.JPG "2025 Championships winners team Melton")
2025 Championships winners team Melton
The Urban Juniors battled it out over the weekend (22-23 March) in the 2025 CFA/VFBV State Firefighter Championships with ‘Melton A’ once again taking reign in Mooroopna.
Thousands gathered for the historic event and were welcomed to the competition with an opening parade, remarks from CFA Board Chair Jo Plummer and VFBV State President Samantha Collins, before the event was officially opened by Emergency Services Minister Vicki Ward MP.
The Urban Junior competition kicked off around 9.30am on Saturday 22 March and concluded in the afternoon of Sunday 23 March, with the ‘Melton A’ team crowned Urban Junior champions for the fifth year in a row, making it their sixth overall win in seven years.
Melton Fire Brigade 2nd lieutenant Bailey Rhodes took over the role as coach of Melton A from his father Anthony who had been in the role for around 20 years.
Bailey who led the winning team, alongside his brother Cooper and brigade member Denzel as assistant coaches, said the victory was very emotional after a rocky start to the competition over the weekend.
“The team struggled in the first few events but the comeback was incredible to watch,” Bailey said.
“I shed a few tears after the last event which we had to win to win the championship, I’m not usually an emotional person but I’m immensely proud of the juniors and all their hard work.
“The team has been training since last October around 4 hours a week. It’s also nice to see so many siblings and family connections to Melton Fire Brigade in the team.
“The Championships are all I’ve known since I was born, I’ve watched Dad run in them for many years and competed with my whole family, so to take reign of the team and see them put in all the hard work is an honour to be a part of and a moment I’ll never forget.”
The Junior Championships was a weekend full of traditions and some surprises, with Stawell being announced as the new location for the State Firefighter Championships next year.
Stawell Captain Mal Nicholson said the brigade is chuffed to have the championships move to their town in 2026.
“We ran the State Championships in Stawell in 1995, 2000 and 2006 so it will be great to have people back in the town, supporting the area especially after the bushfires over the Christmas period,” Mal said.
“The Championships are also a great opportunity to showcase the area and local community to several other CFA volunteers from across the state.
“We are a strong brigade with over 40 members and more than 200 call-outs per year.
“We know the Stawell community and Northern Grampians Shire will get behind us to make the 2026 State Championships a fantastic event. See you all in Stawell next year!”
Chief Officer Jason Heffernan congratulated all the competitors and thanked those who worked hard behind the scenes in the lead up and during the event.
“It was fantastic to see the juniors battle it out over the weekend but more importantly, it’s great seeing the camaraderie between brigades and the skills of our future firefighters being showcased to thousands of spectators,” Jason said.
“I look forward to seeing everyone this weekend for the final weekend of competition. May the best team win!”
Grand Aggregate result
1st place: Melton A - 80 points
2nd place: Echuca A - 73 points
3rd place: Grovedale - 48 points
A full list of results can be found on the VFBV website. Members can find out more information on the Urban Senior, Rural Junior and Senior State Firefighter Championships taking place next weekend at www.cfa.vic.gov.au/champs.
Keep up to date with everything that’s happening across the event on our CFA Champs Facebook page.
The 2025 State Firefighter Championships are supported by the Victorian Government.