CFA wins Relay for Life's Emergency Services Challenge

Members of the CFA Relay for Life team.

The Cancer Council of Victoria's Relay for Life events are 24-hour team relays held all over Australia at different times throughout the year. These events raise much-needed funds for cancer research and education programs.

CFA took part in this year's Relay for Life Whitehorse 2008 event, as part of the Greater Melbourne region. Held from Saturday 15 November to Sunday 16 November, this event also played host to the Emergency Services Challenge Trophy. This saw Emergency Services Organisations (ESOs) battling it out at the Bill Sewart Athletics Track in Burwood East, to determine who can complete the highest number of laps in a 24-hour period.

Preparing for the race at the Bill Sewart Athletics Track, Burwood East.

The CFA team excelled at this year’s challenge, completing 774 laps (equivalent to 309.6km) to win this year’s trophy, beating MFB, MAS and Victoria Police who came in second, third and fourth respectively. This was a great achievement for the team, seeing that it was only the second time CFA had registered for this event and the fact that participation numbers were lower than last year’s.

Some notable performances from CFA members:

• Firefighter Andrew Reis (Boronia FS) – 83 laps in total
• Firefighter Paul Smith (Belmont FS) – 82 laps in total
• Firefighter Sam Webb (Springvale FS) – 70 laps in total
• Fire Officer Stephen Keating (Dandenong FS) – 65 laps in total

The CFA team co-captains, Qualifed Firefighter Steve Brodie (Hallam FS) and Leading Firefighter Jimmy Wong (Patterson River), would like to thank the following for their support and commitment towards the success of the CFA team:

The shade tent provided by CFA Sports and Recreation Association.

• CFA Sports and Recreation Association (CFASRA) – for providing a shade tent and catering for the team
• Deputy Chief Officer Steven Warrington – for HQ support and leading by example on the track
• Firefighters from Recruit Course 1/2008 – for running the bulk of the team’s laps
• Operations Officer Cliff O’Connor (Hallam FS) and Operations Officer Gavin Thompson (Dandenong FS) – for approval to use brigade equipment
• Hallam brigade – for providing Hazmat Decon tent and generator for members to sleep in
• Dandenong brigade – for providing the use of an E-Flare (which was used as our team baton)
• Springvale brigade – for their generous financial donation towards our team
• Manager Administration Services (CFA HQ) Martyn Bona – for providing the BBQ, gas, esky, drinks, table
• Qualifed Firefighter Glenn Philp – for his musical talents and performance
• All CFA team members involved – for their dedication and commitment to a great cause
• Family, partners and friends – who participated and cheered us on

“Next year’s event will definitely build up with excitement and anticipation, as it is the Whitehorse event’s 10-year reunion of operation,” said Leading Firefighter Jimmy Wong. “And equally important, CFA must defend the title and retain the Emergency Services Challenge Trophy!”

If you have any questions about Relay for Life, or the CFA Running Club, please feel free to contact:

Fire Officer Stephen Keating (Dandenong FS) - s.keating@cfa.vic.gov.au, Leading Firefighter Jimmy Wong (Patterson River FS) - j.wong@cfa.vic.gov.au, Qualified Firefighter Steve Brodie (Hallam FS) - s.brodie@cfa.vic.gov.au or Qualified Firefighter Tim Lancaster (Cranbourne FS) - t.lancaster@cfa.vic.gov.au