CFA flips for charity at Pancake Day 2008

CFA's Jo Richards in the heat of competition

CFA was again invited to compete in UnitingCare’s annual Emergency Services pancake tossing relay at city square in Melbourne this week. Six CFA staff members put their hands up to form the 2008 relay team.

UnitingCare Australia (the social services arm of the Uniting Church) raises awareness and money for disadvantaged people across Australia. UnitingCare Pancake Day is held annually on Shrove Tuesday, traditionally the final day to eat all the fat, eggs and dairy products in your kitchen before the start of the Christian observance of Lent, 40 days before Easter.
In teams of six, with three at each end, participants had to run with a frying pan in hand, flipping their pancakes four times before passing the frying pan on to the next runner.

The city square was full of colour as each emergency service huddled in preparation for the race. Onlookers at nearby cafés were wary of flying pancakes, but also entertained, by the antics of CFA's larrikins during the warm up, which was half the fun!

After knocking out the likes of the Victorian State Emergency Service and Department of Sustainability and Environment, the tension grew when CFA made it to the final relay against Melbourne Ambulance Service, UnitingCare and traditional pancake flipping rivals MFB.

The trophy (a golden frying pan) was in CFA's reach as our pancake tossers flipped with poise and control. In the last run, Bumper (Neil Bumpstead) sprinted to the finish line against MFB in a battle that was almost too close to call.

It was left to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Bob Cameron, to announce MFB as the winner of 2008’s Pancake Day relay.

CFA will return next year, eager to come away with the golden frying pan!

For information on UnitingCare or to make donations please visit: www.pancakeday.com.au

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Left to right: Kristal Ogier and pancake tossers in aprons Kay Hawkins, Dawn Hartog, Amber Fletcher, Jane Fontana, Neil Bumpstead and Jo Richards with Minister Cameron (centre).

The Pancake Day tradition is said to have originated in Olney, England in 1445. The race came about when a housewife was so busy making pancakes, she forgot the time until she heard the church bells ringing for the service. She raced out of the house to church while still carrying her frying pan and pancake.

The Pancake Day tradition is said to have originated in Olney, England in 1445. The race came about when a housewife was so busy making pancakes, she forgot the time until she heard the church bells ringing for the service. She raced out of the house to church while still carrying her frying pan and pancake.