A Griffith club showed their thanks for the efforts of firefighters who went out to help combat fires across the state with a donation of funds to some of the area's brigades.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Lions Club of Griffith donated $1,000 to eight RFS brigades in the area who sent firefighters to help fight fires across the state during a dinner hosted by the club for those who went out on strike teams during this bushfire season.
The Beelbangera, Hanwood, Kooba, Myall Park, Warburn, Widgelli and Wyangan brigades all received a contribution from the club, with the RFS' Operational Services Group also receiving a cheque.
Lions Club of Griffith president Brian Bortolin said the donation was a way of showing their respect to those who put their lives on the line to protect communities.
"We've heard some little stories, some horrific stories of what they've gone through but a lot of them tonight were just saying it's just part of our training," Mr Bortolin said.
"For them to raise money, they have to do barbeques and everyone knows it's not easy to make a dollar out of a barbeque... it's a little bit [of funds] that can help."
READ MORE
RFS Group Captain Colin Smeeth said many of the brigade captains were surprised by the donation which would be used wherever needed, such as fridges on trucks and additional seating.
"It's fantastic... they're a volunteer organisation like we are and yet they're gonna give us $8,000, " Mr Smeeth said.
"We're pretty well resourced but this will get a lot of the little extra things you can't get through the system."
Mr Smeeth was a part of four strike teams during this bushfire season, having come back from his most recent deployment - a trip to Narooma - last week - and he said conditions had a way of quickly changing, particularly in the Snowy Valleys.
"Some parts were pretty hairy, some of things that got into where we were," Mr Smeeth said.
"We were in Talbingo one night when it came down the mountain and roared right back through... it took out a couple of houses and it came down that fast we didn't have time to do anything.
"When it came down, it came that hard... it actually made rain, we got big drops of rain on us, it didn't do enough to do any good but the weather changed."
Mr Bortolin said the club will also donate $20,000 to Lions Australia which will be distributed amongst clubs on the South Coast to help support areas damaged by bushfire.
