THE opposition spokesman for emergency services has urged Swan Hill’s volunteer firefighters not to quit over the controversial pay deal that is dividing volunteers and their professional counterparts.
Brad Battin addressed about 80 volunteer firefighters from around the district who packed the Swan Hill Fire Station on Wednesday night.
Brigade members from as far away as Manangatang and Charlton attended the meeting, with many expressing their fears of being “pushed out” of the CFA.
Some wore T-shirts bearing the slogan “hands off CFA” as they listened to Mr Battin, Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh, District 18 operations manager John Bigham and Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria state vice-president Graeme Jilbert.
Mr Bigham spoke of the importance of firefighter welfare, reminding the crowd a CFA chaplaincy service was available.
“Whatever the outcome, we still need you as volunteers,” he said.
“The public needs to know there is confidence in the CFA and when the public call 000 a fire truck is on the way.”
For more on this story, pick up a copy of Friday’s Guardian (June 17, 2016).
