news, latest-news, fire and rescue, esa, firefighters, canberra, canberra firefighters
Canberra’s firefighting ranks have been bolstered with 17 new recruits joining the ACT Fire and Rescue. The new firefighters officially became part of the city’s fire and rescue crew following a graduation ceremony on Friday. The recruits from College 43 took part in 22 weeks of on-the-job training, before they’ll be manning fire trucks as soon as the weekend. The graduates, aged between 23 and 46, came from a range of different backgrounds, including a former Crusty Demon motorcycle rider, a Brazilian jiu jitsu blue belt and a rocket scientist who grew up in Belgium. For 34-year-old Michael Bailey-Price, becoming a firefighter was always a lifelong ambition. After working for several years as an electrician, he decided a change of career was needed. “It was about getting the life experience behind me first, and it was a tough recruitment process, so it took me a couple of attempts to get in,” Mr Bailey-Price said. “I was motivated by helping people, and the timing seemed right.” Training began in July, but many of the training aspects, such as interstate exercises, were disrupted by COVID restrictions and border closures. However, fellow graduate David Boyle said the recruits were able to rise to the challenge. “In the end, it didn’t affect us and the training too much,” he said. Jack Gervink, 27, was one of the youngest successful recruits in the recent round of graduates. Despite all the hard work, there won’t be much time to celebrate. “For me, my first shift is on Sunday night,” Mr Gervink said, “Canberra is a growing city and it’s going to need more firies out there.” The ACT is set to get 99 new firefighters over the next five years, with two intakes for training each year. Acting chief officer for ACT Fire and Rescue Glenn Brewer said the graduates would be prepared for any event thrown at them on the job. “These recruits have showed they have the diverse skills, capabilities and talents required to undertake the varied work our firefighters do,” he said.
/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/Yb2Jn5LgcGxmVnDUUjd5xi/3b165f1c-51b7-4a08-b6bc-ac16847c334c.jpg/r10_110_4102_2422_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
Canberra’s firefighting ranks have been bolstered with 17 new recruits joining the ACT Fire and Rescue.
The new firefighters officially became part of the city’s fire and rescue crew following a graduation ceremony on Friday.
The recruits from College 43 took part in 22 weeks of on-the-job training, before they’ll be manning fire trucks as soon as the weekend.
The graduates, aged between 23 and 46, came from a range of different backgrounds, including a former Crusty Demon motorcycle rider, a Brazilian jiu jitsu blue belt and a rocket scientist who grew up in Belgium.
For 34-year-old Michael Bailey-Price, becoming a firefighter was always a lifelong ambition.
After working for several years as an electrician, he decided a change of career was needed.
“It was about getting the life experience behind me first, and it was a tough recruitment process, so it took me a couple of attempts to get in,” Mr Bailey-Price said.
“I was motivated by helping people, and the timing seemed right.”
Training began in July, but many of the training aspects, such as interstate exercises, were disrupted by COVID restrictions and border closures.
However, fellow graduate David Boyle said the recruits were able to rise to the challenge.
“In the end, it didn’t affect us and the training too much,” he said.
Jack Gervink, 27, was one of the youngest successful recruits in the recent round of graduates.
Despite all the hard work, there won’t be much time to celebrate.
“For me, my first shift is on Sunday night,” Mr Gervink said,
“Canberra is a growing city and it’s going to need more firies out there.”
The ACT is set to get 99 new firefighters over the next five years, with two intakes for training each year.
Acting chief officer for ACT Fire and Rescue Glenn Brewer said the graduates would be prepared for any event thrown at them on the job.
“These recruits have showed they have the diverse skills, capabilities and talents required to undertake the varied work our firefighters do,” he said.
