CFA volunteer convoy on Warburton Highway sends message to Premier Daniel Andrews

OVER 80 “fed up” CFA volunteer firefighters from the Yarra Valley group drove in convoy down the Warburton Highway to protest Daniel Andrews’ “infuriating” EBA deal this morning.

“Fed up” CFA volunteers from the Yarra Valley turn out to show their frustrations. Picture: Supplied

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OVER 80 “fed up” CFA volunteer firefighters from the Yarra Valley group drove in convoy down the Warburton Highway to protest Daniel Andrews’ “infuriating” EBA deal this morning.

Hillcrest CFA Captain Fiona Burns warned there would be more demonstrations with another expected next weekend.

“The Maroondah group will do the same next Saturday,” the volunteer of 13 years said.

“We will not be silenced, we will not stop until this dispute is over and volunteers are respected and left alone.”

Hundreds of passing vehicles and bystanders waved, cheered and flashed their lights at the 18 CFA trucks representing 11 brigades from the Yarra Valley, as they drove the nearly 30km from Wandin to Warburton.

Ms Burns said their message for Mr Andrews was clear and had the full support of her community.

“We’re here to support our career colleagues ... but this is about ensuring fairness and respect for the voice of 60,000 volunteers, so that we can continue to protect Victoria as we have always done excellently,” she said.

“The government has not acted democratically, it has done everything and anything — including getting an entire CFA board sacked — to get the EBA signed, most disappointingly without consultation with volunteers, and has completely failed to address our needs.

The convoy took to Warburton Highway. Picture: Supplied

“It’s frustrating when the voice of 60,000 volunteers, MPs and lawyers are all saying there’s issues and we’re just not being listened to.”

Proud volunteer of 55 years and deputy group officer in the Yarra Valley group, Don Bigham, agreed with his colleague Ms Burns.

“We’re farmers, judges, receptionists, dentists and we are all here to say that democracy is under threat as we see it,” he said.

“We’ve been quite clear from the very onset, we’re not interested in the pay dispute ... we just don’t want the rights of the volunteer to be compromised.

“We and the rest of our community can’t see why there’s any need to interfere with it ... and we won’t be silenced.”

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