Moyhu beefs up firefighting

A community fundraising feat reached its final accomplishment on Sunday 27th July when the Moyhu and District Fire Brigades Group was officially presented with its new slip-on.

Also presented was the Moyhu Brigade’s new 3.4C Tanker with crew cab, replacing its 1989 model.

Group Officer Ron Moorhead described meeting the required $18,333 contribution for the $70,000 slip-on as “an absolutely fantastic community effort,” especially in light of the district not being flush with spare cash.

Moyhu brigade members with their new tanker

“We’ve had a couple of bad years here with drought and different things but they rallied around and came up with the money”, Mr Moorhead said.

Fundraising included written approaches to district landholders, winery operators, major business, government departments and organizations.

When the Group found itself still $5000 short in May, Mr Moorhead said that an article by the Wangaratta Chronicle elicited a great response with cheques and offers of assistance. The Moyhu Hotel had a fundraising afternoon, featuring local musicians who donated their time.

Mr Moorhead said the slip-on substantially lifted the group’s capability to reach a fire in its crucial, early stages.

“We think it’s a major step forward for the group. Because it’s small, it’s going to get us into bush where lightning strikes have occurred.

“It’s equipped with chainsaws and safety gear so we can cut our way into where lightning has struck and deal with it.”

Four of the largest sponsors were:

• the Moyhu Branch of the Victorian Farmers Federation
• Dal Zotto Wines
• Brown Brothers of Milawa, and
• Vic Roads

Other major sponsors were:

• Jayne Wozniak
• Hancocks Victorian Plantations
• Don Cook Earthmoving
• Wangaratta Lions Club

And other members of the community who contributed included:

• Avalon Wines
• George Burrowes
• Trakton Engineering
• Eric Milano
• Erikson Plumbing
• Flanigan Pastoral Company
• Politini Wines
• M & G Martinelli
• Chrismont Wines
• Telstra Countrywide Staff
• Fornelo Pty Ltd
• Ron Moorhead
• King Valley Art Group
• Moyhu Lions Club
• Walter Sartori
• Cyril Ciavarella
• Ian Plemming
• Guy Darling
• G McCormick
• Elly Fletcher
• Dawn Kane

(Article and photo courtesy of Wangaratta Chronicle)