New recruits join firefighting ranks
Published: 13th December 2012
A class of 24 new firefighters will join the ranks of Fire & Rescue NSW (FRNSW) after graduating at the State Training College at Alexandria today.
Parliamentary Secretary for Police and Emergency Services, Geoff Provest, attended the graduation ceremony to congratulate the new recruits on successfully completing the gruelling 13-week course.
Mr Provest also presented a commendation to David Weir, one of FRNSW’s Community Safety Coordinators, for his fire safety work with culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
“The recruits have been trained in firefighting, road crash rescue and high-angle rescue, community risk management, fire technology and hazardous materials management,” Mr Provest said.
“They will now put their intensive training into action, joining suburban fire crews across the Sydney metropolitan area.
“As a citizen I am comforted knowing these men and women have endured the best training possible and will be the ones saving lives and property in an emergency,” Mr Provest said.
FRNSW Commissioner Greg Mullins said thousands of men and women applied for firefighting positions this year.
“We want communities throughout NSW to be served by a modern and dynamic firefighting workforce that reflects the diversity, culture and skills of society. We are thrilled with the response FRNSW has had to the recruitment campaign,” Commissioner Mullins said.
“Today’s graduates include a number of former retained firefighters and State Emergency Service (SES) and surf lifesaving volunteers as well as a former electrician and a former lollipop lady.
“These are men and women with different ages and life experiences, including four dads. The graduates reflect the diversity of cultures, skills and life experience FRNSW sought in its workforce throughout NSW. They all have a very high level of physical fitness.” Commissioner Mullins concluded.
The firefighters will take up positions across the Sydney metropolitan area, including: Cranebrook, Schofields, Lidcombe, Lane Cove and Lakemba.