At CFA our greatest asset is our people and last Friday I took great pleasure in welcoming seven outstanding people into our ranks at the joint CFA/MFB graduation ceremony.
A career as a firefighter is an enormously exciting and rewarding career, which involves much more than fighting fires. Each day our skills are utilised through response to medical emergencies, assisting in the state’s planning, educate community members on fire prevention, support local events and much more.
The four men and three women who joined CFA’s ranks are fresh from completing a 20-week course at the Victorian Emergency Management Training Campus (VEMTC) in Craigieburn. Each graduate undertook traditional hose drills and fire training, learnt how to respond to rescues and manage hazardous materials, and completed comprehensive Emergency Medical Response training.
It is of vital importance that all CFA staff and volunteers are equipped with the necessary skills, knowledge, equipment and authority to do the job the best they can. The VEMTC program is first-class, and is an example of Victoria’s fire services working together to provide the best possible fire and rescue services to the community.
At the ceremony, I enjoyed watching several firefighting demonstrations, where recruits worked together to put out structure fires, showcasing their new skills.
I also witnessed a great deal of excitement on the faces of the firefighters and their families, which reinforced to me the sense of pride that comes with joining CFA. It is the same sense of pride I experienced when I began my career as a firefighter at Chelsea Fire Brigade, first as a volunteer in 1978, and then as staff in 1983.
What I find remarkable is that for all the time that has passed, working together with communities to keep Victorians safe is still the priority.
I was excited too, to see three female firefighters join our ranks. There are more and more women seeking a career in firefighting, and this is a great thing for both our organisation, and the communities we serve.
Just as important as being prepared to serve the community from a technical point of view, is the quality of individual that joins CFA. Our people represent our values, and it is therefore vitally important that our recruits act with respect and integrity.
Having had the pleasure of meeting each of them at the ceremony, it seems that they are all quality men and women, ready to embody the CFA spirit.
All recruits should be very proud of their efforts, as we are of them.
I wish them all the best in their career with us.