FLASHBACK to 1999 when Wellington Firies were the champions for the North West Zone 4 firefighting champions at Bourke. Holding some of their trophies and awards are John Hunt, Mark Moroney, Neal McCabe, Doug Morley and Mike Hayes. The Wellington team is now calling on interested people to join one of the best brigades in the Central West.
WE TEND to think of them only when we need them most.
Most times they’re out in mind.
But there has been many dozens of volunteer firefighters protecting us since before the turn of the 19th and 20th
centuries.
The present Arthur Street station has been local headquarters of the NSW Fire Brigade – now known as NSW Fire and Rescue – after construction and commissioning in 1924. The Wellington Brigade continues, but several members have retired and the ranks need to be topped-up.
The brigade currently has six vacancies at the station and has to rely on firefighters coming from neighbouring towns to help staff the station and keep Wellington safe.
Fire and Rescue is currently recruiting for local everyday men and women between the ages of 18 and 65 who live and work within a reasonable distance from the Fire Station who can respond to an incidents or fire calls.
Daytime availability is essential and they would be required to leave their main
employment if an incident call came in.
The impact on an employer is minimal with most towns only receiving a call a week for less than one hour.
The benefits to an employer having an On Call Fire Fighter (OCFF) on their staff far out way the minimal impact on their business.
Their staff member would have training and knowledge in emergency, risk and safety management and first aid, creating a safer workplace.
Wellington Fire Station responded to 211 calls last financial year of which only 30 per cent (63) of calls were during business hours.
The average call duration was 45 minutes.
An on-call Fire Station is not staffed 24/7 and firefighters only respond when a call comes in.
They are alerted by their mobile phone and a pager to attend the station immediately to respond.
On-call firefighters are paid an hourly rate with annual leave, sick leave and long service leave entitlements.
They can choose hours that suit their schedule however will need to be available for at least 24 hours per week.
To become a Firefighter, you will attend eight days of face-to-face and 36 hours of online training, all paid, and commit to attending drill nights and incidents/call outs.
The benefits to becoming an OCFF is learning and developing skills in team work, technology, radio comms, CPR and first aid, electrical safety and handling hazardous materials.
Skills and training are maintained by regular drill nights that are held fortnightly as well as additional training provide by Fire and Rescue’s Education and Training team either onsite at the station or one of the training centres throughout NSW.
An OCFF responds to various emergencies including building fires, grass and bushfires, flood emergencies, assist ambulance, car accidents and animal rescue.
It’s a great opportunity for people to contribute to their local community and work around other commitments like
primary work and family.
The station is inviting interested candidates to their next Drill night on Monday, October 13 from 6pm.
The crew will be there to show you around the station and answer all your questions.
For more information or to apply go to our FRNSW careers page: https://careers.fire.nsw.gov.au/on-call-firefighting or contact Captain Mark Moroney at the Wellington Fire Station.