By Parker McKenzie
Ferntree Gully CFA brigade has raised $18,491 for mental health during the 2022 Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb, the most out of any brigade or station taking part.
Firefighters and emergency service personnel climbed 28 floors of the Crown Metropol Hotel in 25kgs of gear to fund research, improve support services, remove stigmas and raise awareness for Lifeline, Fortem and 000Foundation on Saturday 10 September.
Ferntree Gully CFA Captain Seamus Smith said helping fight depression, PTSI and suicide was a great cause.
“It’s no secret that emergency workers, especially across all emergency service providers, have attended traumatic scenarios,” he said.
“Especially with CFA volunteers you’re responding into your own community, which is usually full of family and friends.”
13 members of the brigade took part in the first Stair Climb held in person since 2019, with several others in supporting roles for the event.
Mr Smith said the brigade supplemented personal donations through its yearly battery collection drive for the Stair Climb.
“We appreciate all the support we’ve had from the community and from all the people donating their batteries and dropping them off,” he said.
“We’ve been picking them up and then donating, doing tin collections. It was it was a really super combined effort.”
Currently, with two days to go until donations close, the Melbourne Firefighters Stair Climb has raised $525,938 of its $600,000 target.
Since its inception, the event has raised more than $3 million for charitable causes. In that time, Ferntree Gully CFA has raised close to $90,000.
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said it was great for Emergency service personnel to come together in person and raise money for a worthy cause.
“We’re coming out of an incredibly tough few years which no doubt have taken their toll on people’s mental health in many ways,” he said.
“It’s great to support these issues by finally coming together for some friendly competition and exercise.”
CFA brigades were joined by members from Fire Rescue Victoria, Forest Fire Management Vic, Victoria Police, South Australian Country Fire Service, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Fire and Rescue NSW, Queensland Fire and Emergency Service and Tasmania Fire Service, while Western Australia’s Department of Fire and Rescue Services joined virtually.
For more information about the Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb, visit firefighterclimb.org.au
