Recruits Graduate for Christmas Duty

Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) recruits are preparing to spend Christmas Day or Boxing Day on shift at fire stations around Queensland.

Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts and QFRS Commissioner Lee Johnson today welcomed 38 recruits into the QFRS at a ceremony at the Queensland Combined Emergency Services Academy in Brisbane.

Mr Roberts said the recruits had just completed 16 weeks of intense training at the Academy, giving them the skills and knowledge to serve the Queensland community as firefighters.

“The recruits will be transferred to their region to undertake an induction before starting shift work next week,” Mr Roberts said.

Mr Roberts said the QFRS recruit training course is one of the best in the world.

“These new firefighters are trained to face a diverse range of emergency situations, including structural fires, bushfires, road crashes, chemical incidents and other rescue scenarios,” he said.

“They also have the advantage of training on our state-of-the-art live fire training pad, where they learn about fire behaviour and firefighting techniques under realistic but safe conditions.

“All of this leads to greater safety for our firefighters on the job and increased safety for the community.”

The 38 recruits come from a variety of backgrounds including personal training, the police force, business ownership, the defence forces, other fire services and several trades.

They are bound for stations across Queensland, including Brisbane, Beenleigh, Ipswich, Rockhampton, Gympie, Toowoomba, Far North Queensland, Charters Towers, Ingham and Maryborough.

Former Western Australian Police Officer Mark Parsons isn’t concerned by a Christmas on shift at Cairns.

“I’m just looking forward to getting on shift and getting to do the job again,” he said. “It will be great to finish up training here and get into the real work.”

For Brisbane bound Kate Murphy, a rest day on Christmas will be a welcome change.

“I’ve actually worked the last seven Christmas Days [for the Tasmanian Fire Service], so this is the first time in a while I’ve had the day off, but I’m starting on Boxing Day,” she said.

Meanwhile Michael Gresty, who also starts shift in Brisbane, is relishing the chance to follow in the footsteps of his father John – Manager of Strategic Development for South-East Queensland.

“I won’t have too much direct contact with my dad but I will still be taking advice off him when needed,” he said.

Ashley Dickson, a former London firefighter, said the training the recruits have been put through has prepared them well for life as a Queensland firefighter.

“We have participated in both day time and night time scenarios in different environments and circumstances,” he said. “We have just been out to Kangaroo Point to do some vertical rescue so it has all been really good, hands on activity.”

Media contact: Kirby Anderson 07 3247 8194, 0418 197 350
Brendan Connell 07 3247 8992, 0437 837 976