On Saturday 28 January, Victorians opened their mouths and their pockets at the Aussie Day Weekend Fundraiser BBQ, held at Bunnings stores, raising more than $70,000 for CFA 43 brigades.
Among those leading the charge were customers at Bunnings Warehouse Wodonga, which supported the Leneva Brigade. Just over $1900 in snags and soft drinks were sold, boosted by a very generous $1000 donation made by a woman on the day.
Located 10km out of Wodonga in an area poised for urban development over the next few years, the funds were a welcome boost for the brigade which has 45 active members and recently celebrated its 70th anniversary.
Leneva Fire Brigade Captain Bruce Morrison said the community response and support on the day from was tremendous.
“The brigade tanker on display in the Bunnings car park created a lot of interest from the public, in particular the children,” he said.
“We also had a model fire truck on loan from Wodonga, Captain Koala handed out balloons, pencils and general fire safety information and members from District 24 headquarters brigade displayed the Wodonga FOV,” he said.
With significant fires in 2014 and 2016 and offering first response support to Wodonga, this active brigade is currently fundraising for 3 projects, including a second appliance, defibrillator and a thermal imaging camera.
Leneva was just one of many brigades who volunteered their time to help make the BBQs a success, handing out community safety information and providing an opportunity for excited children to see inside a fire truck. Water pumping displays also proved particularly popular.
At Bunnings Warehouse Ballarat, Talbot Fire Brigade received just over $2500 from the BBQ, close to $500 of which was in donations.
Brigade Secretary Yazrena Milne said an extra surprise was the kind donation by chainsaw sculptor Angie Polglaze of an owl and goanna she sculpted on the day; they will be used in a brigade raffle.
CFA Chief Officer Steve Warrington thanked Bunnings for organising the annual event, as well as all the CFA members who attended stores and helped to make the day a success.
“Every Bunnings customer knows they can grab a weekend snag to help raise money for local charities and organisations, so it’s great to see this taken to a national level in a special event that specifically acknowledges and support emergency services, including CFA.”
Bunnings Managing Director, Michael Schneider expressed his appreciation to everyone who supported this important initiative.
“We would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who bought a snag or donated on the day in support of the emergency services, including local businesses who donated supplies,” he said.
“We’d also like to thank the local emergency service volunteers, along with our team members, who rolled up their sleeves and ran the BBQs on the weekend.”
In total, more than 2200 team members and emergency services volunteers ran more than 270 BBQs around Australia. The events raised more than $500,000 nationally, with every cent raised going directly to volunteer fire and emergency services.
In Victoria, a total of $125,000 was raised for SES and CFA, with just over $63,000 in proceeds raised for CFA, plus another $7000 in community donations on the day.
CFA would like to extend a big thank you to Bunnings Warehouse for once again holding the Aussie Day Weekend Fundraiser BBQ, and local communities for their support.