Praise for graduating St Columba’s cadet firefighters

Senior Assistant Commissioner Bruce McDonald said the cadet program teaches young people about the important contribution firefighters make to the local community and allows them to experience firsthand the camaraderie that comes with volunteering.

“As well as examining fire behaviour, the students have learned essential fire safety techniques and gained an appreciation of the work that emergency services do every day across the state,” Senior Assistant Commissioner McDonald said.

“This 10-week course has provided the students with firefighting skills and fire behaviour knowledge that will stay with them for a lifetime.”

Senior Assistant Commissioner McDonald thanked St Columba’s Catholic College for offering the course to its students for the fifth time.

“It is great to see the school community show such genuine enthusiasm for this important initiative and I would like to thank Principal Paul Ryan for his ongoing support of this community based program,” Senior Assistant Commissioner McDonald said.

“I would also like to extend special thanks to the school cadet program coordinator Lisa Nyburg and Winmalee Rural Fire Brigade cadet coordinator Doug Reed as well as the NSW RFS staff and volunteers and St Columba’s teachers who make this program such a success.

"NSW RFS members enjoy working with schools and communities to ensure that everyone is as well prepared as possible for the very real threat of fire and the Service is proud to pass on the ideals of community service, dedication and teamwork to the next generation.”