“We currently have 13 in total and have capacity for 18,” the station’s captain Chris Youings told The Free Press.
“Join a professional team. Be part of a terrific working family. We all band together and look after each other and it’s a good social scene.”
Captain Youings praised the team and would welcome female or male persons to join the team. “We have two females, including our deputy captain Desi, who are terrific in their job.”
The brigade’s longest serving fire fighter is Darren Stewart with 38 years of experience.
“The respect we get from the community – that’s why I love being in the fire brigade,” he explained.
“We find people running away from fire as we’re running to it, helping to protect the community.”
Darren’s contribution is appreciated by all, with the captain saying Darren mentors up and coming fire fighters and leaders.
There are many benefits of being a fire fighter according to member of about 14 years, IGA boss Craig Waldron.
“The skills set, the training makes you feel confident in handling situations. If someone fell over in my supermarket, I’d know what to do,” he said.
“The fire brigade is a good family environment. But we need more fire fighters. Fire fighters have jobs and if we get more members, it’s less time away from families.”
Aaron Carroll will have 20 years of service up in October. “I joined because some relatives do it and some have served,” he said.
“I’m in some community groups and this is one, helping to protect the community.”
Deputy captain Desi Douch
Another wonderful serving fire fighter is Desirea Douch who has 22 years’ experience, comprising 10 years in the Bombala Fire Brigade and, since 2012, 12 years at Corowa.
Popularly known as Desi, she was deputy captain at Bombala and since last September, performing the role at Corowa. Her brother Daniel Green has 21 years as a fire fighter.
She became a fire fighter because her father was a rural fire fighter, reaching the position of deputy captain and her mother was an emergency nurse.
“So, I was well primed to help serve the community,” Desi said.
“Educating people, especially children in fire safety, keeping safe is so important. We have another female – Sabrina Aekins who started the same time as Josh Finnemore.”
Desi has a message for females who might think about joining: “Don’t underestimate what you can do.
“The skills you get are tremendous and amazing. Every station I know is so welcoming of females. A lot of females are in highly rated positions in NSW,” the first ever female deputy captain at Corowa, and who was the first female deputy captain at Bombala, said.
“There’s lot of pride in being in a fire brigade and serving your community.”
The community’s fire fighters have other jobs – their paid jobs, such as Desi with her manager role at Beechworth Honey in Corowa. They just need some more assistance. Enquiries can be made to captain Chris on (02) 6043 8668.
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