Five new firefighters for the Gold Coast

Five new firefighters have joined crews in the state’s south east after graduating from the Queensland Combined Emergency Services Academy (QCESA) in Brisbane.

Kerryn Nicoloff, Matthew Roser, Chris Ballingall, Paul Eccleston and Rick Murua have completed an intense 16 week course, and have begun work on the Gold Coast.

Mr Ballingall and Mr Eccleston will be based at Surfers Paradise, while remaining three will be at Southport.

Member for Southport Peter Lawlor said the QCESA has produced some of the finest firefighters in the world, and this group is no exception.

“The 43 graduates come from a varied background, including a personal trainer, a youth charity worker, and police officers,” he said.

He also applauded Kerryn Nicoloff, one of only two females in the course.

“A number of recruits had already experienced the fire service through the auxiliary ranks.

“This is just the beginning of the new recruits’ training. It will continue throughout their career as they develop their skills,” he said.

One hundred and seventy two firefighters have graduated from the academy in 2008 compared to 92 the year before.

“Recruits experienced some real life training during their course when they were called upon to assist in the clean up of the flooded Brisbane inner-city bypass during the recent storms.”

“Whilst we are in the midst of an unprecedented global economic crisis, the Bligh Government is still committed to preserving essential frontline services,” he said.