BENDIGO residents are invited to honour firefighters this Saturday for National Red Balloon Day.
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The event, in its second year, is for thanking fire services who work hard to protect others.
There will be a barbecue run by the Lions Club of Eaglehawk and activities such as face painting and cup cake making at the Civic Gardens from 11am to 3pm.
All money raised will go to the Country Fire Authority and the Metropolitan Fire Brigade to improve resources such as new helmets.
National Red Balloon Day director Jody Hardiman founded the event last year as way to thank firefighters for their generosity.
"Their selflessness is the biggest thing," she said.
"They are always thinking of other people and other situations before their own.
"They are certainly a rare and genuine breed.
"If they didn’t want to do it, they wouldn’t be doing it, because there are no rewards."
Ms Hardiman said the idea to create a national day for firefighters happened "out of the blue" but it was now a huge passion.
"I really think they deserve a day of recognition and it's something easy that everybody can do."
Ms Hardiman said many took firies for granted and forgot that their work meant leaving their own families at home.
Ms Hardiman has no firies in her family but remembers them evacuating her home during the Black Saturday bushfires.
"We had brigades here from all over Australia helping out," she said.
Likewise, Victorian firefighters have travelled to help during interstate crises.
"Their families must sit at home and worry, are they going to get that phone call?"
The Eaglehawk Fire Brigade will attend Saturday's event and Ms Hardiman hopes people will use the opportunity to personally thank the firefighters.
CFA community education coordinator Paul Tangey said it was an honour that the community wanted to thank fire services.
"It helps brigades tremendously with their fundraising and gives them an opportunity to purchase equipment that's vital," he said.
Red balloons are on sale at newsagencies and the Bendigo Advertiser at 47-51 Queen Street, Bendigo.