General News
29 March, 2026
Comfort packs says thank you to summer heroes
COMFORT packs are ready for the next time Loddon volunteer firefighters are called to fight blazes across the state.
Wedderburn group members who were part of strike teams after the Harcourt fires in January on Tuesday received the special thank you gifts from a coastal retirement home.
Tony Holt handed over the 14 packs to Wedderburn group captain Joel Polkinghorne and local brigade captain Harry Hargreaves.
He said a conversation with volunteers at The Breeze Portarlington retirement home when he and wife Alex were holidaying on the coast after harvest had seen Loddon firefighters included in the comfort pack initiative.
Volunteers and residents had also put together packs including essential toiletries for volunteers who had tackled fires at Streatham and Skipton.
“We were chatting about local volunteer firefighters who had been part of the massive effort to contain and beat blazes and they offered the comfort packs,” Tony said. Tony presented the packs to members of the Wedderburn, Berrimul, Korong Vale and Mysia brigades who praised the initiative.
“They have everything we need when called in for a strike team - all packed and ready to go,” said Harry.
Also receiving packs were Steven Finch, Tim Isaac, Ash Isaac, Josh Rothacker, Chris Rothacker, James Cook, Justin Morton, Matt Tansely, Luke Selby, Kevin Walton, Dave Skinner, David Weaver and John McLennan.