From dairy farming to fighting fires, all in a day’s work

Larpent dairy farmer Mark Billing co-­ordinates 17 CFA brigades and 450 active volunteers. He says leadership is ‘what you make it’. Mark is a nominee in The Weekly Times Heart Volunteer Awards.

On the ready: Mark Billing and his dog Ralph at his dairy farm at Larpent, where he oversees co-­ordinating 17 brigades and 450 active volunteers, who hold him in high-esteem for his strong and decisive leadership. Picture: Zoe Phillips

COMMUNITIES in southwest Victoria can sleep easy knowing Larpent dairy farmer Mark Billing oversees CFA brigades in their neck of the woods.

Mark joined the CFA in 1984 and has been the Corangamite group officer for more than 20 years, co-­ordinating 17 brigades and 450 active volunteers.

“The group officer role for me, like a lot of leadership positions, is what you make it,” Mark said. “That is making sure those brigades are ready, they are operational and their training is up to date.

“On a bad day, my role is to co-ordinate any of the responses that the group has.”

His responsibilities are like those of some career positions, yet he takes it all in his stride while also managing his milking herd and dairy.

This January, that meant Mark said a quick goodbye to his wife, Sam, and children, when a lightning strike started a dangerous blaze at Gellibrand.

CFA operations officer Mark Gunning said Mark’s “decision making potentially saved the town”.

It is not the first time his leadership has protected lives and property.

Mark was an on-ground commander during the 2018 St Patrick’s Day fires in the western Otways, and was also heavily involved in the response to the Wye River fire on Christmas Day in 2015.

Sam said the fact he was always on call and sometimes away for days at a time was a small sacrifice.

“Would I have it any other way? Nah,” Sam said. “He’s exceptionally busy behind the scenes.

“He just doesn’t turn out to put wet stuff on the red stuff. He is going in to bat for all those brigades that feel they need to be resourced better.”

Mark trained deputy group officer Jacinta Langdon, with plans for her to eventually fill his role.

“It would be a sad day when that happens, actually,” Jacinta said. “Mark is a very good leader. He does walk the talk, which is why he is held in such high esteem.”

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