Echuca Fire Brigade enjoyed a podium finish and thoughtful camaraderie at the recent CFA/VFBV State Firefighter Championships.
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Echuca Fire Brigade has returned from the CFA/VFBV State Firefighter Championships in Mooroopna with a podium finish and a heartfelt gift.
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The Echuca A junior side took second place in the Urban Junior event on the first weekend of the competition, placing just behind reigning champion Melton A.
Coach Jordan Simpson said the team was feeling great about the result.
Echuca Fire Brigade junior representatives on the State Firefighter Championships podium.
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“They placed in quite a few events and finished second overall, but only by seven points, so it was close,” he said.
“I think people are excited to come back next year and give it another go.”
Urban Junior competitors battled it out in 18 different championship events.
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The junior competition sees teams from all over the state compete in 18 different wet and dry events for different age ranges.
Mr Simpson said the young competitors would have a break before beginning a winter program that involved hands-on training with firefighting equipment.
While Echuca’s senior side didn’t make the podium this year, captain Daniel Moylan said the champion brigade surprised the team with a sincere gift.
“Melton, who had taken out the state championships, came up to us and presented us with a competition branch they’d just received as part of their winnings,” he said.
The Echuca senior side pictured with the gifted branch from Melton Fire Brigade.
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The branch was gifted in memory of Nathan Taylor, who was a runner and key member of Echuca’s senior side.
Mr Moylan said Melton Fire Brigade and its captain, Anthony Rhodes, had been supportive through what had been a difficult year for the team.
“It’s just a nice, kind gesture that they’ve handed on the branch to be used in future competitions,” he said.
“To have that as a memento in memory of Nath, and use it that way, was really touching.
“It shows how big of a family CFA are. You can be at one end of the state compared to another side, but still have that connection.”
Overall, Mr Moylan said he was happy with the senior side’s performance in the competition.
The team was elevated to A-grade this year, and a few competing members missed out due to injury and illness, but Echuca still placed in events to get points on the board.
“It was more getting out there, running, having a good time, and doing the best we could,” Mr Moylan said.
“I think we all achieved more than we expected we would.”
This year’s annual championships were held over two weekends on March 22 and 23 and March 29 and 30 at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve.
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