Photo: Mount Martha 4th Lt Marnie Black
This International Volunteer Day, CFA is celebrating its volunteers for their tireless dedication and commitment serving their communities by protecting lives and property every day.
Today, 5 December, marks International Volunteer Day which recognises the passionate individuals who give up their time for the betterment of their communities all around the world.
Marnie Black of Mount Martha Fire Brigade has forged her own path to becoming the brigade’s first woman lieutenant and is one of thousands of firefighters celebrated for their demonstrated commitment to their communities.
“From the very day I walked into Mount Martha, the brigade was very welcoming and supportive,” Marnie said.
“My son was very young at the time and the brigade assured me that having a young family wouldn’t be a barrier to my membership and progression.”
When the role of Lieutenant presented itself, Marnie admitted she was “hesitant at first”, but said she had a lot of support from the brigade which encouraged her to put her hand up.
“My role as a lieutenant is to be a team leader and to get others involved and do the best that they can,” she said.
CFA volunteers like Marnie are the lifeblood of CFA, coming together from a variety of backgrounds and walks of life to play a crucial role in protecting their communities.
Her message to those who have thought about joining CFA is “just do it”.
“I love being a volunteer because it gets me out into the community,” Marnie said.
“I get to educate those around me and help out as needed.
“If you have any hesitations, just go down to your local brigade, check it out, ask them questions and get involved.”
CFA has a strong volunteer membership of more than 50,000 people.