Community The essence of CFA
Greendale Brigade, District 15
Concept Initiative:
Brigade Support Team CFA Headquarters, Burwood
Production & Design:
Deanna Neville Focus on Communinity www.focusoncommunity.org Front cover: Redhill Brigade, District 8 Back cover: Gundowring Brigade, District 24
Copyright CFA, 2016 Page 1
Community The essence of CFA Acknowledgements The people to thank for helping bring this book to life are many and varied. The families who agreed to be part of this collection and willing photo subjects, thank you for trusting us with your stories. They are rich, authentic and your own words. The members who turned their attention to their camera skills, thank you for bringing us such a diverse range of beautiful images, fitting for a coffee table photo book. Those who helped guide and weave the ideas throughout the book in ways that brought style and creativity together, in editorial support and guidance, thank you for finding the ways to make it happen. Thank you to our members’ families who are often behind the scenes but still very much a part of their story. We hope that our members recognise their own stories about family in this book.
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Foreword In recognition of National Volunteer Week 2016, it is timely that we acknowledge our people and their enormous commitment to our organisation as well as recognising the importance and positive impact of CFA across the State. This book is a celebration of our people and what is important to them in their lives. CFA communities come in many shapes and forms, from endearing lifelong friendships and love stories, to 3rd and 4th generation families that have crossed decades into the local history books of our communities. All of our 55,000 members add an invaluable dimension to the fabric of our society and it is our hope that these stories will resonate with the commitment, bond and spiritual wellness that is an integral part of our greater CFA community.
Trida Brigade, District 9
Joe Buffone PSM Chief Officer
Melissa Johnstone, Cashmore Brigade I transferred over to Cashmore to be closer to where I live. My daughters wanted to join because I was going to fires and they wanted to get involved in helping. Emily, who is 17, has just been to her first fire and Natalie, 15 is a Junior getting ready to sign up. Adam Stuchbery, the Captain, has been really good with the training program. He talks at everyone’s level and he takes the young ones out to do their own training which makes it easier for them. Adam has encouraged us in such a way that there are now 11 active women in the brigade – that’s a third!
And it’s interesting, we’ve had three generations in the Cashmore Brigade, because my father was Captain of the Cashmore Brigade and a member for 20 years, and he’s been fire-fighting with DELWP for another 20 years. So fire fighting is in our blood. The Cashmore Fire Brigade are very family orientated and we are proud to be part of the CFA and Cashmore Brigade. L-R: Melissa Johnstone, Member; Natalie Johnstone, Junior and Emily Johnstone, Member Photo by Rita Burridge, Cashmore Brigade
District 4
South West Region
Adam is such a young, kind-hearted fellow and we all feel comfortable with him as a leader. My girls are encouraged and see that women can do just as good a job. I have my truck licence and I do a lot of the driving for the Brigade, and both girls are already starting to drive trucks around the paddocks at home, because that’s what you get to do when you grow up on a farm!
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My girls are encouraged
A family Malcolm Bishop, Warrnambool Brigade
I have been a CFA member for nearly 40 years. I became a CFA member of the competition running team and from there I joined the Brigade. I have coached both Junior and Senior teams over my involvement in the competition side of CFA and I have been fortunate to coach all of my children in Junior competitions, which I enjoyed. Learning to work as a team and performing well, that’s the sort of culture I try to get them into. I actually ran with one of my sons back in 2013 in Senior ranks and that’s an honour. Both of my sons still compete and I am still involved as a judge at competitions. Going to competitions becomes a family activity with many families also coming along as supporters and helpers, and the people from other Brigades you meet become like your family, your CFA family. We all look after each other.
