Megan Joins Fire and Rescue

TEA GARDENS has a newly minted on-call firefighter, with local Megan Markham recently completing her rigorous training and tests.

Megan had recently returned from her two-week ‘phase training’ in Wellington, central NSW, where she met new recruits from across the state.

Phase training comes after the extensive medical and physical checks, where they put new recruits through their paces to test their mettle as on-call firefighters.

“My father, Brad, has been in the service for more than 20 years, I have always been around the station since I was a kid,” Megan told News Of The Area.

“Phase training is challenging but rewarding, you see much-improved physical health, and there are theory tests, too.”

Megan also runs a dog-grooming business, Big Paw, the nature of which has allowed her the flexibility to pursue her long-held dream of joining the paid firies, saying “I have always wanted to join, and now am finally able to do so.”

“The job has a flexible working roster, and it is like a second family, where you get to learn new tools and operations, and become more safety-conscious of your surroundings.”

Megan’s commitment to the common good started long ago when she joined the Tea Gardens Red Cross as a child, serving 20 years this year, including four years in Red Cross Emergency Services.

“We have a small community, everyone helps everyone, it’s like a big family,” Megan said.

Apart from substantive medical and fitness requirements, Fire & Rescue NSW (FRNSW) also requires recruits to be located within a five-kilometre radius of their station.

“We can go from being at home to the station, dressed in full gear and out in the truck within eight minutes or less, which we always try to make faster,” FRNSW fireman Alex Sinclair explained.

“We have firefighters who have committed for more than 10 years now retiring, and need new ones who can take up the challenge.”

Alex has been an on-call firefighter for four years, and most recently been involved in helping out in natural disasters, such as rescues and clean-up resultant of the devastating floods this year, as well as the Cyclone Alfred strike team sent to the Queensland border back in April.

“When you join FRNSW, you learn all new skills in all facets of life, go to community events, visit people’s homes to check their fire alarms, and take part in important Pre-Incident Planning.”

Pre-incident planning is an exercise whereby firefighters check hydrants in the streets, and assess strategic public locations for water supply.

Ingress and egress, and evacuation routes, are also checked, as well as learning and confirming how to handle a situation before it actually happens.

The Tea Gardens FRNSW also handle incidents along the Pacific Highway between south of Bulahdelah to the Karuah area, working with SES and RFS volunteers.

Anyone interested in becoming an on-call firefighter can attend the information night on Tuesday 14 October, 6pm at the Tea Gardens Fire Station, 135 Marine Drive.

By Thomas O’KEEFE