DALKEITH Country Fire Service (CFS) cadet Aimee Billing has always been drawn towards helping her local community.
The 17-year-old is training to become a fully-qualified CFS volunteer when she turns 18 as part of the brigade’s new cadet program.
Joining the CFS has always been one of Aimee’s goals, with both her parents and her brother already volunteers.
“I’ve lived my whole life with family being a part of the CFS,” she said.
“I just wanted to gain those valuable life skills and learn what they (my family) learned and become successful in the brigade – like a captain or something similar.
“It’s a good thing to do. Even if you don’t want to continue and just want the experience it’s a good life lesson.”
After starting as a cadet at 14-years-old at another station, she moved to Dalkeith last year to be one of the brigade’s first cadets as it trialled the program for the first time.
The Dalkeith brigade is now ready to officially launch the program after two-and-a-half years of planning and running the trial since November.
Cadet co-ordinator Ashley Thompson said the program was designed to teach young people life skills and hopefully find future volunteers.
“At one point we were receiving around one or two enquiries a week asking if we had a cadet program,” he said.
“The way I see thing, these guys are our future. I’ve been in the service 25 years and seen the generation gap between general firefighters and your senior ranks.
“There’s a dip there where there’s a large age gap. I’ve felt these guys are our future, so we had to get them more involved.
“It (the cadet program) does stand very highly. There are opportunities there for these guys who are coming through to potentially be our next captain or group officer.”
During the cadet program, participants learn many of the daily roles volunteers conduct on a daily basis and support brigades during open days and public events.
As part of the cadetship, young people also get to attend training days designed to accommodate them and prepare them for life as a fully-fledged volunteer.
In October, Aimee will be participating in the CFS’ cadet basic firefighting course, a training day the same as regular volunteers undertake, but only open to fellow young people.
Aimee’s mum, Tash Billing, was proud of her daughter for putting her hand up to support her community.
“Aimee kept harassing me and Clint (brigade captain Clint Marsh) asking when we’re getting cadets,” she said.
“It’s been a couple of years in the making for Aimee.”
To enquire about the Dalkeith CFS cadet program, call the brigade on 8254 6366.