District 5
At our Brigade there are many families who have two or more family members involved in the Brigade either as firefighters, Brigade members, Junior members or Auxiliary members. My wife, Carolyn, is the current Treasurer of Warrnambool Brigade and a firefighter also. My two sons, Adam and Cameron, are also firefighters and actively involved in the Brigade, and like other families, we usually get two or three of us turning out on a truck. My daughter, Kara, was also a firefighter with our brigade but now works in Melbourne for the Secretariat of VFBV, so still has a connection to CFA. The friends you make through competitions, your own Brigade, through training or incidents, working with other Brigades, and the people you meet along the way, all become part of your CFA family. L-R: Cameron Bishop, Firefighter; Malcolm Bishop, Firefighter and Adam Bishop, Firefighter Photo by Carolyn Bishop, Warrnambool Brigade Page 7
activity
We are six brothers Terry Place, Pomborneit Brigade
When you live in the rural community it is only natural that you work with everyone. This also goes for working as a volunteer in the rural fire Brigade. My father Bernard was the Tesbury RFB Captain, working with his brother, Don. At the time, with five of my brothers - Chris, Ray, Peter, Glen and Steve - we worked with Dad during the Ash Wednesday fires and many more over the years. You learn from an early age that community is everything. We are six brothers on dairy farms, all working together; we just help each other as we’re going and we are all very close. And that’s also evident on the fire ground. I had some land burnt on Black Saturday as did two of my brothers. We worked together putting out the fires with the large CFA team as well as the restoration work afterwards in rebuilding. The help on that occasion was unbelievable. Today we have more than fifteen Place family members in the local Brigades and Group in various roles. It is not just the blokes, some of the women are qualified firefighters, as is my wife Joanne who also works as a registered nurse and assists as an Ambulance Community Officer (ACO). The fourth generation have also stepped up and taken some of the workload. One has even applied to join CFA as a career firefighter. Because we have been volunteering and fighting fires for a long time we feel we’re given a lot of trust by the people in the community. Sometimes the next generation of the family think we do a bit much but as we pass on our skills and experience and they become more involved within the community they understand why it is just so natural.
District 6
The changes over the years have been enormous within CFA and I think as a family we have been able to adapt and run with it and in some little way maybe even drive it. We have embraced the training culture side of things with safety a priority and that has reflected back into our farming lives. The help and satisfaction we get from volunteering far outweighs what we put in. L-R: Glen Place, Firefighter, Tesbury Brigade; Ray Place, DGO Camperdown Group and 1st Lt, Pomborneit; Terry Place, Capt; Grant Place, Firefighter; Stephen Place, Lt; Chris Place, GO, Camperdown Group, 1st Lt,Tesbury; Dennis Place, Firefighter, Tesbury Photo by Dianna Place Absent family Brigade members: Peter, Tim, Joanne, Alex, Clinton, Brayden, Tom, Eva, Narelle and Michael Page 9
Andy Rankin & Elliot Rankin Anglesea Brigade Andy:
Elliot:
To be Captain of Anglesea Fire Brigade is challenging. It takes up time and requires great effort. But with the support not just from my own immediate family, but from the families within the Brigade and CFA, it is incredibly rewarding.
During the Christmas Day fires I kind of knew what was going on because we had the radio at home, so I wasn’t worried about Dad there. I’d learnt about what they do in CFA at school in the CFA Survive and Thrive Program so I could follow the weather and where the fire was and I understood what they were trying to do to stop it. They also had the aircraft on the radio. Dad has also been able to help me with things I have learnt at CFA, like mapping and weather conditions. I’ve also taught Dad how to properly use a Macarthur Meter!
Elliot and I are able to talk a similar language now because of the information he’s learnt in the CFA Survive and Thrive Program, which is a fire education partnership between the Anglesea Primary School and our Fire Brigade. Being a part of that program taught Elliot some real life skills that have really set him up, like interacting with adults. Last year Elliot and I met politicians in Canberra through the program and he was able to hold complex conversations about CFA, our town, Brigade, fire behaviour and the program so confidently. The politicians were blown away. It was such a proud Dad moment.
L-R: Andy Rankin, Capt and Elliot, Junior, donninng his Dad’s turnout gear for the photograph Photo by Rebecca Hosking Photography
District 7
My family and CFA are important to me, and to have him here to share this with me at the Brigade now as a Junior member is great.
