Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Services welcomed 12 new graduates at Wednesday's ceremony
After 20 long, gruelling weeks of training, 12 recruits from Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Services have graduated. SEE THE PHOTOS.
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Josh Farrar says he’s always wanted to give back to the community in one way or another.
But the 29-year-old didn’t always think it would be in firefighting.
“I always wanted to join the Army, but that never really happened,” he recalled.
Instead, he became an electrician, a career he worked in for 12 years.
But eventually he made the switch to firefighting, joining the Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Services Squad 51.
After 20 gruelling weeks of intensive training, Mr Farrar and 11 others from recruit squad 51 graduated on Wednesday night, officially joining the NTFRS ranks.
Of the 12 graduates, four will be based in Alice Springs and the remaining eight will serve in Darwin.
As required through the training program, the recruits completed road crash rescues, wildfire responses, urban fire suppression, on and off-road driving and more.
Mr Farrar – who took out the prestigious Silver Axe Award, which is presented to the recruit who has shown exemplary achievements in all facets of fire service – said he was proud to graduate alongside the rest of the squad.
“It was definitely challenging – physically and mentally,” he said.
“But its super rewarding now that we’re done … it was surreal to graduate.”
Other recruits were also recognised with awards as part of the training course – the Firefighting Excellence Award went to Recruit Firefighter Ben Phasey and the Academic Excellence Award was awarded to Recruit Firefighter Jack Hopkinson.
Originally a chemical engineer, Mr Hopkinson, 27, said he made the move to firefighting in search of a job with a “little bit more fulfilment in community service”.
“It was something I did have in the back of mind to become a firefighter, but it wasn’t something that I pursued straight out of school,” he said.
Mr Hopkinson said he was “very excited” to get on shift and put the skills he’s learnt to use, however he would also miss working with all the instructors and recruits who he had spent the last 20 weeks with.
The Territory-born firefighter encouraged people who were considering a career in firefighting to give it a chance.
“There’s absolutely no harm in looking into it and giving it a go,” he said.
“Don’t be fearful of leaving what you know behind if you’re not enjoying it.
“People here come from all different backgrounds, ages and careers – so if you’ve had a different career, that’s going to be useful in this job.”
NTFRS Chief Fire Officer Stephen Sewell AFSM said in a statement that the squad had shown “exceptional discipline and commitment throughout their training” and congratulated them.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro congratulated the recruits, thanking them for their “commitment to community service”.
SQUAD 51
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