The Aussie Day Weekend Fundraiser Barbecue is the first time the Orange hardware store has partnered with the Clifton Grove Ophir brigade, and members are looking forward to the experience.

“It will help make the community aware of what we do. We can get a good lot of community engagement from this weekend,” brigade secretary Liz Lewis said.

“It’s also about promoting community safety. We’ll have a whole lot of information available and bushfire survival plans. People can come and ask us questions.”

From 9am until 4pm, 10 Rural Fire Service (RFS) members will be at the hardware store alongside the brigade’s newest truck, which was received just before Christmas.

Aside from the barbecue that will run all day, children’s Australia Day arts and crafts will begin at 9.30am, and games will be held, such as a gumboot toss at 10am, tug-of-war between Bunnings staff and RFS volunteers at 1pm and guess the pegs in the gumboot competition throughout the day.

“If people from Clifton Grove are thinking about joining the RFS, they can come and talk to us on the day. We’re always looking for more volunteers,” deputy captain Ken Rawlings said.

“We have a cadet program too, and kids from 12 to 16 can join,” Ms Lewis added.

All money raised on the day will be donated to the brigade and will be spent on spent on shovels, ice boxes and other equipment.

alexandra.king@fairfaxmedia.com.au