Such Page 11
a proud Dad moment
District 15
West Region
Donna Zabinskas, Greendale Brigade
My father was Captain at Orbost. That’s when my interest as a young child started, seeing my Dad going out to fires and my Mum in the Auxiliary. Then, moving out to the country we thought, we should get involved. Now my son, Damien, is the Captain here at Greendale, I’m 3rd Lieutenant and both my daughters, Melissa and Monika are members. We do lots of things supporting our members, especially out on the fire ground. We keep the girls and boys supported. We do the fundraising when we can and social events, particularly with the community. We try to keep the community involved as much as possible. And with any of our functions we try to include the young ones. We have strong leadership in our Juniors and that involves their families as well. It’s a lot of work but good work. Now we have family nights, movie nights, all open to our members and people around here. We also do an inter-Group dinner night to reach out to our surrounding Brigades. We organise a pub night which is just a social get-together but they’re really well attended. People start mingling and it brings them together more. You’ll recognise a face of someone you just saw on a truck days earlier. And it really lifts people’s spirits. My family is very passionate about our wildlife and for many weeks after the fires, we swap our yellow overalls for red ones, and end up out there retrieving and tending to the animals affected by the fire. L-R: Damien Zabinskas, Capt (with Penny the orphaned wombat); Jen Yates, Incumbent Secretary; Daniel Coon, Firefighter; Melissa Zabinskas, Firefighter (with baby Oliver) Donna Zabinskas, 3rd Lt.
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Very passionate about our wildlife
David Gerrard, Beaufort Brigade
Being a volunteer in any country town, whether it is the football club, CFA, or other organisation, is what keeps the town going. Personally, I get a great deal of satisfaction out of my work in CFA. The fact that my family is involved as well is great. My wife Robyn, is our Comms Officer as well as our Community Engagement team leader. We’re like a partnership, I suppose – she backs me up and I back her up in what we do. I also have two sons following through. My oldest son, Colin, is Captain, second son, Peter, is 1st Lieutenant and I have six grandchildren, five of whom are in the Beaufort Brigade and one is still too young. Family goes a lot beyond blood relationships though. The Brigade’s a family and CFA’s a family. When you go away to different events, training and incidents around the State, you form relationships with the people you meet, both volunteer and staff, and some of these become lifelong friends.
District 16
We haven’t had any large fires that have threatened the town in my time, but in 2011 we had almost a quarter of Beaufort flooded. We were busy preparing beforehand sandbagging, and during the flood the town was isolated from any help, so the Brigade had to take it on. We did quite well using local knowledge to pre-plan where the floods were going to occur. We were evacuating people out, even in a front-end loader when the water became too deep. One of our members’ property was affected by the flooding and the Brigade got in the next day and helped him out. To me that is the way CFA works. L-R (on truck): Alex Gerrard, Junior; Ryan Gerrard, 11; Jack Gerrard, Junior, Naomi Gerrard, Junior; Rohan Gerrard, Member. L-R (below): David Gerrard, DGO, 3rd Lt.; Robyn Gerrard, Comms Officer and Community Ed Leader; Peter Gerrard,1st Lt.; Colin Gerrard, Capt; Bianca Gerrard, Member. Photo by Angela Gerrard
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Sons following
through
Our
brigade Wayne Hartwich, Dimboola Brigade I suppose it all dates back to when I started as a Junior in a Brigade called Tarranyurk. They were looking for kids to join the rural running team. From that time I thought, what a bloody great group of people. I was only about 14 and the older blokes were teaching us stuff and were really great role models. The Dimboola Brigade is more than a team - we’re a family here at Dimboola. There are 35 really good members who are a great family mix. For a group of volunteers who don’t get anything out of it except for the fact that they’ve helped out at a fire or an MVA, just a thank you is all we need.
