General News
12 June, 2025
One step at a time
SEVEN members of the Stawell Fire Brigade are gearing up to take on the 12th Annual Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb, racing to the top of the Crown Metropol Hotel in full firefighting gear carrying 25 kilograms of equipment.
The annual event is all in support of cancer research, mental health, and suicide prevention.
The Stawell climbers include Geoff Hateley, Zach Portelli, Joseph Stubberfield, Myles Gellie, Jai Smith, Steven Rudolph, and Declan Holloway, who are all tackling the challenge for the first time.
With more than 600 climbers expected at this year’s event, Stawell’s crew has already begun fundraising, securing a combined 2025 total of $1,270 to go toward Lifeline, Peter
MacCallum Cancer Foundation, and the 000Foundation. Many of the brigade members were undergoing their First Medical Responder (FMR) training when registrations opened.
Several signed up alongside members from the Horsham brigade.
For Jai Smith, the timing couldn’t be better, set to turn eighteen just days before the event the achievement will be a present in itself.
“It works out perfectly. The money goes to cancer, suicide and mental health support, so it’s three great causes,” he said.
Geoff Hateley said it was a first-time experience for the entire group.
“This is our first, for all of us. None of us have done it. Jai brought the idea up, so we’ve pushed him through very quickly to get his BA (Breathing Apparatus) qualification so he can do it,” Geoff said, admitting that the crew might be a little fitter by the end of the event.
Steven Rudolph like many of his teammates has already started training.
“I did 20 minutes up and down the steps the other day and I’m like, oh, this feels actually pretty good, but I didn’t have 25kg on. It’s one of those things where if you’re in a family and you’ve dealt with depression and so forth, it’s really good to go out there and actually do something for other people who might be going through the same thing.”
For Zach Portelli, the cause hits close to home.
“The cancer research is pretty big, firefighters expose ourselves to a lot of stuff. I’ve had a couple friends, career firefighters, that have died of cancer, and it’s not a good thing. So more money raised to help with that sort of research and better ways to protect ourselves as firefighters is a great thing,” he said.
To support the Stawell team, visit: www.firefighterclimb.org.au/station/cfa/stawell/
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