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ONE of the biggest firefighting events on the Victorian calendar has locked in its future in Bendigo for the next four years after the Volunteer Fire Brigade Championship organisers today committed to returning to Bendigo in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
The event continues a tradition of more than 140 years and offers a chance for firies from across the region as well as interstate to network and mingle – in a less heated environment than they would on the job.
That doesn’t mean competition isn’t fierce, though, when more than 70 volunteer fire brigades from Benalla to Brunswick, Dandenong to Dunolly, Maldon to Maffra, return to Bendigo for the three day championships at the Weeroona Oval over the March long weekend.
More than 2000 visitors from all over Victoria are expected to attend the event, which is the 134th annual championships. It was first held in Bendigo in 1875.
A Saturday night Bull Street music festival is a new event planned for 2017 which will be open to event participants and the public after the completion of the procession. More than 700 participants are expected to represent their brigades during the Saturday night brigade competition torchlight procession through the CBD
The event is hosted by the Bendigo & District Fire Brigades Championship Committee, Country Fire Authority and Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria.
Competition at the Weeroona Oval run from 8.30 am until about 5 pm on the Saturday and Sunday, with a 2pm finish on the Labour Day Monday public holiday.
The events are based on practical firefighting activities. They build fitness, team skills and capabilities with hoses, hydrants and other equipment that make them a useful addition to each Brigade’s regular weekly training regime.
The championships also offer one of same benefits as staging a major fire brigade exercise – they give Brigades and volunteers the chance to build the networks that pay off when they work together on large scale bushfires and other major emergencies.