driving, was delivered to the Cardinia CFA group headquarters in John Street last week.
Cardinia CFA group officer Phillip Craig said that on Black Saturday, CFA volunteers were using a bus as a command vehicle, which was unable to go off-road.
“We had a lot more strike teams on 7 February and we were very short. This will be used for a variety of roles, leading strike teams, predominantly wildfire use,” he said.
“This is much safer to use off-road. It is really important to have a good vehicle.”
Cardinia Foundation Executive Di Padgett said the vehicle would benefit brigades across the shire.
“This can be used for training, and if we have another major event (like Black Saturday) it will be there,” she said.
“Once again the community has got together and made a big difference.”
Cardinia Shire Mayor Bill Pearson said the shire was home to 20 brigades run by more than 600 volunteers.
“They are all marvellous. We’re really proud of all the people who supplied this, and all the CFA brigades,” he said.
The state-of-the-art vehicle was purchased with help from the Cardinia Foundation, Facey Group, the Shire of Cardinia, Pakenham Racing Club, Bendigo Community Bank and other sponsors, following the Thankyou Firies event held at the Lakeside Amphitheatre in April.
“We are humbled to have such a group of people in the community and a wonderful lady in Di Padgett who worked bloody hard, not just to get the vehicle, with everything,” Mr Craig said.
Another command vehicle will soon be donated to Lang Lang CFA thanks to the Bendigo Community Bank.