CFA
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Finding peace in wilderness
‘First Responders Trek for Health’ is a not-for-profit organisation focusing on the physical and mental wellbeing of emergency services personnel. It was formed in late 2019 by members of the Woodend SES Unit. Founding member Kevin Mcnair said the group facilitated participation in outdoor activities to increase and maintain physical fitness and contribute to the…
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Fire brigade in limbo
Amy Hume Riddells Creek Fire Brigade remains in limbo as the proposed site for its new station was all but struck out last week. Macedon Ranges Shire councillors voted not to pursue plans for the brigade’s relocation to Riddells Creek Recreation Reserve following community opposition. The Crown land reserve at 26-32 Sutherlands Road, zoned public…
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Remembering Ash Wednesday
This Thursday, February 16, marks the 40th anniversary of one of the most horrific natural disasters ever to hit this country – the Ash Wednesday fires. Raging widespread throughout parts of Victoria and South Australia, the Macedon Ranges was one of the areas worst hit by the fire storms. Locally 379 homes in total were…
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New recruits join ranks
The Country Fire Authority recently added another happy group of volunteer firefighters to its local ranks. Last month, 16 new recruit members came together from Castlemaine, Newstead, Maldon, Fryerstown, Huntly, Talbot, Guildford, Bullengarook and Wareek Bung Bong brigades to finally complete their practical general firefighter assessments at the Castlemaine Fire Station. For some it was…
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Get prepared for emergency expo
Flood risk and fire season preparation will be front and centre at the Emergency Response Expo at Castlemaine’s Western Reserve this Saturday October 8. The event is expected to be bigger than ever with close to 30 organisations attending, including the SES, CFA, Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, DELWP, Disaster Legal Help Victoria, and Wildlife Victoria.…
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Moo-ving rescue
Firefighters helped to save a cow stuck in mud up to its neck in Kyneton on Thursday. Four CFA units from Arthurs Creek, Tylden and Kyneton were called to the scene at a Greenway Lane property about 11.51am. Macedon Ranges Shire Council was also on scene and made heavy machinery available for any potential rescue…
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Dog rescued from mineshaft
A dog had to be rescued from a mineshaft near Castlemaine by a specialist CFA team last Saturday morning. The CFA’s Oscar 1 mine rescue unit was called in from Bendigo to retrieve the poodle cross from the mineshaft in Specimen Gully Road. CFA Oscar 1 team leader Daniel McMahon said the dog had wandered…
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Watch and act for Harcourt
Harcourt residents were on high alert on Friday afternoon following the re-ignition of a fire that was believed to have been extinguished on Thursday afternoon. A Watch and Act message was issued for residents at Harcourt, Harcourt North, Ravenswood, Ravenswood South, Sedgwick and Sutton Grange shortly after the CFA was notified of the grassfire spreading…
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Mine shaft rescues
Two dogs have been rescued from mine shafts by local CFA brigades and a specialist unit in the space of week. In the most recent incident, a dog was rescued from a shaft in a remote location in the Wombat Forest near Woodend in darkness last Friday night. Woodend CFA volunteers took some time to…
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AFSM honour for incident manager
The dedication of Stephen Walls to the Country Fire Authority has been recognised, with the long-serving member announced as a recipient of the Australian Fire Services Medal.The prestigious honour is awarded to those who have rendered distinguished service as a member of an Australian fire service. The Campbells Creek resident said he was shocked to…
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Gas leaks may be linked
Multiple gas leaks within a block of each other in Castlemaine CBD in recent days are the subject of an investigation aimed at identifying the cause. CFA units from Castlemaine and Campbells Creek attended following reports of a gas leak shortly after 8am on Thursday morning at the old fire station building – now operating…
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Firies save a life
Local firefighters have saved a captain’s life after he went into cardiac arrest on the fire ground. Spring Hill Fire Brigade Lieutenant Garry McKimm said members were fighting a small fire in a caravan attached to a house at Glenlyon last month when Captain Scott Selle collapsed. “I was talking to the captain when he…