GOULBURN Valley volunteer CFA units will receive new thermal imaging cameras, apparel and special truck licences as a share of $4.8 million of public donations received during the most recent bushfire season.
The donated funds were allocated through a tools and equipment program, with 72 brigades in CFA District 22 to receive items.
State wide, 95 percent of the CFA’s more than 1200 brigades took up the offer to select items from a ‘district pick list’ program that also included popular items such as remote area lighting, quick fill pumps and rear-view cameras.
Thermal imaging cameras make up the largest portion of funding, with 232 wildfire and 27 structural cameras selected at a combined value of close to $1 million.
More than $300,000 will be spent up-skilling members with medium-rigid and heavy truck licences, and 218 defibrillators will also be distributed at a cost of more than $450,000.
More than a third of the total funds came directly from the most successful community fundraiser, where $1.8 million was generated by former Portland resident, Jodie Silva, through a Facebook fundraiser.
Acting CFA chief officer, Garry Cook said the CFA had been humbled by the influx of donations from all over Australia and the world during the extreme 2019/20 season, and members were very grateful.
“It’s great to see these tools, additional skills and equipment filtering through to our brigades and members before the next bushfire season,” he said.
“That’s where they will make a real difference to the vital work they do in keeping our communities safe.”
