By VICTORIA STONE-MEADOWS
BELGRAVE CFA has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the Victorian Government’s Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program.
The grant is one of 202 grants totalling more than $7.1 million provided to CFA brigades across the state.
Under the program, the Government contributes $2 for every $1 contributed by local volunteer groups up to $100,000.
The Belgrave CFA has raised $100,000 to go towards a new tanker through their annual art show and other fund-raising events and also received $30,000 contribution from the CFA to buy a new tanker.
The brigade has been supported in raising this money through intersection collections and sausage sizzles at Belgrave Safeway, donations from the Belgrave Kennel Club, and donations from local businesses and individuals.
The new tanker will assist the brigade to access fires they may not have been able to get to with the older equipment they are using currently.
When announcing the grants Minister for Emergency Services Jane Garrett said the State Government was proud to support volunteers in the community.
“Volunteers are the backbone of our community. They help protect the lives of more than 3.3 million Victorians and deserve our support,” she said.
Belgrave CFA secretary Jett Prout said the brigade was pleased to have received the grant money.
“What it is really all about is that it is a great thing to be able to help your community and that job is made much easier and safer with the right equipment,” she said.
Ms Prout said the addition of the new fire-fighting equipment would make a huge difference to the operations of the brigade.
“We will now be more able to protect the local community as this new appliance has a much greater fire-fighting capacity than the one it is replacing,” she said.
“It also provides a much greater level of safety for the fire-fighters who use it.”
The bridage recognises it could not have made this bid for funding on its own and so have many thanks to give to others in the community who have supported them through the process.
“We would particularly like to thank our Member of Parliament, the Hon. James Merlino for his letter of recommendation and our brigade Administrative Support Officer Kate Murphy,” Ms Prout said.
“Also the president of the Belgrave Kennel Club Merilyn Syme and the members of the Belgrave Kennel Club, all of the members of the Belgrave Volunteer Fire Brigade for working tirelessly to raise the necessary funds and of course the members of our community and everyone else who has generously supported us.”
