District 11 Firefighter Games 2024

Bairnsdale wins the trophy

 

The sun shone brightly on another District 11 Firefighter Games last weekend, though members travelling from Mallacoota, Cann River and Omeo drove through snow to participate at the event, held at Swan Reach Recreation Reserve.

 

Brigades with up to 10 members in each team competed for medals and an overall trophy in games that simulate General Firefighter skills plus driving, crew leadership and working in a team. 

The round-robin format included Running Grass Fire Event, Hydrant Relay, Entrapment Drill, Draughting, Five-Person Fog Attack, Navigation and Communication. These events required three to five people per team and participants had to adhere to SOPs and fireground practices. 

Coaches were encouraged on the course and Judges gave feedback at the conclusion of all the teams' runs.

The day finished with each team nominating two pairs of firefighters who were placed in a tennis championship style draw, to compete in the hose race. This event is exciting for both the participants and the crowd, and even the Group Officers had a go. Metung brigade was the eventual winner, with its Juniors coming in second and the Junior leaders winning the race by less than a second.

Bairnsdale brigade (with a couple of ring-ins from Bengworden and Orbost), ably led by Crew Leader Simon Ellis won the overall trophy, and deservedly so having been seen practising night after night for this event.  A real credit to the crew, who are fire ready. East Gippsland MP Tim Bull presented the team with the overall trophy.

It was great to so many new faces at the Games, with new members in every team.  The Metung community should feel very safe with the amount of great Juniors coming through their Junior program, with many proudly taking home medals. 

Gold, silver and bronze medals were presented in each event by Tim Bull MP, CFA’s Manager for SER Volunteer Sustainability Lisa Peters and Councilor Arthur Allan.

The Appliance Expo was a special treat this year with specialist vehicles including Metung’s marine unit, Lakes Entrance brigade's rescue unit, Sarsfield brigade's big fill, Bairnsdale’s breathing apparatus support unit, District 11 Headquarters Brigade's staging area truck and communications van, the Paynesville rehab unit and a special look at the light tanker prototype truck that's touring Victoria. 

 

Submitted by	Kylie Findley