All smiles: Snake Valley CFA Lieutenant Russell Schmidt holds one of the 10 defibrillators that was donated by the Flight Centre Foundation. Central Square Flight Centre team leader Carly Cunningham, in a donated refrigerated truck, and CFA Grampions regional director Don Kelly look on. PICTURE: Jeremy Bannister
TEN new defibrillators and a refrigerated truck will stand Grampians region firefighters in good stead this season.
The equipment, worth $40,000, was yesterday donated to the Country Fire Authority by the Flight Centre Foundation.
CFA Grampians regional director Don Kelly said firefighters were meant to drink three bottles of water every hour they were fighting fires, making the truck a much-needed asset.
“It can be taken straight to the fire scene,” he said.
“The defibrillators will be spread across brigades from Ballarat to the South Australian border.”
Carly Cunningham, of Central Square Flight Centre, said staff gave money from their wages for good causes, which was matched dollar for dollar by Flight Centre.
Because of the extreme fire season, it was decided to do extra fundraising for the CFA.
“At our monthly area meetings we rattled tins and collected money and we got people to donate straight from their wages at our state conference and ball in January and July,” Ms Cunningham said.
“Everyone contributed. It was absolutely amazing. It will make such a difference to people in the community.”
