Orbost Fire Brigade firefighter, Laura Tidey, is putting her best foot forward and stepping up to the task of climbing 3046 steps this September in the name of fighting depression, PTSI and suicide.
On Saturday, September 11, 2021, 600 firefighters and other emergency service personnel would have stepped up to fight depression, PTSI and suicide by climbing the 28 floors of Crown Metropol Hotel in Melbourne wearing 25kgs of turnout gear and breathing apparatus, but unfortunately the current COVID restrictions in Victoria prohibited this year’s event taking place.
That has meant the event has gone online, allowing Laura the opportunity to contribute to the collective goal of taking one million steps for mental health.
Each year, 3046 Australians lose their lives to suicide and participants have been asked to climb at least 3046 steps over the course of September.
Last Saturday, the Snowy River Mail caught up with Laura at the steps of the East Gippsland Shire Council Library where she was doing her steps for the day and had completed 200 steps, adding an additional 100 to her regular routine to mark her Oma’s (great grandmother’s 100th birthday).

IMAGE: Orbost Fire Brigade firefighter, Laura Tidey, climbing steps last Saturday as part of the Firefighter Climb fundraiser.