By Kath Gannaway
‘CHECK Your Chances’ is a winning catch-phrase, and excellent advice, coming out of the inaugural Hillcrest CFA schools colouring competition.
The competition was run through the Woori Yallock, Don Valley and Launching Place primary schools in the lead-up to the brigade’s Open Day on Sunday, 27 November.
Organiser, Hillcrest volunteer, Fourth Lieutenant Andrew Smith, said the aim was to raise fire awareness through activities that suited the different age groups.
The 69 entries were spread over three age-groups with Preps to Grade 2 focusing on Captain Koala and Friends while Grades 3 and 4 were asked to think about what qualities a Superhero Firefighter might have.
Grades 5 and 6 were set the task of designing a fire season logo based on checking the fire danger ratings.
Lt Smith said the responses were inspiring.
“The best way to fight fire is to understand it and the idea behind the project was to approach each age group at a level they could engage with,” he said.
“A deeper level of investigation and understanding was required of the older kids and we got some really great entries from those kids.
“The winning catch-phrase ‘Check Your Chances’ was brilliant and we will use it in our summer campaign.”
The open day was also a great success with local people taking the opportunity to have a look around their local fire station, take part in kids’ activities and talk to brigade members about bushfire, grassfire and residential safety in the lead-up to the summer fire season.
The inaugural competition winners are Alyssa Barrile (5-6), Acelin Baker (3-4) and Stephanie Bronstring (1-2). Emily DeBona, Bailee Long and Maeryn Bird (5-6), Ameilia Kurth (3-4) and Miranda Brown and Alex Barnes-Hampton (1-2) received Awards of Excellence.
