St Joseph’s cadet firefighters celebrate graduation

NSW RFS Assistant Commissioner Bruce McDonald said the program is the ideal way to introduce young people to the important role volunteer firefighters undertake within communities.

"These 24 cadets have completed a 10 week course that has given them skills which will last a lifetime," Assistant Commissioner McDonald said.

"As well as examining fire behaviour, the students have been taught essential fire safety techniques and gained an appreciation of the work our emergency services do every day in this State.

"The cadet program also offers students the opportunity to experience firsthand the commitment and camaraderie that comes with volunteering."

Assistant Commissioner McDonald said this is the second year that St Joseph's has offered the NSW RFS Secondary School Cadet Program to its students.

"It's great to see genuine enthusiasm for this important community based program," Assistant Commissioner McDonald said.

"In addition to our NSW RFS members, I would also like to extend a special thanks to Principal John Tobin, as well as the teachers and staff from St Joseph's Secondary School who helped make this program such a success."

Assistant Commissioner McDonald also paid tribute to the staff and volunteers from the NSW RFS Liverpool Range Zone who facilitated the course

"NSW RFS members thoroughly enjoy working closely with schools and communities to ensure that everyone is as well prepared as possible for the very real threat of fire. Our firefighters cannot do it alone," Assistant Commissioner McDonald said.