District 17
When my daughter was three, she got very sick and was at the Royal Children’s Hospital. Within hours, CFA gave us heaps of support, even turning up with a teddy and saying, what do you need? How can we help? And the support from our Brigade family back at home, even text messages from people we didn’t know well, it just meant so much to us. People were knocking on our door throughout. Now our daughter is a member at Dimboola, she’s studying nursing at university and I’m over the moon. Proud of both our kids; just so very proud. And it’s quite funny, I now work right next door to the Tarranyurk fire station, the old tin shed! I sometimes get called out with them, and they’re the ones who taught me my running skills! Wayne Hartwich, Capt Photo by Bronwyn Hastings, Dimboola Brigade Page 17
back
at home
It’s a family thing. It seemed to have started with Dad, then me, then my sons. We have a lot of family in CFA. Currently, I’m the oldest active member here and Jennifer, my grand-daughter, is the newest. For quite a long time Jennifer was shy, a quiet type of girl and she was given encouragement from her Grandmother also. Now she’s having a real go.
District 2
North West Region
It’s going to be very interesting to see how we’ll go turning out together. The first time I turned out with my son, it was his first time out on a job, and it was a very tough situation. We lay out a line of hose together and I felt my son hesitate for a split second, but I knew if I just gave him a moment all would be good. He’s now project managing pumper design. And you know, I’m quite looking forward to having Jennifer around, and she’s asking a lot of questions so I think it’s good.
It’s a family
Bill Chapman & Jennifer Chapman Castlemaine Brigade
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thing
One of the reasons I recently joined is because the tradition has been going on for many generations in my family, and I wanted to experience it for myself. They always seemed really happy with CFA, helping people out and being there when people needed it most. Seeing the dedication and satisfaction of my great grandparents, grandparents, great aunts and uncles, aunties and uncles and cousins has inspired me to get involved and contribute, as they have, to assisting the community through volunteering. I’m looking forward to spending as much time with Billpa, as we call him, to learn as much as I can. I can see how dedicated he’s been to CFA, over a very long period of time. I enjoy listening to his narratives, especially when we are in the car around town and he points out the locations where he has attended a call and what the call was and what year it was in, what went well, what didn’t go so well. It’s like an After Action Review, that I can learn from, even though I wasn’t there. I like the comparisons of how CFA has changed since its beginnings, and his experiences from when he first turned out, how much the equipment has improved, and how many of the traditions haven’t changed. Bill Chapman, 3rd Lt and Jennifer Chapman, Member Photo by Bianca Franklin, Castlemaine Brigade
Will Fenech, Caroline Springs Brigade & Katie Tur, Hurstbridge Brigade
Katie: CFA’s kind-of always been a family. Will: Like an extended family group. I’m from an integrated brigade. Katie: And I’m from a smaller Brigade that’s more community-based. Will: I treat some of the volunteers, the ones that have been around a bit, like uncles, and the others going through training, like cousins. If you look at our wedding list, there’s a lot of CFA members. They’re more like family to me than a lot of my actual family. There are things that I spend time doing with CFA and experiences we share and places we’ve been and things we’ve seen. Katie: I’ve only got a small family and even though my parents aren’t part of the Brigade, I like to integrate them to my CFA family. Even though they’re not related, they do feel like a family.
District 14
It’s fascinating how an organisation like CFA can bring so many people together with the same values and common goals, with so many different people from such different backgrounds. They guide you, and you’re able to lead others. Will: The profound effect CFA has had on our lives – not only did it bring us together – but all the qualifications we’ve obtained and leadership opportunities provided really helps us in other parts of our lives. The trainer/assessor course was the course we actually met on, because we wanted to be able to share that knowledge with others. Katie: I think it helps that we’re both CFA people, so we can support what each of us are doing. And I feel it makes us closer to our immediate family. Katie Tur, Firefighter and Will Fenech, 2nd Lt Photo supplied
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Bring us
together
Linda Valinoti, Robinvale Brigade
Volunteering with CFA is very special for me. I volunteer with four of my children, and that’s something to be very proud of. Being in Robinvale, even though we’re a small town, we have a very large numbers of volunteers and we’re very close; we’re very closely knitted. It sounds really corny but we’re like one big family. That’s what makes our Brigade so special. It’s an amazing Brigade, we have so much faith in each other. At an incident, when we think we’re going to tire out, we just keep on going and going.
