Firies calendar too hot to handle

The annual Firefighters Calendar went on sale at Stockland Bathurst shopping centre – and with free hugs from Mr April, the offer was almost too hot to handle.

Sales were sizzling from the get-go. Calendar co-ordinator Rhett Mitchell said Bathurst shoppers were often the state’s most enthusiastic supporters of the initiative, which raises funds for the burns unit at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead.

“This is one of the best spots in NSW. As soon as we turned up today, straight away we had a lady come up and say ‘can I have three’,” Rhett said.

Like most of the featured firefighters, Mr April – aka Fireman Rick – hails from Fire and Rescue NSW.

“A lot of the guys are full-time, some are retained, and there’s a couple of guys from the Rural Fire Service,” Fireman Rick said.

“We have about 12 weeks to get fit for the photo shoot. We generally try to keep ourselves in fairly good shape, so it’s just a matter of being a bit strict for a few months – a healthy diet, cardio, a lot of weights, even some tanning!”

In the past eight years, the Firefighters Calendar has raised more than $205,000 for the hospital’s burns unit, which treats more than 1000 children each year.

So whether you’re after eye candy for the office or a sultry stocking filler this Christmas, get your copy of the 2014 Firefighters Calendar for the red-hot price of $10. Rhett and Fireman Rick will be downstairs at Stockland Bathurst today from 9am-5pm and tomorrow from 9am-3pm. If you miss out, try your luck at www.firefighterscalendar.com.au, email info@nswfirefighterscalendar.com, or ‘Like’ the Firefighters Calendar NSW Facebook page.