General News
4 December, 2025
CFA light up the streets
Horsham CFA members continued their 150-year celebrations of serving the community with a torchlight procession through the CBD on Saturday night.
Neighbouring brigades joined the celebrations and marched with the hometown unit to the stirring sound of the bagpipes by the Horsham Rural City Pipe Band.
Horsham Fire Brigade captain Marc Ampt said seeing the main street lined with onlookers was a proud moment.
“The atmosphere was incredible, it’s something our members will remember for a long time,” he said.
“Torchlight is a proud CFA tradition, and having it line the streets here in Horsham for our 150th was very special."
The procession capped off a full day of competition championships on Saturday at B.J. Reither running track in Park Drive.
Firefighters and juniors competed in events that involved both speed and skill, including water-based and non-water-based activities.
Among those marching was ex-captain John Davies, a stalwart of CFA’s urban and state competition scene, having attended every State Championship event since 1971.
He first joined the CFA competition scene after a mate convinced him to “come down for a run” and instantly fell in love with the sport.
Mr Davies first trained and competed at Wendouree and Portland before settling in Horsham.
“I expected to stay three years and somehow never left," he said.
“The camaraderie was enormous. Travelling to events together, piling into cars, learning from the older members and helping bring younger ones through, that’s what kept me involved all these years.”
While he has hung up his running gear, Mr Davies remains an avid follower of the competition scene.
“I still follow every event," he said.
"There’s nothing else like it. To anyone that’s never seen it in action, I highly recommend giving it a go.”
Before the weekend activities, the CFA held a celebratory dinner at the Town Hall and an open day at the base to celebrate the longevity of the unit.
Horsham CFA has 40 responders, the majority of whom have completed high-level training, to assist and support Vic Ambulance Services in a joint initiative launched earlier this year by the CFA and FMR.
Ambulance and CFA units are dispatched simultaneously to cardiac arrest calls.
