Population growth and an increasing workload have led to Diggers Rest CFA’s family fun day taking on greater importance.
An Easter egg hunt will be among the highlights of Saturday’s event, which is the brigade’s major annual fund-raiser.
Captain Luke Hynes says volunteers hope to raise at least $3000 as the brigade looks to buy tools, expand storage space and start saving for a new fire truck.
The event, in its fifth year, usually attracts about 200 people from Diggers Rest, Taylors Lakes, Bacchus Marsh and Gisborne.
“We have a shed going out back which we will use for storage of a lot of our equipment,” Mr Hynes said.
“Our main goal is to start saving for a new truck, which we will need in six years, so we’ve got that in the back of our minds. It won’t be cheap.”
Mr Hynes said the brigade needed more equipment and room to store it.
The brigade responds to an average of 250 calls a year and heavily supports the CFA in Sunbury, Gisborne, Toolern and Bulla.
“We don’t have facilities to fix and clean things like generators, which is why the shed will be helpful so we have more room to store them,” he said.
“We’re also looking to build a barbecue [area] so members have somewhere to relax.”
Mr Hynes says the brigade has 22 volunteers and is in the process of recruiting another 12 following inquiries during summer.
» Saturday’s fund-raiser at the fire station will include an animal farm, sausage sizzle, face-painting and a colouring competition. Activities start at 9.30am, with the Easter egg hunt at 12.30pm. 9740 1303.
