It is a familiar story across the country — the declining and aging population of many towns — but some have managed to turn the tide, including Pyramid Hill which has bolstered its emergency services with migrant recruits.

Pyramid Hill could once have been characterised as older, conservative and traditional according to the local mayor.

But the small town of around 500 people, about an hour north of Bendigo, has had a significant boost to its population in the past 10 years thanks to the growing number of Filipinos who call the place home.

Church pews are filled, the local Catholic primary school has been saved, businesses have expanded and many of the migrants have taken up crucial volunteer roles in emergency services — including the recent recruitment of seven Filipinos to the local Country Fire Authority.

"The community has been absolutely welcoming in every way, particularly the older people," Cr Cheryl McKinnon said.

Pyramid Hill CFA Captain Steve Mann says previously the fire truck would go out without a full crew due to lack of available volunteers. ( ABC Central Victoria: Larissa Romensky )

With the predicted early and long bushfire season, Captain of the Pyramid Hill Brigade Steve Mann was grateful for the increased numbers, in a town that had seen its "fair share of big incidents".

"It just takes the pressure off everyone else and spreads the load and just makes it easier for everyone," he said.

Along with joining the CFA, four Filipino community volunteer members have joined the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) who are rostered around the clock to respond to emergencies until an ambulance arrives.

"It's a deliberate effort by the Filipino organisation to actually get involved in what's going on in our community and really become a part of it," Cr McKinnon said.

To give gratitude

Largely working in the local piggeries, the first Filipinos arrived a decade ago after local piggery owner Tom Smith travelled to Manila to interview staff after not being able to find skilled workers locally.

His business has about 30,000 pigs and, of the 55 full-time staff, about half are Filipino.

Richard Fernandez was one of the early recruits who followed his wife to Pyramid Hill a year later with two of their youngest children.

With six children between the ages of 8 and 22 years he said one of the driving forces for leaving the Philippines was to provide a better life for their children — his eldest is just about to graduate in accounting.

At the local Catholic primary school, where Mr Fernandez's children attend, of the 20 students, more than half are Filipino.

"Our enrolment numbers have certainly grown since 2009 ensuring that our community is thriving in a small town," St Patrick's school principal, Colleen Hampson, said.

Richard Fernandez (left) said joining the CFA was a way of saying thanks to the community of Pyramid Hill. ( ABC Central Victoria: Larissa Romensky )

While Mr Fernandez's first impression of the quiet wheat and sheep-dotted landscape was a culture shock, 10 years on he is well and truly at home.

Having schooled himself in English, courtesy of Home and Away episodes, he is not only a proud paid-up member of the Carlton AFL football team but also a CFA member.

"To give gratitude to this beautiful community — we're very proud and our families are proud we are one of the firefighters of the CFA," Mr Fernandez said.

He was also one of the founding members of the town's annual cultural fiesta and had no plans to leave.

"We call this home; Philippines is our second home," Mr Fernandez said.

'Really difficult for skilled migrants to qualify for work'

Pyramid Hill is home to about 100 Filipinos who mostly work in piggeries. ( ABC Central Victoria: Larissa Romensky )

Cr McKinnon credits the Filipinos with not only allowing the expansion of the businesses from piggeries to a Filipino grocery store but adding a cultural vibrancy to the town.

So motivated is the community that they are on the cusp of launching their United Filipino Organisation of Pyramid Hill, as an incorporated body.

Cr McKinnon was also pleased that the growth in population had meant four new houses had been built in the community with more planned.

"We don't have housing booms as a rule, and we have a housing boom and it's just wonderful," she said.

However, Cr McKinnon was concerned the new changes to the visa arrangements had made it "really difficult" for skilled migrants to qualify for work.

"They've had three knocked back recently, who failed in their test when previously they would have actually been able to come out," she said.

"It's just a real shame and it would be great if we could a address that."