Merrigum and Girgarre will face off during the Emergency Services Appreciation Round.
If there’s a group of people that deserves a guard of honour it’s those that fought the devastating Longwood bushfires in the summer.
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It’s why Merrigum Football Netball Club “jumped at the opportunity” to do such an acknowledgement, as the Bulldogs host an inaugural Emergency Services Appreciation Round for its round seven Kyabram District League clash against Girgarre on Saturday.
The senior football match at Merrigum Recreation Reserve will acknowledge Country Fire Authority (CFA), Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV), Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMV), State Emergency Service (SES), Police and Ambulance Victoria, providing free entry to all emergency service members.
Prior to the 2.15pm clash between the Bulldogs and Girgarre, footballers will line up and hail attending emergency service members with a guard of honour, before the coin toss by an emergency service officer.
The Bulldogs confirmed Merrigum, Cooma, Girgarre and Kyabram CFA would be in attendance as well as local SES.
Paramedics will also watch the match and bring an ambulance to the venue, while Victoria Police members are expected to drop in and out on match day.
Merrigum Football Netball Club will be acknowledging emergency services on Saturday.
The inaugural event is a chance not to be missed, Bulldogs secretary Rachael Rowe said.
“The round is about showing appreciation to our wonderful volunteers and emergency service members who do so much for our community,” Rowe said.
“They’re going to come on the ground for a guard of honour and do the toss and then there will be a light supper at half-time of the seniors match.
“It’s the first time the club has done something like this, but when the idea was presented we jumped at the opportunity.
“We have volunteers and Ambulance Victoria members on the committee, so it was really fitting for us.”
Committee member Ian Richards was a volunteer when Longwood was hit by devastating bushfires in January this year and spoke to the importance of recognising those who risked their lives to fight the blaze.
“I know for a fact on the Merrigum side of things, they went to help the Longwood fires early in the piece, and they worked their butts off, they had a fair old fight to be honest,” he said.
“I personally went up a couple days later and did asset protection, which was nothing compared to the load of what our fire brigade endured, because even then I felt lucky that the fire avoided the property (I was stationed at).
“It’s a good thing for the community to acknowledge them and, hopefully, some sporting members can actually see and meet these people and consider joining too.”
Merrigum hosts the Kangaroos at Merrigum Recreation Reserve, with A-grade netball beginning at 1pm and senior football beginning at 2.15pm.
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