Volunteer treks 240km to support brigade
Glenlyon member Shaun Gedge has completed a remarkable journey, walking 240 kilometres around the brigade’s response area to raise funds for vital new firefighting equipment.
Shaun set out on his nine-day trek on 18 October, with the aim of covering the response areas of the eight brigades that make up the Glenlyon Group in District 15.
“I’m originally from the UK, and I did a 160-kilometre walk over there to raise funds for the local Air Ambulance, which is completely charity-based,” Shaun said.
“When I joined Glenlyon, I asked what sort of things I could do to help, and that’s where the idea for this walk came from.”
Despite some challenges including an early injury, the firefighter and Junior leader walked an average of 28.5 kilometres a day, camping along the route each night before finishing his solo journey on 26 October.
His goal was to raise funds for breathing apparatus (BA) units and, eventually, an ultralight tanker – essential equipment that will strengthen Glenlyon’s ability to respond to local emergencies from bushfires to hazardous material incidents and vehicle accidents.
By the end of his trek, Shaun had surpassed his initial $5,000 target, and donations continued to come in.
“I actually hit my fundraising goal before the walk, and I was absolutely thrilled about that," Shaun said.
“We respond to a wide range of calls across our area. Having the right equipment makes all the difference – not only for our safety but for how effectively we can protect our community.”
For Shaun, the trek around his district was about more than just distance, it was about giving back.
“I joined the brigade just over a year ago, and I’ve seen how hard everyone works to keep our community safe,” he said. “This was my way of doing something extra to help out.
“It was great to walk through the Glenlyon area – not just for the physical challenge, but to get a better feel for the local area especially from a fire risk perspective.
“My fellow brigade members also joined me for stints along the way to keep me company and bring me supplies so I wasn’t carrying too much. They also checked in with me constantly on our group chat to keep my morale up.
“When I got up into the higher areas and could look out over the valley – those were the moments that inspired me to keep going.”