FIREFIGHTERS across the hills were celebrated for their hard work and treated to a lavish night at Mount Dandenong’s Skyhigh earlier this month.
The restaurant was booked out for a special dinner for the Kalorama-Mount Dandenong, Olinda and Sassafras-Ferny Creek brigades on 11 July.
The volunteer firefighters all enjoyed a three-course meal and drinks on the evening, which is designed as a thankyou to the brigades for their work protecting the community.
Skyhigh owner John Connellan personally welcomed the firefighters on the night and said the dinner was symbolic of a Christmas dinner that the firefighters may miss due to their work.
“I’ve always admired the work of the CFA – I’d liken their efforts to the Anzacs,” he said.
“I think it’s just fantastic that, in this world of consumerism, one-up-manship and everything being about the dollar, that there are people in the community who are happy to give their time and their safety to help protect the community.”
CFA Chief Officer Euan Ferguson attended on the evening and thanked each of the brigades for protecting the hills communities from fires throughout the years.
Mr Ferguson also noted the work that the Ridgetop firefighters do in organising community awareness of fire safety, through events such as the Ridgetop Family Fun and Information Day.
The next Family Fun and Information Day will be held at Olinda Hall on 23 November.
Community Safety officer for Kalorama-Mt Dandenong Fire Brigade, Virginia McCallum, wrote that the evening was a great opportunity for the volunteers to get together, network and relax.
This year marked the ninth year that the thankyou dinner had been held.
