SWAN Hill CFA has 16 junior volunteers, aged 11 to 15-years-old, who are eager to become firefighters.
They can’t be fully fledged firefighters just yet, so they have enrolled in the Junior Volunteer Development Program which runs throughout the year.
On Monday night, Swan Hill CFA’s junior volunteers demonstrated their skills in the fire brigade’s first junior showcase at the Sunraysia VEMTC training centre.
The children performed various drills that included locating water and putting out fires, as well as a search and rescue.
Swan Hill CFA’s acting junior coordinator and community safety coordinator Brad Morpeth said while some parents were initially had safety concerns, those quickly went away.
“VEMTC is a facility where all our senior firefighters go to learn how to be structural firefighters,” Mr Morpeth said.
“We go out there each year and the kids actually get to put out an actual fire.
“The children get to do all of this in a safe and controlled environment, so the parents saw what they did on the night and they had nothing to worry about.”
The CFA’s JVDP runs throughout the year in four terms. Mr Morpeth said this was the first time the two winter terms finished off with a showcase.
“We wanted the kids to have an opportunity to show off their skills in front of their family by the end of the term,” Mr Morpeth said.
“Some of the older kids had to be responsible for the rest of the crew.
“Designated crew pretended to put out a grass fire, they showed us how to safely enter through the door of a burning building, and we then finished off with a simulated car fire where all the participants worked together to rescue a casualty and make the scene safe.”
Mr Morpeth said the junior program has been successful in making former juniors into firefighters when they reach adulthood.
“We’ve had quite a high turnover of the juniors coming into the brigade as firefighters after they age out of the program, so the program is something that we really value,” he said.
“When they turn 16, they can then undertake their general firefighter training and then they can become firefighters in the Swan Hill Junior Brigade.
“We’ve had two members last year age out of the program and become firefighters and they’ve actually become some of our top responders.”
Mr Morpeth said the junior program is small in Swan Hill since most parents have only found out about it through word of mouth so far.
“We get a lot of kids that are not interested in your football and netball, so it’s just something else to do,” he said.
“They really become close knit through the program because they’re doing something really unique.
“My youngest son is turning 11 and will start soon. He’s really excited because his older brother and sister are involved.
“My daughter’s got a year to go until she can age out of the junior program and jump on a truck with dad, so it’s become a family affair for us.”
Mr Morpeth said children and parents can drop into the station on Monday 6pm during winter season or go to the running track at the Showgrounds from 6pm on Monday to Thursdays to inquire about the junior program.
“Just drop in and say hello,” he said.
Expressions of interest to participate in the Junior Volunteer Development Program (JVDP) can also be made on the CFA website at: www.cfa.vic.gov.au/volunteers-careers/volunteer-with-cfa/junior-volunteers
