Charlotte and Daniel Pors
Quality time together is just one of the benefits that Charlotte and Daniel Pors have experienced since joining Mirboo North Fire Brigade a year ago.
The father-daughter duo signed up to their local CFA as something to do with one another, and since then have grown both individually and together. Charlotte and Daniel have spent the past 12 months learning new skills and developing relationships with other brigade members.
“From the moment we went to the brigade, we just felt so welcomed. The brigade is just so lovely, and it was such a great experience,” Charlotte said.
Seeing it as a break from usual routine, Daniel said it’s been great to challenge himself alongside his daughter.
“Charlotte has really pulled me out of my comfort zone,” Daniel said. “Before this I was just working all of the time, and this has been such a great way to get out of the house and meet new people within our community.
“This is something I wouldn’t have thought of doing five or six years ago, but now I have a group of people who want to keep pushing ourselves to do better and improve.”
Having spent the past year undertaking a variety of courses and learning new skills, the pair say friendly competition helps to build their bond even more.
Charlotte, who recently turned 18, has big ambitions for her time in the brigade alongside her dad.
“My goal at CFA is to become captain. I admire our captain Trent so much, and I’d love to get to that stage one day. If I ever do, I’d want to have dad by my side as Lieutenant and have those leadership roles together. It would also be amazing for us both to go on a strike team together and build our bond even more,” said Charlotte.
The family aspect of the brigade is something that Mirboo North Captain Trent Venten has been working hard to develop in recent times.
"I’m very proud of how much our brigade feels like a family,” Trent said.
“It makes the brigade run smoother if everyone feels like they're a part of something, like they’re a part of a team, like they’re putting into the community.
“This has a flow-on benefit to the community because there’s more people responding to incidents and keeping our community safe,” Trent said.
With a long family history in CFA, including grandparents with 120+ years of service between them and multiple family members currently serving across various Gippsland brigades, Trent hopes creating a strong family atmosphere is something that resonates with not only his brigade, but his daughter Sophie, 7.
“I want Sophie to learn the value of volunteering and I hope I’m showing her the importance of that. This was instilled in me from a young age, and I hope that by showing her the importance of it, I’m instilling those same values in her,” Trent said.
While Trent knows the benefits this atmosphere can have for the community, there’s no mistaking that Charlotte and Daniel all have the same attitude.
“We’re there to protect the community,” Charlotte said. “That’s all we’re there for at the end of the day, and everyone’s got that same goal.”
CFA wishes Daniel, Trent and all the other fathers and father figures in CFA and our communities a very happy Father's Day.
Mirboo North Captain Trent Venten and daughter Sophie, 7.-
Jed and Tim, another family duo at Mirboo North Fire Brigade
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Mirboo North Captain Trent Venten and daughter Sophie, 7.
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Charlotte and Daniel Pors
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