Community & Business
27 September, 2024
Community commitment at any age
A 75-year-old retiree has been an active member of the North Millstream Rural Fire Brigade (RFB) for eight years, with a passion for keeping people safe during fire season.
After moving to Millstream in 2016 with his wife, Ian Donaldson quickly became a dedicated volunteer, continuing a lifelong commitment to community involvement.
Ian and his wife moved to Millstream from Darwin, where they were deeply embedded in local sporting clubs, theatre companies, and community groups.
“As we were members of sporting clubs, theatre companies and community oriented groups in both Melbourne and Darwin, we naturally decided to join similar groups/organisations in our new home,” he said.
“This would enable us to meet people, become involved in our new community and make a contribution to that community.
“Our neighbour was treasurer of the brigade and came over one day soon after our arrival, asked if we minded if we burned some of the vegetation on the gorge slope below our houses and invited me to a brigade meeting. We attended a couple, decided it was a worthwhile thing and joined.”
Among the many incidents Ian has been involved in, two particularly stand out. Both involved flood relief efforts rather than firefighting.
In 2022, Ian was deployed to Gympie for flood relief. He was struck by the extensive damage and destruction.
“We’d lived in that area in the mid-1990s and the scale of damage to places I knew and the houses we attended was breathtaking. Seeing this ‘in the flesh’ rather than in a news broadcast makes one realise how vulnerable we are,” he said.
“The second was after Cyclone Jasper, when I was helping clean up at Machans Beach.
“The devastation to households was more visible than in Gympie, but most people were coping reasonable well, at least on the surface.”
“On my second day there, whilst helping wash mud from a house, I was approached by one of the civilian volunteers, who were helping in the area, and presented with a styrene box of fresh, iced, fish.
“At 9.30am, the SES crew I was with couldn’t do anything with this bounty, so we offered it to the man whose house we were cleaning. He was so overcome he burst into tears. That memory I’ll carry for a long time.”
Ian’s extensive training with the RFB began with an online basic course, followed by a two-day Minimum Skills course.
He gained practical experience and further training on the job from more experienced brigade members.
Over the years, Ian has attended courses in Advanced Firefighting Skills, Crew Leadership, and the Australian Interagency Incident Management course, among others.
This training has equipped him with the knowledge and experience necessary for his role as First Officer of North Millstream.
Ian acknowledged the impact of the RFB on the community is often subtle but significant.
“I’m not sure we as a rural brigade impact the community in a flagrant manner,” he said.
“We’re appreciated for what we do, when we do it, but often we seem to be invisible. My brigade has a stall at a local monthly market and offers advice to locals and travellers on a wide range of issues involving fire and safety.
“We also, in conjunction with our local urban brigade, conduct street stalls offering advice and information packages to the community.
“We do more than fight fires, which many see as our sole role.
“We are educators, trainers, advisers, mentors, work with urban brigades, assist Queensland Ambulance Service occasionally and in remoter areas are the road crash rescue teams.
“If a volunteer just wants to fight fires, that’s fine, but the opportunity exists for assisting in other ways.
“Disaster relief and flood clean up are the two most obvious. We also have the opportunity to deploy intrastate, interstate or overseas to assist other groups.
“The phrase do something extraordinary” is being used in a recruiting drive, and it’s true. No two call outs are exactly the same.
“The satisfaction of having overcome problems, helped others and done a job well as part of a team is what makes a volunteer and epitomises the spirit that makes us important to a community.”
FOR over 20 years, Les Green has been at the forefront of major bushfires throughout the region as a dedicated member of the Tinaroo Rural Fire Brigade.
As a founding member of the brigade in 1998, Les has witnessed and contributed to the evolution of rural firefighting in the region.
Les’s journey into firefighting was driven by a deep-seated desire to safeguard his community and educate residents on self-protection.
“What motivates me is protecting the community and assisting the younger generation to join the RFS and better themselves,” he said.
This commitment has not only defined his career but also earned him significant accolades, including the prestigious Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) and the Tablelands Regional Council’s Citizen of the Year Award.
Balancing numerous responsibilities is no easy feat, but Les manages it with a passion that is evident in his words and actions.
Les is a First Officer and Brigade Trainer. He also represents the FNR Southern Area Rural Fire Brigade Association Queensland, and volunteers as a member of the Strategic Operations Group and other roles.
“Sometimes it takes a lot of effort, but I love doing it,” Les said.
Reflecting on the training standards of 1998, Les recalls the initial Level One Fire Fighting courses and his subsequent qualification as a trainer through the Train the Trainer program.
Over the years, he has furthered his expertise by obtaining a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE), ensuring that he can pass on vital skills to new recruits.
Les believes anyone can join the RFS, saying “they only need life skills; we will train them in other skills needed to perform the duty as an RFS volunteer.”
He believes that becoming a part of the RFS is an opportunity to make meaningful contributions to the community.
For those interested in joining, Les advises contacting the local brigade or area office for inquiries. Additional information is readily available on the RFS website, providing a gateway for potential volunteers to learn more and get involved.
