Following the disastrous fires of 2019/20 donations from around the globe poured into the CFA, which set up a trust fund to manage them.
Last year CFA asked local brigades to provide a ‘wish-list’ of equipment they required, which would be purchased using that fund.
Benalla Group Deputy Group Officer Geoff Rowe said brigades in Victoria could apply for a share of more than $4.8 million.
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“CFA asked brigades to put out a wish list, with certain criteria for equipment such as defibrillators,” Mr Rowe said.
“That’s where Benalla Group were different. All the local brigades said hang on, we don’t want any of that but we really do want an FCV.
“So they pooled all their funds, which has allowed us to purchase this Toyota Landcruiser today.”
The application for an FCV was supported by Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria, the representative body for CFA volunteers in Victoria.
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Mr Rowe said its support was essential in securing the new vehicle and the application was actually knocked back a few times before being approved.
District 21 VFBV State Councillor Mary Anne Egan said there had been a lot of work put in by Mr Rowe, and the brigades, and she was pleased to assist.
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“I contacted senior members of VFBV and asked what they could do, as they sit on the trust fund board,” Ms Egan said.
“The whole idea of our association is to support volunteers, and they were happy to help.”
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Mr Rowe said the negotiations took a little longer than expected, as the request was outside the CFA criteria for the funding.
“Also, we didn’t pool all the funds. The brigades that requested defibrillators, for example, still got those. We pooled the remaining funds to get this vehicle,” he said.
“And it will be used by all the brigades within Benalla Rural City.”
District 23 Commander Rod Railton said it could even be used across the country if needed.
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“So if they need some help and we send vehicles into NSW, this might be the vehicle that leads them,” Mr Railton said.
“And Toyota have been great in holding a price they gave us some time ago.
“I think it might have been 12 months ago we first spoke.
“So if Toyota hadn’t maintained that price it would have been too much and we would not have been able to get the FCV.”
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Benalla Toyota sales manager Glen Shaw said supporting the local community was what it was all about.
“We can sell cars all over Australia if we want to, but what we really want to do is put cars into our local community, supporting the brigades and supporting other local groups,” Mr Shaw said.
“In a small town, that’s what really matters.
“We wanted to get the vehicle into the brigade here and make it as easy as possible for them.
“So we were happy to hold the price and support the brigade that looks after us so well.”
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