A big day out for Smokey

Smokey the Koala has spent decades helping South Australians learn about fire safety, but today he swapped the bush for hospital wards, fire trucks, and a meeting with a fellow koala named Florence for a big day out.

The day began at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, where Smokey was joined by CFS Chief Officer Brett Loughlin AFSM to visit children, families and staff.

They stopped by Kidsafe SA to learn more about its work in burns prevention and safety, before heading through the hospital to meet patients, families, play therapists and healthcare workers.

The Chief Officer’s structural firefighting gear proved popular with some of the children, who got a closer look at what firefighters wear and learned more about the job.

Smokey and the Chief also brought along treats for hospital staff as a small thank you for their work.

From the hospital, Smokey headed to Cleland Wildlife Park for the afternoon to meet some of his real-life counterparts and say g’day to Lofty the Koala, Cleland Wildlife Park’s mascot.

Families making the most of the school holidays joined Smokey for scavenger hunts, colouring competitions, giveaways and, of course, plenty of photos.

Volunteers from Piccadilly CFS Brigade brought along a fire truck for children to explore and learn more about the equipment firefighters use. They also set a challenge: find a hidden Smokey plush on the truck using a thermal imaging camera.

The CFS Community Engagement Team was there throughout the afternoon, talking with families about bushfire preparedness and simple steps they can take to stay safe as summer approaches.

While Smokey looked right at home among the koalas at Cleland, his connection with fire safety goes back further than CFS itself.

Smokey first appeared as a symbol of bushfire prevention in South Australia in 1961, 15 years before CFS was established. Early campaigns even featured a real Adelaide Zoo koala named Smokey, before the familiar life-sized character began appearing at community events and in fire safety education programs in the 1980s.

His big day out was part of CFS’s 50th anniversary celebrations, bringing together fire safety, community and a character who has been part of that story since before CFS began.

A big thank you to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Kidsafe SA, the Department for Environment and Water, Cleland Wildlife Park and our volunteers from Piccadilly CFS Brigade for helping make the day possible, and to all the children, families and staff who stopped to say hello along the way.

After more than 60 years of spreading the fire safety message, Smokey still knows how to draw a crowd.