The money was raised by the boys as part of their participation in the annual Massive Murray Paddle —a 404km slog down the river from Yarrawonga to Swan Hill.
The boys collected almost 30,000 empty drinks cans and plastic bottles, which they cashed at “a secret depot where they could be delivered in the one hit”.
The connection between crew and fire station was Martyn, a junior firefighter there for the past three years.
Martyn turns 16 in May, at which point he qualifies to become a probationary firefighter and join the regular crews on callouts.
As successful as they were in the marathon — entered as the Masters and Apprentices as they team with veteran rowers Rod Clark and Tony Bond — the boys now have slightly different takes on the 2022 event in November.
James, a member of the Echuca-Moama Canoe Club is going to be at the start line —solo this time. He has decided he can do it all and is in training to make sure he does.
Martyn, however, was happy to tell anyone interested in listening that 2021 was his first and last ultra-paddle — he’s much more interested in next month and his baptism of fire with the rest of the brigade.
While they were happy to recall their paddle, the pair remained tight-lipped about cashing their cans for fear it might get mobbed by frustrated recyclers who sometimes queue for hours to get their cash for cans at the Moama depot.
James said they had gone as far as Shepparton to collect cans donated to their cause, and had a good response from the canoe club’s and Echuca CFA’s Facebook pages, with people posting addresses and numbers if cans for collection.
It was also James’ blue canoe that carried the Masters and Apprentices down the river and the one he is back in training with for November he said, looking down at his hands and thinking about the blisters to come.
“Doing the paddle had seemed like a good idea at the time, and we got in a lot of training — which we tracked with a GPS, so we knew distances and times,” Martyn said.
“But no, I won’t be paddling alongside James, that was my last big one,” he grinned.
Rob Amos said Echuca CFA had been looking at investing in technology so they could set up a suitable video conference unit at the station.
He said with so many now regularly travelling for work, and others not always able to attend brigade meetings, it would be a significant asset in keeping members in touch with each other.
“We have a meeting Tuesday night when this was going to be discussed and decided on and now, with this amazing donation in the bank I reckon we might be getting that equipment sooner than we had hoped,” Mr Amos said.
“It has been an amazing job by the boys, and their crewmates Rod and Tony, and we cannot thank them enough for all they have done to raise this money.
“Now we are looking forward to Martyn becoming a senior and a firefighter after all his years as an enthusiastic junior.”
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