Corio volunteer living his dream

When he joined CFA, Rob knew it would take him closer to that dream and after 13 years as a volunteer, his commitment to CFA hasn’t wavered.

But joining CFA wasn’t just about reaching his own goals.

“The thing I most enjoy about being a volunteer with CFA is being able to help people when they’re at their worst and most exposed.”

With a wealth of knowledge under his belt, Rob passion also lies with training new volunteer recruits and members climbing the ranks of the brigade.

“CFA has an amazing sense of camaraderie among both volunteers and career firefighters at integrated stations like Corio. We work as a cohesive unit. I’ve made lifelong friends, especially when I’ve been working at campaign fires or at training camps.”

He is also committed to working with the large immigrant population in Corio and Norlane, breaking down barriers that exist in the community. Norlane and Corio now lays claim to the biggest rural settlement areas in Victoria for people from a refugee background, and for Rob, it is important to extend CFA’s sense of community to those groups.

“We’re trying to understand different cultures and adapt our approach with them,” Rob said.

“It’s about understanding their background, educating and working with them and supporting them. We want to give back to the community, because they are constantly giving to us.

“We had a local refugee Fahim Shah share his journey from war torn Afghanistan, via Australian detention centres to Geelong. He told us about his experience and foiled attempts to come to Australia. He spent two weeks on a boat trying to get here.

“It’s heart wrenching, a lot of people didn’t realise what the process was. He was put in to solitary confinement in underground cell; to think that still happens in Australia is terrible. Hearing his story gave us a greater understanding of the community we live and work in.”

Rob said while the program is led by the career firefighters, as a volunteer he is often at the scene of an incident that immigrants are at offering support.

The Corio brigade also ran a fundraiser in April to provide timber to a local Karen/Karenni (Thai/Burma boarder) community for a sacred spiritual ceremony. The timber was part of a totem pole which is to create peace and harmony. It now sits 150 metres from the Corio brigade.