MELBOURNE, VIC. — A record number of Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) volunteers played their part in supporting cancer research and vital crisis support services at the weekend, tackling the 13th annual Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb alongside emergency service partner agencies from across Oceania.
A cohort of almost 30 volunteers from throughout Victoria donned their orange uniforms to scale 28 storeys of the Crown Metropol on Saturday, September 12, carrying 25kg of operational equipment on their backs in a show of solidarity with their firefighter colleagues, many of whom completed the climb while using a breathing apparatus to simulate a real fire emergency.
The event, which coincided with the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks in the United States of America, involved almost 1,000 participants from across the emergency services sector, including CFA, Fire Rescue Victoria, Forest Fire Management Victoria and Victoria Police.
Participants also engaged in fundraising ahead of the event, raising more than $1m for services including Lifeline, the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation and the 000Foundation and ensuring fundraising by the event sailed past $6m since its inception in 2014.
The nearly $30,000 contributed by VICSES participants also marked a record fundraising effort for the service, with more than $7,000 raised by the VICSES Hamilton Unit alone.
“Our VICSES volunteers do an incredible job supporting this initiative each year and their fundraising contributions go a long way to supporting members from across the emergency services sector in times of need,” VICSES Chief Officer Operations, Alistair Drayton said.
VICSES Mansfield Unit volunteer Jai was able to raise a remarkable $6,400 for the event, marking the eighth-highest individual total among all participants, before rounding out his involvement with a podium finish among VICSES volunteers in the Open Male (18-39) category, narrowly behind VICSES Manningham Unit pair Fynn and Oliver.
VICSES Wangaratta Unit volunteer Jasmine was VICSES’ fastest participant, recording a sub-five minute time and beating her previous best by almost two-and-a-half minutes as she took to the stairs for her third event.
VICSES Healesville Unit volunteer Calum took home bragging rights among VICSES volunteers in the male Masters category (40-49), while VICSES Gisborne Unit’s Rebecca returned for a third consecutive year to win the female equivalent.
Volunteers Anthony (VICSES Footscray Unit) and Danielle (VICSES Glen Eira Unit) shared the respective honours in the Grand Masters (50-59) category, while VICSES Kilmore Unit volunteer Scott led all comers in the Supreme Grand Masters (60+) competition.
Other VICSES dual members also took part in the event through their affiliation with local CFA brigades or FRV stations, with many donning a breathing apparatus to tackle the climb.
“It’s a fantastic cause and credit must go to each and every one of our members who represented either VICSES or one of our partner agencies in tackling the climb and supporting our fellow first responders,” VICSES Chief Officer Operations, Alistair Drayton said.
To make a donation to the Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb, visit www.firefighterclimb.org.au/donations/donate.
