Nurseryman Robert Wakelam and Toolangi CFA Captain Ben Rose planted the first Firestar Rose at Toolangi on Saturday. 48745
By Kath Gannaway
TOOLANGI CFA volunteers and members of the local community came out in force on Saturday for the official launch of the Firestar Rose.
The rose was developed especially to commemorate the many lives lost in the February 2009 bushfires and to honour the dedicated CFA members who fought hard to save their own and other communities.
Toolangi CFA captain Ben Rose said the rose was a symbol of what brigade members did.
“Having the launch here is a real stepping stone for the recovery of the Toolangi, Castella and Chum Creek communities,” he said.
“It is recognition of everything everybody put in, particularly on February 7, and in the weeks after.”
He took the opportunity to thank the interstate brigades, particularly those from South Australia and New South Wales who came to Victoria’s aid, and all the support organisations.
“To all the CFA volunteers across the state, this is something we are doing on their behalf,” he said.
Gary Weir, Acting Operations Manager, CFA Yarra Region, paid tribute to the Toolangi community saying it was heavily impacted by the fires.
“I am pleased to be here to celebrate this symbol of new life – the first in a series of roses to bloom in these fire-affected communities,” he said.
He said Firestar was an evocative name which came from the eight-pointed CFA insignia, the Fire Service Star. The star is the cross of St John and its tenets represent the virtues of tact, loyalty, dexterity, observation, sympathy, explicitness, gallantry and perseverance.
The Firestar project was the brainchild of Victorian nurseryman Robert Wakelam who approached Knight’s Roses in South Australia following the bushfires with the idea of giving something back to the firefighters.
Mr Wakelam said the colour and form of the rose was perfect as a symbol and, sourced from the UK, was a one-in-a-million chance of turning up in Australia at the right time.
The rose was hand-grafted by the Knight’s team in what is the first of what will be an annual series of Firestar roses.
The Firestar Rose can be purchased online at www.firestarrose.com.au. Orders for bare-rooted roses are available until 30 July.
Buyers can nominate a brigade to benefit from their purchase with $11.50 of each online sale going to CFA brigades.
“I hope in the years to come when you drive around and see this rose in flower you think ‘hey, someone actually cares about what we do’,” Mr Wakelam said to the Toolangi members.
