Glenlyon CFA member Shaun Gedge is putting his boots and his determination to the test, walking 240 kilometres around the Brigade’s response area to raise funds for new firefighting equipment.

At just 21 years old, Shaun is one of the Glenlyon Brigade’s younger volunteers, but he’s already taking on a big challenge to help his community. His goal is to raise money for Breathing Apparatus units and, eventually, a 4×4 Ultralight Tanker to strengthen the Brigade’s capacity to respond to local fires.

“The greater Glenlyon township is growing, and this equipment will help us protect our immediate community and also play our part in the protection of the whole district,” Shaun said.

Glenlyon Brigade Captain, Russell Newton, said that the BAs were important for the protection of members dealing with fumes from building fires, automobiles or other fires when they were uncertain of the toxicity of smoke. The 4×4 Tanker is a much more expensive item on their wish list but one that the brigade needs given the risk profile of their turn out area.

“There are many small properties – 10 or 15 acres – and the big tankers are not manoeuvrable enough to get around buildings and other structures particularly where there are not tracks,” he said. “In those situations we need to make a call to a neighbouring brigade that has suitable equipment and that adds to our response time.”

Shaun, who joined the Brigade just over a year ago, set off on his trek last Sunday. The first few days were tough going.

“I pushed too hard on the first day – I was shattered!” he said. “Sunday was better, but on Monday the weather was horrible, my feet were sore, and I just wasn’t in the right frame of mind. I pulled the pin after only 12 kilometres.”

But by Tuesday, his spirits had lifted.

“Tuesday was better – I walked from 9am to 5pm. My watch said 31 kilometres and 100 staircases!”

As of Wednesday, October 22, Shaun had reached a point southwest of the Blue Mountain Fire Tower and decided to take a well-earned rest day.

“Given the terrible weather forecast and the fact that I’d be walking through forest without reliable phone coverage, I’ve decided to rest today. I can still finish on Sunday,” he said.

Shaun has been camping out along the route each night and plans to continue doing so.

“Tomorrow I’ll get to a position north of the pine plantation at Spargo Creek,” he said.

Shaun’s GoFundMe campaign has already reached its initial target of $5,000, but donations are still welcome to help the Brigade take the next step toward its equipment goals.

You can support Shaun and the Glenlyon CFA here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/15261-support-glenlyon-rural-fire-brigade

Follow Shaun’s path around the Glenlyon CFA call-out area on the map below.