Calls for parade to honour hero fireys
Senior government figures have thrown their support behind a “True Heroes Parade” to honour firefighters, the SES, life savers and other volunteers who risked their lives in the horror bushfires.
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There are growing calls for Melbourne to stage a “True Heroes Parade” to thank the state’s firefighters for their bushfire bravery.
It comes as the state government confirms that five Mallacoota CFA volunteers and other emergency services will lead the Australia Day Parade on Sunday.
Mallacoota brigade captain Rod Lewis said the exhausted volunteers had “just about hit the wall” but that the parade would boost their spirits.
“It will be fantastic,” he said.
“The whole brigade has put an enormous amount of work every – every member has stepped up, nobody has been taken a back ward step.”
Premier Daniel Andrews said leading the parade was one way to thank Victoria’s emergency services.
“Our firefighters and first responders are front of mind for all Victorians right now – that’s why they belong at the front of our Australia Day parade,” he said.
Lord Mayor Sally Capp said she would work with the state government on other ways to honour the “heroic efforts”, but said the best thing Melburnians could do to help is donate to the bushfire appeal or holiday in regional Victoria.
Demographer Bernard Salt proposed a “True Heroes Parade” to honour firefighters, the SES, life savers and other volunteers.
It would be staged in winter when emergency services wouldn’t need to be pulled from the fire front lines.
Mr Salt said while the season might deliver gloomy conditions, “standing there in the cold and rain would be the least we could do”.
“The real heroes to this state are the CFA, the SES, the volunteers.
“I want to create a culture where an 18-year-old or 19-year-old from Glen Waverley, Fitzroy North says ‘I want to be like those people, I want to contribute’.”
Salvation Army Major Brendan Nottle backed the proposal saying he would love their “selfless service” celebrated.
“This summer has a way to go yet and if the weather so far this season is any indication, who knows what’s in store?,” he said.
“Our hero firefighters are rightly focused on the job at hand right now, protecting us, so this is a great idea to revisit and plan for when we come out the other side.”
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Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria chief executive Adam Barnett also offered in-principle support but said any parade would have to be planned after the fire season and ensure volunteers from brigades stretched across the state could participate.
“Volunteers are very proud but they don’t do what they do for the accolades,” he said.
“We do an annual survey and year after year they tell us the reason they do it is to help their communities … that is what makes them the true heroes they are.
“Let’s get through the fire season and then there will be plenty of time to reflect.”
Originally published as Calls for parade to honour hero fireys
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