Bill enjoys job, camaraderie

THE Gympie Times goes one on one with senior firefighter, Bill Edgar, 54, who has been acknowledged by the government with a 2nd Clasp national medal.

Gympie Senior Firefighter Bill Edgar was recognised for 25 years of service. Picture: Renee Pilcher

THE Gympie Times goes one on one with senior firefighter, Bill Edgar, 54, who has been acknowledged by the government for 25 years of service with a 2nd Clasp national medal.

Q. What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?

A. I became a fire investigator last year so probably that.

Q. What do you do to keep in shape?

A. I live on a property so there's always something physical to do.

Q. What changes to the service have you seen in your time with QFRS?

A. We do a lot more rescues, including swift water, high angle and urban search rescues. The trucks have been upgraded quite a bit.

Q. What do you enjoy most about your job?

Helping people and the camaraderie I have with my colleagues.

Q. Why and when did you join QFRS?

A. I'm ex-military and it's a similar type of service. I left the navy and worked in engineering before moving to Gympie to raise a family. I answered an ad in the paper, did the test and waited for my number to come up.

Q. What is your least favourite thing about being a firefighter?

A. The only thing would be boredom during quiet times, but in saying that, we use those times to train and upgrade our skills as well as talk to the community about fire safety.

Q. How do you cope with shiftwork?

A. It's pretty good with QFRS. We do two days and two nights and then have the next four days off. It was good to use that time to spend with the kids when they were little. Now it's my own time.

Q. What are your interests away from work?

A. Camping, spending time with my family and tinkering around in the shed with vehicles and small motors.

Q. Firefighters are known larrikins. What is the latest joke up at the station?

A. A reporter mixed up a station officer's rank and demoted him. Now the boys are making up new ranks.

Originally published as Bill enjoys job, camaraderie