The Rochester Shire Hall was filled with volunteers from emergency services throughout Campaspe Shire.
Emergency service volunteers were recently honoured for their efforts during Campaspe Shire’s challenging 2025-26 fire danger season.
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At an event hosted by Campaspe Shire Council, agency leaders and community members joined council representatives gathered at the Rochester Shire Hall on Wednesday, April 29 to honour the volunteers.
The evening recognised the commitment shown by CFA brigades, SES units and Echuca Moama Search and Rescue, in a wide range of situations, from major emergencies to everyday incidents that often go unnoticed.
Campaspe Shire Mayor Daniel Mackrell praised the volunteers for their dedication.
“Throughout this summer, our volunteers have responded to incidents quickly and professionally, supported their neighbours during difficult conditions and stood ready at all hours to protect lives, property and the environment,” he said.
“Their dedication, skill and calm leadership during emergencies cannot be overstated.”
Representatives from partner agencies highlighted the importance of strong collaboration across emergency management and the scale of volunteer involvement across the shire.
Speakers also acknowledged the pressures volunteers can face in responding to emergencies, emphasising the importance of mental health awareness, open conversations and looking out for one another.
The support of the families, friends and employers of volunteers was also acknowledged on the night.
Campaspe Shire Mayor Daniel Mackrell addresses attendees.
CFA Commander Paul Elso praised the agencies' ability to work with one another when emergencies happened.
“Strong relationships between us are a bit of an X‑factor in EM and make a real difference in times of need,” he said.
He also noted the scale of local volunteer involvement, with hundreds of CFA members responding to incidents across Campaspe and beyond.
The event was supported by flood recovery funding provided by Emergency Recovery Victoria under the Community Recovery Hubs Program, jointly funded by the Victorian and federal governments following the October 2022 floods.
Campaspe Shire Council said it remained committed to working closely with emergency services agencies to support preparedness, response and recovery, and to building community resilience into the future.
The ‘Emergency Dashboard’ on council’s website contains a wealth of information to help residents stay informed, prepare for emergencies and know what to do in case of an emergency.
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