Mount Gambier’s newest MFS recruit reports home for duty

Ditching tradie life to fight fires, a Mount Gambier man was one of a select 18 MFS recruits from thousands of applicants to graduate in 2020.

The 2020 Metropolitan Fire Service Recruit Squad consisted of 18 members selected out of more than 2200 applicants, including Mount Gambier's Jeremy Aston. Picture: MFS

Jeremy Aston was not the kind of child who dreamt of being a firefighter when he grew up.

He did not even consider it a career option until his mid 20s.

From more than 2200 applicants, the Mount Gambier man was one of just 18 South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service recruits to graduate in 2020, returning home to begin his new career as a full time firefighter at Christmas time.

The oldest of eight children, Mr Aston was homeschooled before starting an electrician apprenticeship at 17 alongside his dad, leading to a more than 15 year career as a sparky.

Mount Gambier's Jeremy Aston received a Merit Award for Outstanding Academic Performance among the MFS's newest recruits. Picture: MFS

Encouraged by friends to join up as a Country Fire Service volunteer, he found his true passion – helping others – and joined the part time MFS Retained Firefighters four years ago, applying every chance get got to go full time.

It was a case of third time lucky for Mr Aston.

“It’s pretty awesome because obviously understanding how competitive the processes is and how many people go for and how few actually make it through you appreciate it a lot, you don’t take it for granted,” he said.

After heading to Adelaide for the 15 week course in September, he did not get through the second week of drill squad training before he received his first emergency call – his wife Naomi was in labour with their second child.

Ditching class to make it to the birth back home, Mr Aston was back in training four days later with his wife, two-year-old daughter Elsie and newborn Nellie by his side.

Mount Gambier's Jeremy Aston, wife Naomi and daughters Elsie, 2 and Nellie, 4 months, at his MFS graduation. Picture: MFS

“It was chaos,” he said.

“She had the baby on Thursday, I stayed Friday, Saturday, Sunday, then went back up and continued my course and then she came up with the kids.

“They stayed up in Adelaide with me so it was pretty chaotic.”

Despite juggling training during the day, study at night and a newborn, Mr Aston received an Merit Award for Outstanding Academic Performance for his efforts.

Now, a father of two and a full time firefighter, he had been learning the ropes at the Mount Gambier Fire Station and considered himself fortunate to get a position at home.

“You’re out and about in the community doing something different every day, helping people,” he said.

“I haven’t had anything too major, we’ve had a few minor car accidents, few fire alarms, couple of backyard burns and assisted the ambulances a couple of times.

“Longer term there’s lots of opportunities to be promoted through the ranks from firefighter or senior station officer and on wards.”