As part of the Duke of Edinburgh Program, the year 9 students met with RFS volunteers for two and a half hours every Wednesday to learn the ins and outs of the equipment, procedures and first aid for fire fighters.

NSW Rural Fire Service Assistant Commissioner Stuart Midgley from Sydney and Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall addressed Tuesday’s assembly. 

Regional Chief RFS Superintendent Brett Condie and Northern Tablelands RFS Superintendent Chris Wallbridge were also in attendance.

Superintendent Midgley praised the cadets and said the program, “has given them skills that will last a lifetime. The Program also offers students the opportunity to experience first-hand the commitment and camaraderie that comes with volunteering.

“The NSW Cadet program is an ideal way to introduce young people to the important role volunteer firefighters play within communities.”

Leonie Turner is a retired teacher who spent her first time with RFS cadets.

“It’s great to get back with the kids, and the experience at looking at first aid, which is my love, and imparting that to the kids is just amazing,” Leonie said.

Superintendent Wallbridge explained that the RFS cadet program was in its fourth year at Macintyre, second year at Inverell High School and fourth year at Tenterfield. He explained that as cadets, the students are put into training scenarios with a designated crew leader and can learn in a safe environment how mistakes can jeopardize their crew.

He commended the RFS volunteers and cadets both for their dedication. 

“The commitment from our volunteers, not just here, but from Macintyre, from Tenterfield and Glen Innes, is just outstanding, but I think that reflects their willingness to put in for these students. And the commitment that these guys  (the students) put back in as well,” Superintendent Wallbridge said.  

The students themselves had a terrific time in the program. Brendan Evans remarked, “It was really good; just learning about the fire trucks and everything, just like how they work and the pumps and the hoses.” 

Fellow student Ashlee Monckton agreed, “I thought it was really good working on the trucks and stuff.”

Chloe Campbell and some of the other cadets haven’t decided whether they will join the RFS someday. “Where the future takes me, it depends,” said Chloe. 

Mr Marshall said that whether the cadets pursue the RFS in future or not, the experience was enriching. “It’s not just the skills they’ve learned over the ten weeks of fighting fires and how to respond in emergency situations, but it’s those important skills they’ll take with them for the rest of their lives…of working hard together as a team in a tight situation, of discipline, of being organised and being aware of the wider world.”