Carrying the CFA flag at Moomba Parade was a proud moment for Hamlyn Heights father-of-two Scott Tomlinson, which nearly brought a tear to his eye.
The CFA volunteer of 19 years and current Geelong West Fire Brigade member joined 11 other fireys in the annual parade earlier this month.
“I was stoked when they asked and when I first started, I was quite emotional,” the 43-year-old aged care worker said.
“I thought I was going to cry. I had to hold back the tears. That powerful emotion was unbelievable… people were clapping and cheering, even doing a wave.”
Scott was one of 120 firefighters that helped contain a blaze at Mount Mercer that burnt through more than 600 hectares of grassland last December .
He also contributed to the massive recent volunteer firefighter surge across Australia by joining a strike team in Hawkesbury, NSW, last November.
During the parade Scott was moved by the public goodwill towards firefighters following an unprecedented bushfire season.
“For people to thank you was pretty amazing,” he said.
“I’m just a big believer in helping my community.
“We don’t go and do it for the accolades, we do it to help our communities, whether it’s my community, greater Geelong, Melbourne or anywhere else we can help out.”
Scott is also a Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria (VFBV) representative and has volunteered with the SES for the past 12 months.
“[Volunteering is] a good thing to do,” he said.
“I love helping the community and the best thing about being in a brigade, it doesn’t matter what brigade you’re in, it’s like your second family.”
