Community
30 January, 2026
Giving back to CFA volunteers
TWO Camperdown businesses were among a number of businesses who donated food and drinks to support Country Fire Authority (CFA) units fighting fires in the Otways.
Camperdown Bakery and Camperdown Roadhouse were among the businesses to donate, many of which were from the Colac area.
Camperdown Bakery owner Andrea Mutch said she became involved when her regular delivery person asked about donating bread rolls to firefighters.
“We agreed and ended up making 300 bread rolls,” she said.
“The delivery guy supplied mayonnaise, ham and cheeses.
“The Camperdown service station also supplied a large amount of soft drinks.
“We were just told it was to feed the firefighters out in the Otways.
“They put up a Facebook post and were looking for any types of donations to help with the firefighters.”
The callout came from catering business owner Madi Sheaf, who said the cause was close to her heart.
“My whole family are firefighters – not for the CFA specifically, but for the State Forestry side of things,” she said.
“My husband comes home from shifts on the front line and sees the types of packs the CFA volunteers get – it’s just not sustainable enough to keep them going.
“We ended up attending one of the smaller sheds to find out they didn’t have food on trucks since Saturday, and we visited on Monday.
“At that point, I wanted to do more and make sure these guys have enough to keep going – they’re fighting to keep our communities safe.”
Mrs Sheaf also provides community boxes for those affected by the fires in the Otways, coordinating with another Colac area business owner to meet the growing need for food for the CFA.
“Someone reached out to me and said they were doing something similar, and we coordinated to meet up in Colac and distribute them to ensure each station got what they needed,” she said.
“Due to the demand, unfortunately the headquarters in Colac have run out – they don’t have any grab bags to distribute at the moment.
“They get imported from New Zealand – because everyone needs them, they haven’t had the chance to call back and get what they need.”
Like Mrs Sheaf, Ms Mutch has thrown her full support behind the CFA volunteers working to protect the community – saying she is willing to do anything to help the CFA.
“Years ago, I was in the fire brigade, and I know what it’s like to be out there,” she said.
“When you go out on the fireground, you’ve basically got nothing.
“At the moment, all the local fire brigades – Weerite, Chocolyn and Purrumbete – ring me up on Total Fire Ban days and I supply them with sandwiches and fruit platters.
“I’m willing to come in 24-hours a day to do what I can do to help.
“They’re here to help and support us – the least we can do is support them.”
Read More: local, Camperdown