Volunteers Rule The World

Introducing Sarah Capone. Whilst we’ve appreciated her lending her time and growing skills to CAHRS/Canning Show/Cannington Exhibition Centre as a volunteer for almost a year, Sarah’s generosity to the community doesn’t stop there. In between this, her job and life in general, Sarah also volunteers her time as a firefighter.

In between fighting fires and enriching the community, we grabbed this budding community hero for an interview, coinciding with the beginning of our own search for new volunteers (including a Marketing/ Communications / PR relevant internships now being offered here).

How and why did you get involved in firefighting?

When the Banjup fires hit in 2014 I was only fourteen and felt helpless as I fled my home. In 2016 I joined Jandakot Volunteer Bushfire Brigade, giving me the ability to do more for my family and my community. My dad was already a member of the brigade, so the process was a lot easier as I started attending meetings and training sessions almost straight away.

It’s a volunteer position that obviously has some serious risks – what do you gain from it?

In the brigade I have met many different people from different backgrounds and different skills; members, other brigades, career firefighters, other emergency services and community members. My communication skills have benefitted a lot when communicating between all these different backgrounds. And of course the feeling of wellbeing from helping others – from people to animals.

How has the whole situation, with Australia seemingly on fire, affected you?

It has been an extremely busy fire season, particularly over east. Although members from our brigade have joined task forces and have been deployed to help our follow firefighters, it has still been tough to hope for things to get better. Watching footage of the fire and seeing the devastating effects on wildlife and residents breaks your heart. But it has also been extremely heart-warming to see so many business and people from all over the world taking part in raising awareness and raising funds for the crisis.

Tell us about the actual experience of fighting a fire, and what goes through your mind?

Your mindset definitely changes; your brain is switched on from the minute you get the call, to the minute you return to station. When you get to an incident, your brain goes through a checklist of what’s already happened, what is happening now and what will happen soon. You don’t tend to second guess yourself; you remember your training and trust your crew. I trust my crew leader to never put us in a situation that we can’t handle. You are never in your comfort zone at an incident, but you learn to be okay with that and trust yourself.

Can anyone apply to be a firefighter / what makes a good one?

Almost anyone can become a volunteer firefighter, there isn’t one way to be a good firefighter; we have single mums, police officers, paramedics, tradies, those with grandkids and even students. If you are interested, then I urge you to get in contact with your local brigade.

What sort of training do volunteer firefighters undergo?

This is dependent on the service you volunteer with. At my brigade there are several requirements to pass before you’re allowed on the fireground as a probationary firefighter, including two full-day courses, assistance in three hazard reduction burns and a skills assessment. We also attend training twice a month, one in conjunction with a general meeting, for two hours.

You also volunteer at CAHRS – tell us about that experience and what you’ve gained/learned?

Working alongside the Events Officer has made me realise the passion I have for events and has made me realise that I want to work towards having a career in this area. Here, I have learnt so much about general day-to-day jobs, working in an office as a team, and creating a huge event like the Canning Show. Being at two volunteer workplaces, both have allowed me to prioritise the other when required, with flexible hours if I need. It’s great to see that support from both sides.

What would you say to other people who have never taken up any volunteer roles, but are considering doing so?

Go for it. You will never regret volunteering, but you might regret not doing it. Spending your spare time helping a community is rewarding in many ways – the work volunteers do is always appreciated from those who see the change they create. Volunteers are welcomed in all industries, so you don’t have to do something as risky as firefighting: plants trees, volunteer with the Salvation Army, volunteer at a hospital, or CAHRS/Canning Show/Cannington Exhibition Centre… You can go anywhere!