By Tyler Wright
Five members of the Kallista-The Patch Fire Brigade came together on Saturday 10 September to participate in the first in-person Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb Challenge since 2019, raising almost $2,000 for mental health services.
Joined by brigade members from Emerald Fire Brigade and Kalorama Mount Dandenong Fire Brigade, were 600 emergency service personnel from Victoria Police, Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV), Forest Fire Management (FFM) Victoria, Victoria Police, South Australian Country Fire Service, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Fire and Rescue NSW, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, Tasmania Fire Service and Western Australia’s Department of Fire and Rescue Services (joining virtually), who put on 25 kilograms of turnout and breathing apparatus gear to scale 28 floors of the Crown Metropol Hotel together.
This year, fundraising efforts from participants raised $500,000 for the 000 Foundation, Lifeline and Fortem.
It was Kallista-The Patch Fire Brigade member Luke Tyler Maclean’s first time participating in the stair climb challenge in 2022.
“It’s good to be in a room with 600 other fireys, getting ready to climb up the stairs for a good cause,” Luke said.
“It’s good to get people from all walks of life that helping [mental health services] because we do a lot of talk about getting people to reduce the stigma and access mental health services, but often those services are pretty overwhelming… so anything that we can do to help them out is can only be a good thing.”
Luke said the issue of mental health is pertinent for emergency service personnel and residents of the Yarra Ranges.
“[There was] the big storm in June of last year, and then a couple of other major incidents, so just having those support services around for us, but also for the community is just so important,” Luke said.
“You can’t keep doing those sort of things over and over again, without knowing there’s a bit of a safety net if things go wrong.”
The Melbourne Firefighters Stair Climb has raised more than $3 million for the Alfred Hospital Burns Unit, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Lifeline, Black Dog Institute, Emergency Services Foundation and 000 Foundation.
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said it was great for emergency service personnel to come together in person to raise money for a great cause.
“We’re coming out of an incredibly tough few years which no doubt have taken their toll on people’s mental health in many ways, so it’s great to support these issues by finally coming together for some friendly competition and exercise,” Jason said.
Those who wish to donate or learn more about the Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb can visit www.firefighterclimb.org.au.
