WITH the marking of National Volunteer Week last week, the Country Fire Authority celebrated with its volunteers with a state wide party.
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The theme for the week was "celebrate the power of volunteering" and the CFA praised its 60,000 members during the week.
Throughout the week, events have been held, local and state wide, such as barbecues and family fun days.
“National Volunteer Week is a great time to say thank you to all CFA volunteers,” CFA Chief Officer Euan Ferguson said.
Hayden Allen and Krystal Widdows are two members of the Eaglehawk CFA.
They have been involved in the CFA for many years.
Hayden Allen, captain of the Eaglehawk CFA, has been part of the team for 14 years, going back to when he first started out, as a Junior CFA member.
He was elected captain just shy of his 26th birthday.
“I was pretty stoked the brigade had the trust in me to elect me captain and felt ready to go for it," he said.
He estimates he has turned out to 700-800 incidents, including some other deployments to other parts of Victoria.
“Everybody at the brigade is approachable,” he said.
Krystal Widdows, 29, is a "CFA veteran".
She joined the Juniors at 12 years of age, but has been around the station for all of her life, as her father was "a mad keen volunteer".
Ms Widdows said the brigade felt like one big family.
“There are older members who have been extra father figures to me,” she said
She keeps her social life busy by playing sport and has a full time job in real estate.
“We’re always on the lookout for new members,” she said.
“People can always drop in on a Sunday morning and have a chat.”
CFA volunteers were also given the opportunity to enter a competition to play in an Australian Football League half time game at the Melbourne Cricket Grounds on May 17.
