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VICSES volunteers turnout to support life-changing stair climb cause

12/09/2024, 6:03 AM
(Clockwise from left) VICSES volunteers Magenta Creed (VICSES Fawkner Unit), Travis McIntosh (Hamilton), Harry Denovan (Horsham), Rebecca Wilkie (Gisborne) and Damon Moritz (Hamilton) with VICSES Chief Officer Operations Tim Wiebusch at the 11th Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb.

A sea of firefighters including six Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) volunteers took part in this year’s 11th Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb.

The event saw more than 800 participants race to ascend 28 floors of Melbourne’s Crown Metropol on 7 September, each with 25 kilograms of turnout gear, breathing apparatus or equivalent kit strapped to their backs.

Joining firefighters and other emergency service members from across Australia and New Zealand were six volunteers from VICSES Fawkner, Gisborne, Hamilton, Horsham and Stawell Units, each of whom undertook their own fundraising ahead of the event.

Several dual VICSES and CFA members also competed in the stair climb in their firefighter capacity.

VICSES Gisborne Unit volunteer Rebecca Wilkie sprints toward the finish line.

VICSES Chief Operations Officer Tim Wiebusch was also in attendance to cheer on each VICSES member as they undertook the gruelling climb within 15 minutes, while two ascended in less than eight minutes.

The 2024 iteration of the Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb marked the second time VICSES has been represented at the event, with twice the number of participants involved this year, in comparison to 2023.

VICSES Chief Officer Operations Tim Wiebusch with representatives from VICSES' emergency service partners.

Two of this year’s VICSES cohort were completing the climb for a second consecutive year.

The initiative, which aimed to raise $750,000 to support charities including Lifeline, the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation and the 000Foundation this year, had by September 10 exceeded its goal, with almost $800,000 raised by participants.

Since its inception, the initiative has raised almost $4million for charities including the Alfred Hospital Burns Unit, the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, the Black Dog Institute, the Emergency Services Foundation and Fortem Australia.

Quotes attributable to Tim Wiebusch, VICSES Chief Operations Officer

“It’s fantastic to see a number of our VICSES volunteers stepping it up and getting behind these important causes and raising vital funds for these health and wellbeing initiatives which benefit many in the emergency services sector.

“An event like the Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb is a great example of how emergency services from Victoria, interstate and internationally come together as one in search of improved outcomes for their communities.”