4th CSLA firefighter day for disabled people

4th CSLA firefighter day
for disabled people

 

  A report by Erwin Matzka

   Pictures by Michaela Matzka

Corps Saint Lazarus Austria – On July 29^th 2017 the CSLA organized for the fourth time the Fire Service Day for handicapped people in collaboration with the Voluntary Fire Brigade Großweikersdorf. 

At 8:00 a.m. the preparation activities started.

The cars in the garage were displaced by tables and benches. 

Information boards were placed and certificates were personally issued by the President of the CSLA Dr. Oswin Hochstöger and the Fire Brigade Commander HBI Norbert Mihle.

While waiting for the guests the Vice President of the CSLA Werner Winkelhofer explained the daily process. Each station was equipped with staff. In the meantime the Mayor Alois Zetsch arrived. The President and the Vice President of the CSLA welcomed the arriving guests. 

As a sign of gratitude and appreciation for the long-lasting collaboration and cooperation the Mayor and the Fire Brigade Commander of Großweikersdorf were handed out the Chronicle of the Lazarus Union “…. a vision became true….” with a personal dedication by the President of the CSLI Prof. h.c. Senator Wolfgang Steinhardt.

.Afterwards the “red cars” went to the building yard, where some challenges waited for the guests. Before that we had to take care for a wheel chair. While the sky was blue and the temperatures increased permanently everybody got something to drink after a sweety ride to the building yard.

The water games could start. 

The Commander himself operated the pump and so he took care for the right pressure at the jet tube. Everybody could try to spray away a canister from a barrel with the water jet. Everybody tried and made it – without or with support. To the chagrin of the Fire Woman who expressed her willingness to put the fallen canisters on the barrel again. 

“One man’s joy is another man’s sorrow”.

After something happened with water the next station was waiting. Our guests got to know that it is possible to lift heavy loads. Everybody could operate the steering element for the set of lifting bags with or without support. With great care the load was taken from the puppet “Susi” and then it was released from its difficult situation. 

Also our presidents of the CSLI & CSLA tried to show that it is possible to move something by pressing the lever in the right direction. Naturally the rescue of “Susi” was the most important thing.

After everybody finished all stations we went back to the fire station by the fire station cars. Here the next surprises waited for the guests. Those who wanted to could show their skills by operating the stirrup pump. In collaboration with a man or a woman at the pump you had to hit a hole in the fire panel until a signal sounded.

Those who succeeded got a bag and a cup from KAMASA-TOOLS. The future belongs to the brave or the view down onto Großweikersdorf. Those who dared could go up with the working basket up to 24 m and could enjoy the marvelous view. After the return to earth the courageous relaxed people could pick a sweet soft toy from McDonalds out of Monika’s basket. Inside the fire station cookies were offered – sponsored by BILLA. Thosewho wanted to could relax after the previous hardships and adventures. 

Inside the fire station cookies were offered – sponsored by BILLA. Those who wanted to could relax after the previous hardships and adventures.

Half time or repast.

The sausages were sponsored by the butcher Ehn, the rolls by the bakery Burger and the drinks by a sponsor who wanted to be anonymous. Afterwards there was ice cream for everybody – also sponsored by BILLA.

Who turned the clock…. Yes, there will be a surprise. 

Everything was packed together, everybody jumped into the cars and then we went to Altenwörth lying at the Danube. A surprise and certainly the highlight of the day.

The Fire Brigade Altenwörth-Gigging was already waiting with the working boat equipped with an engine with 150 HP, staff up to 11 people and an electric front flap that facilitates essentially the loading and unloading.

Enough said, put on your life jacket and then out to water. 

For the first time a barge was there. A barge is a water vessel operated by one or two Fire Brigade members by rowing or poling. A barge can only be operated by muscular power. Here there were also some brave people who took a trip with the barge together with a comrade of the fire service. Nobody denied the shipping tour on the Danube. For the barge however the queue was not so long.

If anybody got hungry or thirsty drinks and pastries were available. The waiting time was bridged by small talk. 

The CSLA President and the Vice President said farewell to our guests. Everybody got a personal certificate and a bay filled with products of DM and TUI Magic Life Waterworld.

Many thanks to all helping People!

 

We warmly thank the Voluntary Fire Services and the following companies who supported us vigorously with their donations (and also many thanks to all anonymous sponsors):

• Voluntary Fire Brigade Großweikersdorf; under the command of HBI Mihle and all staff members
• Voluntary Fire Brigade Altenwörth – Gigging
• Kamasa-Tools (1230 Vienna)
• Bakery Burger (Großweikersdorf)
• BILLA (Branch Großweikersdorf)
• dm (2301 Groß-Enzersdorf)
• Friedrich Ehn (Butcher)
• TUI Magic Life Waterworld (Belek, Turkey)
  and
• Pastries (Mrs. Hackl, Mrs. Fichtl, Mrs. Matzka)