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In their 138th year, Traralgon Fire Brigade will compete at the CFA VFBV State Championships for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
After a seven-year hiatus, Traralgon will make a comeback with a newly formed running team set to represent the brigade in Stawell on March 28 and 29.
Traralgon has a long history of competitive involvement, fielding teams for decades before the team folded prior to COVID-19. Now, the brigade is back on the track, and the excitement is palpable.
Traralgon Fire Brigade Captain Adam Townsend said the revival had been a long time coming, and the response from members new and old had exceeded expectations.
"People were keen to get it back up and running," Adam said.
"For the last three years we have had a marching team and people have loved that so this year we have gone that next step and put a running team together.
"It's about getting the brigade and the area represented on the track and enjoying a different side of CFA."
For Adam, leading the team has a personal significance after starting out as a junior in Melton, he now finds himself at the helm of the competitive team in Traralgon, a journey he describes as coming full circle.
Alongside him are members who have never competed before, as well as those returning after long absences, including one former junior member who stepped away six years ago and has come back specifically for the competitions.
"The revival has also given older brigade members a renewed sense of pride, and seeing the work they put into competitive firefighting sport being carried forward by the next generation," Adam said.
The team has already made their mark, competing in Morwell where they took home first place in the pumper four event.
"We had a good result in Morwell, but we are more focused on just giving it a go," Adam said.
"We are excited for the State Championships and see it as a chance to just get out there, have some fun, and learn more about the sport.
"We want to do anything we can do to help keep competitive firefighting alive."
Traralgon will host the Eastern Zone Championships on Sunday 15 March, giving the community a front-row seat to the action for the first time in seven years.
The local competition will welcome competitors and visitors from brigades across the region and state more broadly. The following day, the brigade will host an open day, something they have not done in several years.
"We hope the public can come out and support us at both the local competion and our open day," Adam said.
"There is more to CFA than just getting on the red truck and hopefully it will even intice some new people to sign up and join us at the brigade."
The support of neighbouring brigades and the broader community has been central to the team's revival, and Adam hopes the weekend will strengthen those networks and inspire others to keep competitive firefighting sport alive for generations to come.
