CFA Chief embarks on regional tour

CO Heffernan has spent his first month in the job meeting members of the across the organisation and has embarked on a regional tour that kicked off in CFA's North West region last month.

Over four days in mid-December, CO Heffernan visited brigades and district headquarters in Bridgewater, Ouyen, Mildura, Swan Hill, Kerang, Echuca, Bendigo and Melton.

In Ouyen, he meet with Group Captains and Captains from surrounding brigades to listen to the challenges of fire service delivery in remote and rural communities.

In Swan Hill, he had lunch with and met staff, captains and group officers from District 18.

In Echuca, he listened and shared in the experiences of upcoming CFA leaders who recently completed the CFA Mentoring Program.

CO Heffernan said it was great to meet with CFA volunteers in particular, whose passion and commitment are second to none, and hear their thoughts on the organisation's challenges, opportunities and areas for improvement.

It was a pleasure to travel around the North West, meeting some of our incredible members and receiving a warm welcome to our organisation," CO Heffernan said.

This week, CO Heffernan has toured CFA's West Region, where he has met with staff at the district headquarters in Horsham, Ararat and Wendouree, visited the new station site at Dimboola, and met with captains, group officers and other volunteer members from brigades including Warracknabeal, Stawell, St Arnaud, Beaufort, Willaura, Daylesford, Blackwood and Ballarat.

"Meeting our district staff, it was great to recognise service and hear how they are striving to serve our members across western Victoria," CO Heffernan said.

"At St Arnaud CFA, our volunteer members raised with me the importance of diversity, and the role it plays in the longevity and capability of the CFA, which I happen to strongly agree with.

Across January and February, CO Heffernan will also tour CFA's South West, North East and South East regions.

"I look forward to meeting with more of our members over the next few weeks, and hearing how we can make our CFA strong for the future," he said.