By Parker McKenzie
Upper Ferntree Gully CFA is currently looking for new members to join their 100 per cent volunteer brigade.
Captain Peter Smith said volunteers are hard to find at the moment and the brigade is seeking people eager to help those in need.
“We are looking for somebody who wants to take part in the community,” he said.
“It’s a lot of hard work, but it is good fun with camaraderie.”
The Country Fire Authority is a volunteer fire service responsible for fire suppression, rescues and accident response.
Mr Smith said the brigade has members who haven’t played sport or been around clubs before and all are welcome.
“We are all of the above in some ways,” he said.
“It’s a way of meeting people, getting to know the community and learning new skills.”
Upper Ferntree Gully CFA is based at 1213 Burwood Hwy and has been active since 1926.
Mr Smith said the members of the CFA have changed in his 49 years of involvement in the organisation.
“The CFA used to be based mostly on hands on people like tradesmen and outdoor workers,” he said.
“A lot of office people never put their hands up to do it, because it is out of their comfort zone, but we take people out of that comfort zone and teach them skills.”
Full training and gear will be provided to volunteers.
Mr Smith said while there is a commitment required to join the CFA, training for new and old members is flexible.
“We do what is called a general fire fighters course, we are running one in house right now, and it takes seven or eight weeks but you get to train with the regular members,”
“We train on a Tuesday night and a Sunday morning, but I don’t expect all my members to be there every Tuesday and Sunday because number one on the agenda is family, number two is work and number three is the brigade.”
Interested individuals can contact Captain Peter Smith on 0438330361 or PS.MUDDY@GMAIL.COM.
