State Member visits Hastings Fire Brigade

State Member for Hastings Mr Paul Mercurio MP with CFA volunteers at Hastings Fire Brigade, VIC on 22 July 2024.

 

Volunteers from Hastings Fire Brigade welcomed State Member for Hastings, Mr Paul Mercurio, MP, to the station in Monday night (22 July).

 

Mr Mercurio visited the Western Port-based brigade to engage with members and gain a deeper understanding of how Hastings and other brigades work to protect the community.

Mr Mercurio was accompanied by Assistant Chief Fire Officer Sean Kerr and was welcomed by Hastings Captain Mike Willmott.

“It’s fantastic to have Mr Mercurio visit us here in Hastings,” Mike said.

“We are excited to welcome him and to demonstrate how proud we are to serve the community.”

The visit began with a tour of the station, after which Mr Mercurio took the opportunity to engage with members of the brigade.

“It’s great to be here tonight and to meet you all,” Mr Mercurio said.

“The way you work with each other, and the feeling of family, is great to see.

You have inspired me to visit other local brigades and get to know them more too,” Mr Mercurio said.

Hastings is located on the Mornington Peninsula adjacent to Western Port Bay. The brigade has 61 members, of which 36 are currently operational, and maintains a pumper, heavy tanker, light tanker and 4x4 field command vehicle. Hastings borders and supports Tyabb, Bittern, Crib Point, and Moorooduc.

Hastings responded to 258 incidents in 2023/24, and since the new financial year, has responded to incidents including a structural collapse and a house fire.

“It’s important to demonstrate the requirements of an urban fringe brigade like ours,” Mike said.

“On one side of Hastings we have heavy industry with a steel plant and oil refinery. In town we have a diverse mix of commercial and residential properties, and away from the bay we are surrounded by country roads, agistments, and bushland,” Mike said.

“This means our volunteers have to be capable of responding to a wide range of different incidents, ranging from those involving hazardous materials, to motor vehicle accidents, house fires, and bushfires.”

After meeting the members, Mr Mercurio observed the brigade conducting a pumping exercise where water was moved between several appliances – a manoeuvre which can overcome distance between a main water source and an appliance engaged in fighting a fire.

Captain Wilmott articulated the capabilities of the pumper and tankers, introducing Mr Mercurio to the equipment on board the vehicles.

To round the night off, Mr Mercurio posed for a photo with the brigade.

“I know that we are in terrific hands with the CFA,” Mr Mercurio said.

“The most impressive thing about tonight is that everyone is happy. You are enjoying what you do but you have purpose, and with purpose comes hope.

“The hope here is that when there is an issue, you know how to deal with it. You save people, and you look after people, and it has been a great thing to witness you work tonight.”

 

Submitted by	Jonathan Rendell