Stawell lights up for State Champs

The tradition, which dates back to 1873, saw hundreds of CFA members march through the heart of Stawell after sunset, led by Acting CFA Chief Officer Alen Slijepcevic AFSM and VFBV State President Samantha Collins, behind a fleet of vintage and modern CFA appliances. 

Among those marching was the host brigade, with Stawell Fire Brigade Captain Mal Nicholson saying the procession was a special moment for local members. 

“It’s hard to beat the atmosphere of a night like this, seeing the whole community out and supporting what we do,” Mal said. 

“There’s been a huge amount of work behind the scenes from our brigade and the organising committee, so to see it all come together like this is really rewarding. 

“People might not realise but teams put a lot of hard work into training for the procession. 

“It’s also a great chance to catch up and swap stories with people from brigades you don’t often get to see,” Mal said. 

Judges assessed brigades on their appearance and parade performance, with joint-winners Melton A and Knox Group sharing top honours for 2026. 

CFA Acting Chief Officer Alen Slijepcevic AFSM said the procession continues to be one of CFA’s proudest traditions. 

“The torchlight procession marked the opening of the Stawell Fire Brigade 143 years ago in 1883. While kerosene lamps have since been replaced, the significance remains the same,” Alen said. 

“It’s a great opportunity to showcase the pride and camaraderie of our members and a terrific way to close out the first day of competition this weekend.” 

The CFA/VFBV State Firefighter Championships will return to Stawell’s North Park Oval in 2027, with the Urban Junior competition taking place on 13-14 March, followed by the Urban and Rural Seniors and Rural Juniors on 20-21 March. 

“As a brigade, we’re really keen to build on the success of this year’s event and deliver an even bigger and better instalment of the State Championships next year,” Mal said.