As a 45-year veteran of the Country Fire Authority, two kids running to our fire truck with their treasure on a plate became a focal point for me, proving that random acts of kindness come in all forms.

We had brought our fire truck hundreds of kilometres from the small farming hamlet of Fenton's Creek in central Victoria to West Wodonga to help with the fires.

Mopping up from the outbreak we'd fought the previous day, that was so close to town it was still within the speed restriction zones, we were able to rotate back into suburbia to refill our truck from the hydrants in the streets.

I was struck by the kindness and generosity of the people while we replenished our water tank, the families having their photo taken with us, the lady in her car almost in tears telling us how grateful she was, the offers of a coffee and the shout of beer at the end of the day.

Gratification not sought but given so freely.

The lady at the service station in Mooroopna who, unbeknownst to us, paid a generous amount towards our truck's fuel bill, what a beautiful person.

Australian people always want to help.

It is part of our makeup, it is our multicultural "we're all in this together" hardwiring.

While the talking heads on television squabble over cultural cringe, we in the real world get on with the job, we only come in one colour: fire truck red.

Generosity comes in many different forms - a wave hello or a sound of the horn as we pass by tells us that you all care for what we do.

We are not the heroes in this tale of triumph and tragedy.

We only played a minor role in the much larger interconnected picture.

While we 'put the wet stuff on the hot stuff' the real heroes are behind the scenes, from the people at the very top who make the sandwiches through to the top brass that make the hard decisions.

There is a little hero in all of us, the tipping point is the event that galvanises us together, that we all help where we can.

From Lindsay, Tony and myself and all the strike team members of region 20 we thank you all for your support (and the delicious scones).

Forty-five years of service in the Country Fire Authority paid for by one plate of kindness, I'd call that a fair swap.

Leigh Sutton is a volunteer firefighter with the Country Fire Authority