Age old tradition: The CFA Firefighter Championships are returning to Mooroopna.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
One of the oldest sports in Australia’s history will be on display during the next two weekends when the State Firefighter Championships return to Mooroopna Recreation Reserve.
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The Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria CFA Championships have been held annually since 1874, only missing years due to WWI, WWII and COVID-19.
The sport is designed to improve firefighter skills, techniques and efficiency, while also encouraging members of the public to give the sport a go.
This weekend, March 16 and 17, will be the Urban Juniors State Firefighter Championship, while the following weekend, March 23 and 24, the Urban Senior, Rural Junior and Rural Senior State Firefighting Championships will be on display.
Euroa brigade first lieutenant and team manager Tyson Thomson believes families should head to Mooroopna Recreation Reserve to experience the unique sport.
“You use the same equipment and techniques that you do when firefighting,” he said.
“You use the same hoses, hydrants, the same branches; all the tools that you use are the same as when you are firefighting.
“We approach the schools and we do training every spring. We take the stuff like the hoses and hydrants for the kids to play with and the kids get used to it; they normally get three or four every year (sign up) and we need four to six for a team.
“The CFA has over 60,000 members state-wide. It’s great that juniors come up to seniors as it teaches them skills and life lessons and puts them in a team sport.
“In a town like Euroa, it’s mainly just footy, cricket or tennis. There’s nothing else, so it is an extra sport to play.”
Euroa’s junior firefighters: A mix of Euroa’s under-14 and 17 teams from a recent regional demonstration event.
The second weekend, March 23 and 24, will feature trade displays, firefighting equipment displays, merchandise and souvenir stores, CFA department displays, food and drink trucks and training drills.
Thomson said about 120 brigades from across Victoria (and some interstate) enter the championships and that the large variety of competitive events were great viewing for spectators.
“It is one of the hardest sports to explain over the phone,” he said.
“The names (of events) are terrible, the terms are terrible. It’s much more understandable once you are there in person.
“The public should come down and have a look because it’s something different.
“On the oval, there are food stalls and lots of fun stuff for the juniors and then the Sunday after, it is seniors. On Saturday night, there is a torchlight procession that goes through Wyndham St to past the SAM.”
Euroa will have four teams competing at the championships: two under-14 teams, an under-17 and one senior side.
· For more information on the CFA State Championships head to the CFA website.
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