Greg Norman calls for paying Australia's firefighters

Golfing legend Greg Norman – who almost lost his own property to a fire two years ago – has called for changes in the way Australia pays our heroic firefighters.

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Exclusive: Heroes doesn’t come close to describing the firefighters who are working so hard for Australia, according to golfing legend Greg Norman.

And they should be getting a lot more support, including financial assistance, than they’ve had during this deadly summer.

Although he hasn’t been home to experience the past few months of devastating fires, Mr Norman said a close call at his United States ranch with a huge blaze had exposed him to the reality of the challenges they face.

Greg Norman has shown his support for the firefighters in the Australian bushfire crisis. Picture: Instagram

“I got to experience what these first responders did,” Mr Norman said of the 2018 fire that almost destroyed his homestead in Colorado.

“I saw these guys go right into the head of the fire and turn it in a direction that would get it away from people’s structures.

“It was so impressive and unless you actually see them in action, you have no comprehension about what they’re dealing with.

“They sleep in tents and they’re exhausted at the end of the day, they deal with the logistics of food and water, all that stuff that comes into play, and often they’re trying to get access to inaccessible areas.”

Footage of the Colorado wildfire that almost destroyed his Aspen Ranch. Picture: Twitter

Mr Norman said almost 500 firefighters helped save his property in Aspen, where around half the firefighting force are volunteers.

He said the Australian fires had been the most significant tragedy he had seen his homeland experience since he moved overseas in the 1970s, and that it had been hard to watch from a distance.

“At times you feel a bit helpless because you don’t have boots on the ground so you can’t see what’s going on,” he said.

“There was number of times I thought about jumping on a plane and heading down to Australia and just see what I could do.”

Instead Mr Norman joined with the Australia America Association in New York to raise more than $600,000 in aid.

Norman said 500 firefighters helped save his property in Aspen. Picture: Anna Rogers

Norman said Australia should implement changes to prepare for future disasters.

He said there were a number of things Australia should implement in the wake of the past summer, including offering more financial support to firefighters.

“Over here, whether you like it or not, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) does a magnificent job at the time of disasters. For the United States, it’s not just for Florida for hurricanes or quakes with California or floods in Louisiana. It’s for the United States. And I think Australia should sit back and have a national fire service where these people are paid,” he said.

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Half the firefighters who saved Norman's Colorado Ranch were volunteers.

“The federal government needs to take a look at that because you know, this disaster will happen again. And it won’t just be New South Wales, or Victoria, it will be on a national basis. So we need to have a national emergency system in place.”

But the main message Mr Norman wanted to convey was to recognise the bravery of the Australian and international firefighters.

“There are not enough accolades or strong enough words to thank them,” he said.

Mr Normal wanted to recognise the bravery of Australian and international firefighters. Picture: Adam Head

“Their commitment to others is unbelievable. It’s like joining the military. You don’t join the military for yourself, you do it to serve your country and serve others, to give them freedom and peace.

“A firefighter who volunteers serves their country and mankind and saves other people’s properties and puts their own life at risk.

“And you know $600,000 sounds like a lot but $600,000 is nothing compared to the time, energy and the effort they put into saving others.”

Originally published as Greg Norman calls for paying Australia's firefighters