Emergency Services volunteers from the Victorian Red Cross have had a hectic week throughout country Victoria, providing a staggering 25,000 meals to fire-fighters and emergency workers in the past week alone as bushfires spread through the state’s north and south-east.

Over 7,000 volunteers attached to 300 Australian Red Cross units across the state provide assistance such as catering for fire fighting teams in the ‘front line’ and emergency first aid for injured fire fighters and residents.  In the event of evacuation, registration teams record the names of those who are re-located so that relatives will know their loved ones are safe and that any missing persons are identified quickly.

The units work behind the scenes with the state bodies that coordinate bushfire control such as the Department of Sustainability and Environment, the CFA and the SES and over the years, have earned tremendous respect for their quiet dedication.

‘Australian Red Cross volunteers are not always visible at the forefront during bushfire season, but believe me, they are an integral part of the operation’ said the Department of Sustainability and Environment’s Chief Fire Officer Mr Gary Morgan.

Australian Red Cross Emergency Operations Centre Duty Controller Ms Lorraine Kamp said that 'the provision of meals was particularly important in order to sustain not only the energy levels but also the morale of the fire fighters.'

'Meals are often prepared at a rate of 1,500 per day in community halls by our volunteers who, in the case of the Corryong team for example, have been working around the clock for eight days running, said Ms Kamp.

'I had a call from an SES worker on his way home after a particularly tough few days and he was close to tears.  He said it was the best food he’d had on duty in 20 years'.

To enquire about becoming an Australian Red Cross volunteer, contact the Victorian Division on (03) 8327 7700