District 18
In our community we’ve recently had a run of really serious incidents that involved all the emergency services. And that really showed our diversity as CFA members. We don’t just look for the smoke. We do have to cut people out of cars. We do have to do CPR. We do comfort families. It’s a joy to be part of a group doing all that together. You’re out of bed at 1 or 2 in the morning and no-one even knows you’ve been out. They’re getting up when we’re heading back home. We may not even have put any water on, but you might have comforted someone. And that’s just as important as all the rest. Not long ago I was at a road accident, and my two sons and I were the ones actively hands-on. I was very proud of them, of the level of maturity and the respect I saw come from the boys with what they did. My heart burst with pride. You’re helping complete strangers and it’s the most amazing job that any person could have. And I’m doubly-blessed that I get to do it with my children. L-R: Reece Valinoti, Comms Officer; Paige Valinoti, Firefighter; LindaValinoti, Firefighter; Jayden Valinoti, Firefighter and Bryce Valinoti, 3rd Lt Photo by Lance Crake, Robinvale Brigade
With Page 23
my children
George Calleja Bamawm Extension Brigade My wife Julie is not a member, but she holds everything together when everyone’s away. Every member of my family is involved in CFA and there have been times when I’ve been Strike Team Leader and I’ve had my son and daughter in the tanker and I have to remind myself, they’re all equal, my crew. And other times I think, hang on, that’s one of my kids I’m sending in there. But every member of my Brigade is a member of my family. CFA puts you in the position to look after everyone, so when we go away as a strike team everyone’s treated equally. Julie Calleja and George Calleja, Capt
District 20
Photo by Lisa Brettschneider, District 20
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My wife holds everything together
District 12
North East Region
The third Phil McLean, Glenaroua Brigade
I’m the third generation of McLeans to be Captain of Glenaroua Brigade. First was grandfather Harold, then my father Ken, and now me, with a few others in between. When I was elected Captain it didn’t even come to mind that I was a third generation. The only reason I knew was finding some memorabilia at the fire station. There are a lot of McLeans and the locals call it The McLean Brigade! It’s like you’ve got to be a McLean to be in it! We now have myself as third generation Captain, brother Des McLean as region accredited tree faller and brother Gary as firefighter. Cousin Allan McLean is 1st Lieutenant, his brother Bruce McLean a long term member and Bruce’s son, Mitch McLean has recently gained minimum skills and is a fourth generation Glenaroua Brigade member. An early experience of CFA was when I was only fairly young when Dad was a Captain and his brother, Ray, was a Lieutenant. We got a phone call one Sunday night. Bert and Grace’ White’s house was on fire. Out we went in the old ute and got the Austin fire truck. But it wasn’t the the house that was on fire - it was the out-house! They’d emptied the hot ashes of the combustion stove next to it! Dad knew a lot of the history when we put it together and he was very proud of it happening. And my mother, Hazel McLean, has been a great support to the generations of McLeans in the Brigade. Really, the only thing for the community is the Fire Brigade. L-R: Garry McLean, firefighter; Mitch McLean, firefighter; Philip McLean, Capt; Bruce McLean, firefighter; Des McLean, firefighter; Allan McLean, 1st Lt Photo by Alex Caughey, District 12 Page 27
generation
Married into the CFA Tam & Phill Nagorcka, Scoresby Brigade
We were both at Scoresby in a training exercise, in the back of the truck, and Phill sneakily got my phone number! That was 15 years ago! I originally joined CFA when I was in Scouts, and I had to do six weeks of community service, which has ended up as 16 years! And a marriage, and a house, and a child! We also both have a number of family members in CFA too, so we sort-of married into the CFA family.
