- Published:
- Friday 22 January 2016
Victoria’s volunteer firefighters and other emergency services personnel will be honoured for their tireless efforts when Melbourne Storm plays St George-Illawarra for the Emergency Services Cup in March.
Minister for Sport John Eren today joined Storm stars Cameron Smith and Jesse Bromwich at Geelong Grammar School, where the club is deep in pre-season training ahead of the NRL Round 1 clash at AAMI Park.
The arch rivals are playing for the Cup for an eighth-straight year. The Emergency Services Cup was established in 2009 after Victoria’s Black Saturday Bushfires. The Storm are the current cup holder, winning the pair’s meeting in July last year.
The Emergency Services Cup honours the vital contribution made by Victoria’s emergency services personnel and volunteers, and their New South Wales counterparts too. Firefighters from either state regularly cross the border to provide assistance in times of need.
Emergency services personnel and volunteers have worked hard to keep Victorians safe from the threat of bushfires, including many who sacrificed Christmas day with loved ones to fight fires at Wye River and Separation Creek.
As a small gesture of thanks, Melbourne Storm will give away tickets to fire agency personnel and volunteers that have fought fires across Victoria. Families affected by bushfires will also be invited.
The title-holders will be out to defend the Emergency Services Cup on home soil at AAMI Park on March 7 when the NRL season gets under-way.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Sport, John Eren
“Our volunteer firefighters and emergency services personnel have worked really hard to keep Victorians safe. This is a terrific gesture by Melbourne Storm.”
“Victorians are incredibly grateful for the hard work by our emergency services personnel on either side of the border – they provide an essential service to protect lives and property.”
Quotes attributable to Melbourne Storm Captain, Cameron Smith
“Having lived in Victoria for more than 14 years, the Great Ocean Road region is one of the more beautiful parts of the state.”
“It was devastating to see the fires over Christmas, and the club is honoured to be able to host members of the emergency services teams and volunteers who worked tirelessly to fight the fires and support the community.”