By REBECCA BILLS
BELGRAVE South Primary School students were star-struck when North Melbourne midfielder Jack Ziebell visited as part of this year’s Summer Fire Campaign.
On Tuesday 17 December, aspiring footy player at the school were put through their paces with the footy player, with parents welcomed to watch their children learn from one of North Melbourne’s finest players.
Belgrave South CFA members Alan Dixon and Jim Kelly were there talking to parents and students about the risk of bushfires and grassfires in the coming summer season. Mr Ziebell said it was great to run the kids through various football skills and he was proud to step up and reinforce to Belgrave residents that the threat of fire is real for urban fringe communities.
“There is a real risk fire could break out on the fringes of Belgrave and other regional areas this summer,” he said.
“People need to understand their fire risk this summer and if they’re unsure, they should visit the VicEmergency website for information on how they can plan and prepare their households.
“There’s some great young footy talent at Belgrave South but it’s also important that parents take home fire safety messages to keep families safe this summer.”
The Summer Fire Campaign is part of the Victorian Coalition Government’s 2013/14 mission to build safer communities.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services Kim Wells said he is pleased Mr Ziebell visited the school and said it would help encourage Belgrave South residents to understand their fire risk and prepare for fire.
“Belgrave South Primary School is on the urban fringe of Melbourne and could be particularly vulnerable to grassfire this summer,” he said.
“Everybody should be having the conversation within their household about what needs to be done to prepare and what they will do in the event that fire does break out.”
For more information on how to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies, visit the VicEmergency website at www.emergency.vic.gov.au.