District 13
We’re both currently Lieutenants together and when the pager goes off I just stand clear of the door, though sometimes it’s a race to see who gets out first. Because we’re both trainers and assessors it’s hard to go out and do that together, but we have good CFA members who help look after Louise. She’s four. It’s a bit of a running joke that if we could have a toddler seat in the pumper for Louise we could all turn out together! I think Phill’s happy that I understand what’s going on, especially when he has to run out. I think he enjoys seeing Louise down at the fire station in her cute 2-piece structure gear. She even knows all the types of vehicles. She’s very CFA-savvy. L-R: Phill Nagorcka, 1st Lt; Louise (age 4) and Tam Nagorcka, 5th Lt Photo by Alistair Court, Scoresby Brigade Page 29
Family
Geoff Broughton, Branjee Brigade
Growing up, we had the Creightons Creek fire station at the front of our family farm, and when I was only a kid Mum would organise a crew. Dad would always go to the fire, and when we were old enough, my brother and I would go too. And Dad always said, I’d rather go and put a fire out at someone else’s place than put one out at ours. Then in 1990 we had a really big fire and that’s when we saw the giving from people we knew and people we didn’t know.
District 22
Dad never expected to be given anything back, but he used to say, one day the tides may be turned. So when he got badly hurt in a motorcycle accident on the farm, all these people came. They dropped what they were doing and came to help. All the people who’d had their farms burnt out, volunteered to come and they helped go out looking for him. We didn’t even know who a lot of them were. And that’s what I call volunteering. The Fire Brigade’s not just about fires. In 2010 we were all over at the Nathalia floods, stacking sandbags - our crew, daughter Nicole, son Josh and me. I was very proud of them doing that. I said, I’d rather deal with a bushfire than a flood, because a lot of things can happen in a flood, and it’s quite dangerous work. But they were right into it. And now my wife, Jane, is the Comms Officer and our other daughter, Rachel, is married to Tom Preston, who is a member of Tallygaroopna Brigade. Out of the circle of my life, that’s just a wedge, a chapter out of the autobiography of my family. And it’s a very strong chapter, a story that’s more about Mum and Dad than me. Geoff Broughton, Capt Photo by Anthony Cini, Euroa Brigade Page 31
The circle of my life
Ron Hooper, Greta Brigade
I suppose the main thing I got involved in CFA for was to really get to know what was happening. We run a fair bit of country, so that way we’d get to know where the fires are so we could protect ourselves a bit and then go and help other people. I’ve been involved since I left school and the Brigade Captain would ring Mum and say, look, there’s a puff of smoke over there, if Ron’s available can he go and have a look. I’ve been involved in Rural Championships for many years, it’s a part of life at that time of year, isn’t it?! There’s fire season then there’s fun season; playing Fire Brigade as they say! We’ve always made it a bit of a go-away weekend as we don’t have many breaks away from the farm.
District 23
There’s no doubt that the Championships is what holds families together. This year our two boys – they’re twins – Rodney and Trevor – and Rod’s boys, Nathan and Bryce and daughter Sarah all ran. Nathan and Bryce even put their first game of football away to go to the Champs, and they got a win at Colac so it was worth it! Rodney coaches Juniors and I coach Seniors and our other Grandie, Kyle, has also previously been involved. For Gleniece it’s just been a part of life. She’s made flags and shirts and made sure trousers are right. When I was Captain Gleniece was our Comms Officer. The Brigade’s been really good out here, a good lot of people. That’s what keeps it going and that’s also thanks to the District and the community.
Trevor Hooper, Firefighter; Bryce Hooper, Firefighter; Gleniece Hooper, Firefighter; Ron Hooper, Firefighter; Nathan Hooper, Firefighter; Rex, family dog and mascot; Rodney Hooper, 1st Lt and Sarah Hooper, Member Photo by Kaylene Hooper, Greta Brigade
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What holds communities
together
We see each other Jeff Robinson & Libby Garoni, Gundowring Brigade Jeff:
Libby:
From a family perspective we’re really busy. We have three teenage daughters and as parents our priority is to support their variety of interests and studies. What little time remains after work and family is often given to CFA.
