RACV Community Foundation and Communityhelp grants

RACV’s Community Foundation and Communityhelp grant schemes provide much needed funds to community-based organisations around Victoria. Several CFA brigades were successful in obtaining funds from this year’s allocation of grants under those schemes, in amounts ranging from $2,000 to $10,000.

RACV Community Foundation grant winners
Several CFA brigades received Community Foundation grants this year, with the largest amount of $10,000 going to Southwest Area. The funds will be used to purchase Bullex fire extinguisher simulator equipment, to train local community groups and industry in fire safety and fire combat techniques.

Community Foundation grants were also awarded to:

• Apsley brigade – $7,733 to purchase a 7,500 litre floating collar dam and a purpose-built trailer to support better emergency response capacity of the brigade
• Casterton Urban brigade – $4025.22 to purchase basket stretchers and other equipment to effectively and safely respond to rescue incidents in isolated and inaccessible locations
• Darraweit Guim brigade – $2,128.60 to purchase a small generator and portable lighting to use when responding to night-time emergencies.
• French Island brigade – $7,910 to equip and train personnel to provide interim emergency medical response and support until the professional paramedic support is available.
• Lancefield brigade – $4,290 to purchase the Blitzfire Monitor – a lightweight, high-flow monitor to help effectively fight fires which require large volumes of water to be delivered quickly and safely.
• Neerim brigade – $7,000 to purchase a Portable Field IT (PFIT) Kit to install into the support vehicle, to help enhance the safety and protection of firefighters and to provide updated information to the Incident Management Team.

Communityhelp grants
The Chiltern brigade, Harrow brigade and Midlands Wimmera Area all received grants of up to $5,000 each under the Communityhelp grants this year.

Chiltern brigade will use the funds to implement fire, accident and emergency suppression devices. The brigade will compile and supply these emergency traffic warning devices to two Chiltern first response fire vehicles. These warning devices are intended to give traffic advanced warning of motor vehicle accidents or changed traffic conditions in emergency situations.

Harrow brigade will use its grant to purchase a quick fill pump, to assist and benefit the brigade as well as surrounding district brigades. The pump will provide easy access to available water supplies for the speedy refill of CFA tankers during operational activity.

Midlands Wimmera Area will use its grant to launch a smoke alarm awareness program. This involves a smoke alarm mascot to travel to schools and events, educating about the importance of having a functional smoke alarm in the home.