Bendigo outdoor workers prepare for one of the hottest days of the year

But while the freezers might be some of the coldest places in Bendigo  they provide only temporary relief for Mark Swiney and other ice delivery drivers.

Rohs Road business Bells Transport supplies ice to restaurants and service stations throughout the region and its two 44 foot industrial freezers are kept at a chilly -50 degrees celsius.

Yet the company’s delivery drivers are spending only a few moments of their day inside the freezers as the heatwave tightens its grip.

The kind of heat they are working in is draining, Bells Transport logistics manager Ben Nikitenko said.

”You are out in the sun. Some of those servos’ freezers hold 400-500 bags. So if you have to top them up it’s a bit of work,” he said.

The Bells Transport crew were moving thousands of bags of ice each day during summer and were especially busy in the lead up to holidays like Australia Day and Christmas.

Those starting their working day in the early hours Friday morning were not expecting much respite last night with minimum temperatures expected only to drop to 29 degrees before rocketing up to a maximum 45.

Related: Epsom, White Hills among first hotspots to emerge from new Bendigo weather tracker

Coping with the heat could be a “bit of a battle” Belvoir Park Golf Club groundskeeper Fred Tenace said.

That said, he would not have it any other way.

“I love the fresh air and the freedom. I can pretty well come out and please myself out here, as long as I do everything I have to do,” he said.

Mr Tenace and a band of volunteers were putting in extra work to keep the greens alive during the heatwave.

“They are great, my volunteers. If it was not for them I would be struggling,” he said.

The volunteers were coming in most mornings to water greens and were knocking off early to escape the worst of the day.

Not everyone had that luxury on the hottest days. It would be business as usual for parking inspectors, City of Greater Bendigo director of health and wellbeing Vicky Mason said.

“Parking inspectors are provided with sun smart uniforms and hats as per the City’s occupational health and safety guidelines,” she said.

“Like all outdoor staff they are also encouraged to drink sufficient water to keep well hydrated and to take frequent shade breaks during the hot weather to have some relief from the sun.”

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