PHOTO: Fire and Rescue captain Andrew Morley clocks up 35 years of service.
Local Fire and Rescue Captain Andrew Morley has been hailed for going “above and beyond” for the community as the second generation firefighter marks 35 years since joining the service.
Andrew signed up 1 May 1989 as a firefighter when he was 20 years old.
“My father was actually a captain at the time.”
“He retired in 2012 and I took over. So, he did 46 years as a firefighter.”
Also a permanent mechanic for Coonamble Shire Council, Andrew said he doesn’t expect to serve with Fire & Rescue quite that long, although he has no plans to step away from the role anytime soon.
“The old body’s getting a bit slower, but I still enjoy being a firefighter,” Andrew said.
“There’s been some pretty ordinary times over the years, jobs I’ve had to deal with, but the good times outweigh the bad. When you’ve got a good crew around you, it makes it a lot easier.
“Usually we’re meeting people when they’re at their worst, so to speak. If you can save someone’s house, save someone’s life, it makes all the bad stuff worthwhile.”
Fire and Rescue regional Zone Commander Anthony Hojel said 35 years in the service is not a feat you see every day.
“More people sort of finish up at around the ten-year mark because it is quite an impost on their family life and their free time, as well as having their main job,” Mr Hojel said.
“There’s been lots of changes and, as the captain of the fire station there, there’s more and more things that he’s required to do administratively-wise as well as keeping up to date with the latest techniques for dealing with emergency incidents and training up new staff.
“So, 35 years is a really good effort that should be celebrated.”
Andrew encouraged others in the Coonamble community to have a go themselves at Fire and Rescue.
“Come up and have a chat to us. Have a chat to the firefighters. Plenty of young guys in at the moment. I think there’s only two of us there with only five years’ experience,” Andrew said.
“We’re still looking for people, particularly who have availability during the day.
“We have got ten firefighters at the moment. Our authorised strength is 14.
“It is good. You meet a lot of different people.”