By JESSE GRAHAM
SAFETY for children at Yarra Glen’s McKenzie Reserve has been improved, following donations worth thousands of dollars from the community to the CFA.
Yarra Glen CFA has installed flashing lights and electronic sensors on its station’s automatic doors, to protect visitors at the adjoining park in McKenzie Reserve.
Captain Bill Boyd told the Mail that often, when the brigade was called out to incidents, children flocked from the park to the station to watch the trucks roll out.
The lights and sensors, he said, would give warning for passersby to keep clear of the doors, and stop them from being hit by the closing door.
“Kids see the doors and they gravitate – they want to see the fire trucks,” Capt Boyd said.
“This gives us the opportunity to spread a bit of a community safety message to the parents while they’re standing there.”
The upgrade to the doors came about after donations from the Yarra Glen Grand Hotel, worth $1000, and, more recently, with $5800 from Balgownie Estate, among others.
Capt Boyd said the recent donation came almost two years after an incident at the estate, where a fireworks display in hot weather sparked in paddocks and the brigade was called out to extinguish the blaze.
A spokesperson for Balgownie Estate said the venue identified “shortfalls” on the property, such as “very tight access” and lack of signage, which have since been upgraded.
Balgownie’s General Manager, Gerard Ackroyd, said in January 2014 that fireworks would no longer be used during summer months as a result of the incident.
The spokesperson said that Balgownie “have a great understanding” and wanted to show its gratitude to the brigade for its work in the community.
The donation was handed out at an annual dinner for the brigade, held at the venue.
Capt Boyd said the brigade had received good support from the Yarra Glen community, particularly in the lead-up to the fire season.
“When we get an early start to the fire season, like we’ve experienced in the last week, people’s awareness raises – so we can only hope we continue to get that support,” he said.
