Emily with Geelong members Aidan Stary, Harry Williams and Will Ramirez
One of this year’s Faces of the Good Friday Appeal became a Geelong West Fire Brigade firefighter for the day and even got to blast the lights and sirens on the truck.
Emily and her family live locally and were invited to Geelong West to meet the brigade, spray a firehose and were taken through the paces of what it’s like to be a firefighter ahead of tomorrow’s Good Friday Appeal.
The 10-year-old was named one of this year’s Faces of the Good Friday Appeal alongside two-year-old Finley, whose stories demonstrate the need for the world-class care The Royal Children’s Hospital provides to sick kids across Victoria and beyond.
It’s become an annual tradition for CFA members across the state to tin rattle on Good Friday, having raised more than $37 million for The Royal Children’s Hospital since 1951.
This year is the 50th year the community of Geelong has been fundraising, raising an amazing $7,209,093.35 in that time.
District 7 Commander Gavin Fitzgerald welcomed Emily to the station and taught her the ropes of firefighting along with other members.
“For us it’s humbling but also inspiring to meet someone as young as Emily with such strength of character but also resilience, which is something that we as firefighters aspire too. It’s just wonderful to have her come here and share that memory with us,” he said.
“CFA volunteers not only save lives and protect the community but they will be out on Friday on street corners, traffic lights, caravan parks, football ovals, giving up their time as they always do to support the Royal Children’s Hospital so that doctors and staff can support the children who really are our future.”
Emily’s mum Allison said having Emily as a patient at the Royal Children’s Hospital came with highs and lows.
“They have the most amazing staff with access to the most amazing research and equipment so it’s the best possible place for her to be so she can have the best possible outcome she can,” she said.
Emily said her favourite part of the day was spraying the hose.
“If you see some firefighters on Good Friday, make sure you give them some change,” she said.
CFA volunteers will be out in force across the state tomorrow. Funds raised go towards delivering the best possible care to patients and their families.