We joined CFA soon after moving back to the Kiewa Valley. It’s just what you do when you live here. I’ve always been a country person and I was really lucky to find someone who also wanted to share a rural life and career. I love watching our daughters grow up in such a beautiful place and experience the riches of a farming life.
My wife Libby is amazing. She’s a country girl. She grew up on the farm we live on now. We work well together and we see each other as a team. It helps that we both have similar backgrounds professionally in medicine - we’re doctors. She would say, if you live in the country you should take on some responsibility to protect your community and CFA is one of the best ways of doing that. Libby’s a very good problem solver, she’s got remarkable common sense and she’s got a very broad perspective. She’ll see an elegant solution to things I’ve missed. One of her big strengths is in pastoral support and she’s very perceptive and very good at helping others after a difficult situation.
Where I think Jeff stands out is that he’s really good in an emergency. He’s calm and skilled in trauma management and can act fast and manage human and material resources. These are the kind of abilities that a rural doctor needs and they translate well to firefighting. He’s fantastic at teaching, really good at organising and helping people develop their skills in a friendly, shared learning environment. I just think he’s an amazing person. Jeff Robinson, 2nd Lt and Libby Garoni, 4th Lt
District 24
Photo by Mark Slater, District 24
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as a team
District 8
South East Region
Darrel Setter, Red Hill Brigade
For all of us
Page 37
Dad was originally, and still is, in the Brigade. And it just followed on. It’s just something we did as a family, and now my son’s in it, and his son’s in it. And mostly all the wives as well. The Brigade organised a Unit Citation for our family. It was just our normal annual dinner, and being the Captain, I had no idea about it! On that night, well, it was quite overwhelming. It was really good, especially from Dad’s perspective, for what he contributed in his long career – he’s up for his 65 year service this year. I think he was pretty chuffed. The Citation was for all of us – My Dad, Roy; Mum Royal; my eldest sister Yvonne Williams; brother Ernie and his wife Lorraine; my other sister Judy DiGregorio; myself and my wife Denise; my son Anthony and his partner Joanne Tyrell. It was about 4 years ago, and my grandson, Lachlan, now has ambitions to become a permanent firefighter. When he was a baby he was up around the fire station all the time. I’m not really one for pushing my own barrow, but for the others, it was a recognition for their service to the community. We were all pretty chuffed. L-R: Anthony Setter, Firefighter; Roy Setter, Firefighter; Darrel Setter, Firefighter and Lachlan Setter, Member Photo by Raelene Guard, District 8
Peter King, Trida Brigade
Chatting over a cuppa As Captain of our local Brigade, community spirit is very important to keep our Brigade going. With respect of how it relates to CFA, we have a strong sense of family. I’ve been in my role for almost two terms, so I do rely on my own family to guide me through the challenges that the Brigade faces. Having my family as members helps too, I appreciate that they’re involved. When things have been difficult, like going away on strike teams, it makes me aware of being a parent and being a volunteer. It’s like two phases. Primarily it’s about keeping the community safe when the risk of fire is present, whilst at the same time we look after each other as family.
