By JESSE GRAHAM
FIREFIGHTERS in the hills are being thanked for their heroic efforts in a special event later this month, and residents are being encouraged to get involved, donate money and put out a red balloon.
The Olinda Rural Fire Brigade will be teaming up with the Olinda Primary School and local trader The Real Thing Craft Centre on 28 February for a National Red Balloon Day (NRBD) event.
A sausage sizzle will be held out the front of the store, which is located on Olinda-Monbulk Road, and NRBD merchandise will be on sale, with all profits going back to the brigade.
Red Balloon Day was created by Bendigo’s Jody Hardiman to thank firefighters around Australia for their work protecting their communities and residents throughout the year.
The idea behind the day is simple – to fly a red balloon from letterboxes, fences, businesses, or a ribbon on a car on the last day of summer, to let firefighters know they are appreciated.
Balloons sold through the NRBD website sum up the sentiment of the day with slogans printed on bumper stickers and the namesake red balloons – “thankyou fireys.”
The website also encourages people to put on fund-raising events in their area, or to donate money to fire services generally in their states.
Real Thing owner Marquita Telford said she sold merchandise for NRBD on the occasion last year, but was inspired to do something bigger after being involved in a car crash last year.
“I was in quite a horrific accident late last year,” Ms Telford said.
“I’m fine, I had a broken rib, but there was nothing nicer than seeing some members of the Olinda CFA coming to my rescue, having a group of people willing to put themselves out there to help other people.
“They’re just amazing people and they need to be thanked – I personally wouldn’t be able to do what they do, so this is my way of literally saying ‘thankyou’.”
Olinda Rural Fire Brigade Secretary, Elissa Jans, told the Mail that events such as NRBD were heartening for firefighters like those in the Olinda brigade, who are all volunteers from the community.
“We’re all volunteers, 100 per cent of us,” Ms Jans said.
“Firefighters don’t seek recognition, but it’s nice to have the support of the community, and I’m sure that we all do have the support of the community.
“Days like this, it’s a celebration of what people in the community can do.”
Ms Jans said the group had a long wish-list of items they were currently raising money for, including for new security systems in the wake of break-ins at CFA stations across the state, including in Dixons Creek.
“We continually need new operational equipment, and fund-raising is the only way to do it,” she said.
“Our community knows that CFA brigades rely on donations – the CFA contributes, but there is a large part that is self-funded.”
Other items on the list include portable lighting, for when members attend late-night incidents, as well as funding for the brigade’s bi-annual newsletter.
Last year’s fund-raiser resulted in a donation of $400 to the Olinda brigade, and Ms Telford said she hoped visitors, tourists and residents alike would come out to support the event and the local firefighters.
To donate to the Olinda Rural Fire Brigade, call Elissa Jans on 0407 455 914.
For more information about NRBD, visit www.nationalredballoonday.org, and to donate to local fire brigades, contact their station directly.
Are you holding a National Red Balloon Day event to fundraise for your local brigade? We’d love to hear from you – email editor@yvnews.com.au.
