Madison Eastmond, Murray Pioneer

Two Riverland firefighters are preparing to ascend 28 floors of Melbourne’s Crown Metropol Hotel next month, with the charity climb to raise funds for crisis support services and cancer research.

Donning up to 25kg worth of turn-out gear and a breathing apparatus, SA Barmera Country Fire Service (CFS) members Brodie Batty, and Beatrice Walladge, will soon be making the trek to the 12th Annual Firefighter Stair Climb on September 6, with the challenge raising funds and awareness surrounding health and wellbeing issues faced by first-responders and their families.

“It’s a great cause and a good challenge,” Mr Batty said.

“We’re excited to represent South Australia and give it all a go.”

The annual event is aiming to this year raise more than $1m to support services Lifeline, Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation, and 000Foundation, to improve support services, fund research, and remove stigma, especially for those within the emergency service and defence communities.

Each hoping to reach their goal of $1000 for the cause, Mr Batty and Ms Walladge have been focused on their training over the past four months.

“The training has been pretty intense,” Ms Walladge said.

“We have both brought weighted vests, hit the gym regularly, and been climbing the Berri water tower.

“I am recovering from a back injury, so my goal was to be ready by September — so far, everything has been going to plan.”

Mr Batty said he similarly has been using the winter period to prepare, and “get up the stairs without falling over”.

“Once I knew my name was in the hat for doing it, I thought I better not embarrass myself, or the Barmera CFS,” he joked.

“We’ve both been working really hard.”

Though the thought of 28 floors is intimidating, Mr Batty and Ms Walladge said they were looking forward to spending the event meeting other emergency personnel, who are “all there for the same reason”.

“The whole atmosphere I am very much looking forward to — it really seems like it’s going to be a lot of fun,” Ms Walladge said.

The Firefighter Stair Climb also welcomes members of partner emergency services, such as police and the state emergency services.

To donate, visit Brodie Batty’s page (www.firefighterclimb.org.au/climber/brodiebatty), or Beatrice Walladge’s page (www.firefighterclimb.org.au/climber/beatricewalladge).

For more information on the 12th Annual Firefighter Stair Climb, visit the website (www.firefighterclimb.org.au/).

This article appeared in Murray Pioneer, 20 August 2025.