District 9
The fact that we are members as a family, especially my wife Kerry, means they are there with another set of ideas and provide a fresh take on things. I rely quite heavily on Kerry. As the Community Media Coordinator posting articles on Facebook, I also ask her to read through my community articles. Currently my daughter, Victoria, is our Brigade Secretary. Not to discount anybody else who contributes to our Brigade, but to have the great relationship with her and then to work as Captain / Secretary / Community Media Coordinator, it seems to run very smoothly. There’s nothing there that’s too difficult - you’ve already established that understanding. They’re already thinking along parallel lines. There’s no power struggle, no politics, it’s just like we’re sitting around the kitchen table at home, chatting over a cup of tea. I love my involvement with CFA, our members of the Baw Baw Group are our extended family too! L-R: Victoria King, Secretary and Peter King, Capt. Photo supplied
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Terry King, Stratford Brigade
I’m just really proud of my three boys and their commitment to looking after the communities they live in. They’ve all been involved in some fairly large campaigns and came out of the fray with confidence and drive to go straight back in again. And they’ve had some very challenging and tough experiences with road accidents from which they’ve continued to be very committed and supportive. I’ve been out firefighting with them, working alongside them and being a part of the team. It was just great working together. We’re all very passionate about what we do and proud of our family. We’re now connected across two Districts and three Brigades. I’m at Stratford, Brendan and Anthony are at Sale and Matthew’s at Korumburra. Stratford and Sale Brigades are right next to each other so we do get together on jobs but you’re doing the job so you just get on with it and put in the time. We’re each just as equally committed to the community. And we’re a very close family so family’s very important, and family connections are a big deal around any birthday celebrations. There were 22 of us around the table last Christmas. I think the older grandchildren enjoy the big red trucks so I think there would probably be a logical progression. Clockwise top left: Terry King, Firefighter; Matthew King, Secretary; Brendan King, Firefighter and Anthony King, Firefighter
District 10
Photo by Sandie Brown, District 10
Proud Page 41
of our family
Bob Bassett, Johnsonville Brigade
Having my son Geof following in my footsteps is good, because he’s pretty switched on and he’s had some pretty good grounding from his junior days. He used to go out with me years ago, run around in the fire truck and go to a lot of training with me. And he’s had some great mentors along the way in the Group Brigades, getting some great team leadership training and skills. I feel like we’re both tarred with the same brush and we get a lot of satisfaction out of it. For both of us, CFA has been our second life. It’s something you commit yourself to do – a bit like a marriage – and I believe that if you give your volunteer time to one organisation, you need to make sure that one organisation gets your full attention. I’ve held all the volunteer positions – Captain, Lieutenant, Group Officer – and Geof started off with me when I was Captain. We’ve been together at fires and incidents but we’re just part of a bigger team. We have a great little group of Brigades, and he and I are consulting together all the time – administrative and operational, we’re pretty harmonious both as father and son, and in the Brigade and the Group. Geof is Captain at Lakes Entrance and all his members and my members are a pretty good team together, and we elevate each other all the time. To me, it’s just an extended family. We’re not a big Brigade, but we support one another. To me, you take ownership of what you belong to, and I think it adds to the strength and commitment and community involvement. It’s not like you stand alone. L-R: Bob Bassett, Tambo Group Officer (Acting); Geof Bassett, Capt, Lakes Entrance Brigade
District 11
Photo by Louise Haughton, Distict 11
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Some great mentors
Ian Alexander, Toongabbie Brigade
We have a number of families in Toongabbie with more than one family member in the Brigade. For many years I’d be the one going out to fires and coming back telling stories. But now my wife and son can go out and develop their own experiences as well. We had an awards night recently and it was good that more than one member of the families were getting their awards. I was the one reading out the names, so seeing a father getting an award and then his son and daughter in-law, it shows that in a smaller town there’s a real sense of family and a sense of community going on here. It’s good that we’ve had a number of Juniors move to the senior ranks, the Brigade’s values are instilled at a younger age, encouraging continuity across the Brigade. Having parents as Brigade members provides support to Juniors as they transition to the Senior ranks. The young ones aren’t afraid to speak up about anything. Having that type of role modelling from parents encourages everyone to have a say, and everybody’s equal. That’s the culture and everyone participates in it. It also flows over to the younger and newer members of the Brigade that don’t have family members in the Brigade. They’re also getting a sense of that same culture, and though they probably come along a bit apprehensive, they’re readily accepted and they’re valued. The key is that everyone feels valued.
L-R: Tim Paulet, firefighter; Sharon Missen, Assistant Secretary; Olivia Missen, Junior; Brett Sedgman, 2nd Lt; Patricia Missen, firefighter; Terry Sedgman, firefighter; Ian Alexander, Capt & Group Officer, Highland Group; Cameron Alexander, firefighter; Geraldine Alexander, firefighter; Alan Paulet, Member; Brian Missen, 3rd Lt (front).
District 27
Photo by Sandie Brown, District 27
community Page 46
A real sense of
Trida Brigade, District 9