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Entrants were asked to choose one word that describes CFA for them and an explanation of why they chose it.
Trevor chose the word Engagement and Chris opted for Vital. They both won a two-night accommodation stay at RACV's Cape Schanck Resort or City Club in Melbourne, generously donated by RACV Insurance.
Thank you to everybody who entered the competition. We were overwhelmed with the terrific response and the vast array of words and explanations chosen to define CFA.
Here are Trevor's and Chris's winning entries.To see the complete list of entires, click here.
ENGAGEMENT
Trevor Vienet, Clonbinane
The word that best describes CFA for me is ENGAGEMENT.
It is a labour of love and a devotion to the local community. In our rural area the CFA is the only identifying body; we are marked on the map as a locality only, but the establishment of a CFA fire shed gives us a community. Engagement can also imply a question- What keeps us as members and why do we belong? Is it getting woken up a 2am by the frightening shrill of the pager? Or is it the dragging of heavy hose lines through charcoaled destruction in 40 degree heat with that northerly blowing? No, it is because we are not alone in these tasks but with our mates, neighbours and even other family members. This work is shared with enthusiasm knowing that the only reward is the knowledge that we did our best. Engagement can also have another meaning such as going into battle. At times it is like a battle. We are reassured in that although we might be a small community fire brigade, we belong to an army of 60,000 strong volunteers that are there to back us up as soon as trouble in our area is too big for us to take on by ourselves. We are confident that all the training that we do has prepared us for what ever situation we may face when we climb on the truck for a call out.
Engagement is belonging and being missed when you are not there and knowing that your mates in the CFA are looking out for you and your family.
VITAL
Chris Latcham, Melbourne
I view the CFA from a limited perspective in the headquarters, learning of the history and development of the organisation from a place many shun. I don’t have volunteer experience and I’m still a relative new-comer compared with the average.
I find CFA a remarkable place to work, with so many layers interwoven. The potential for splitting of fracture lines between the many interests - HQ, area, region, brigade, group, office, field, staff, volunteer, union, operations, admin, personalities, etc - is overcome by a shared passion to be part of a ‘good’ organisation and do something great.
So, how to reflect the fundamental co-existence of the “do-it-yourself” attitude of founding volunteers, looking after their families and communities, alongside the essential corporate governance and performance standards demanded in today’s society? Bound together by shared experiences in the most difficult circumstances, but pushed apart by the differences of expectation that occur naturally across such wide geographic, demographic, historical and operational backgrounds.
I wanted a word that would have at least two interpretations to paint my picture of CFA. I settled on VITAL.
“Vital” has a number of related meanings including:
To its volunteers, members, partners and customers, CFA is a vital (living, full of life) organisation. To the Victorian society, communities and government, CFA is a vital (indispensable) organisation. When CFA turns out to deal with the fire, attend a vehicle accident, help prepare for bushfire or teach about prevention, these services are vital (essential to life) to the recipients.
And to me, vital reflects the life force that keeps the fracture lines from splitting, that kindles the passion and drives people to do great things. It’s my word for CFA.
Trevor Vienet, Clonbinane
The word that best describes CFA for me is ENGAGEMENT.
It is a labour of love and a devotion to the local community. In our rural area the CFA is the only identifying body; we are marked on the map as a locality only, but the establishment of a CFA fire shed gives us a community. Engagement can also imply a question- What keeps us as members and why do we belong? Is it getting woken up a 2am by the frightening shrill of the pager? Or is it the dragging of heavy hose lines through charcoaled destruction in 40 degree heat with that northerly blowing? No, it is because we are not alone in these tasks but with our mates, neighbours and even other family members. This work is shared with enthusiasm knowing that the only reward is the knowledge that we did our best. Engagement can also have another meaning such as going into battle. At times it is like a battle. We are reassured in that although we might be a small community fire brigade, we belong to an army of 60,000 strong volunteers that are there to back us up as soon as trouble in our area is too big for us to take on by ourselves. We are confident that all the training that we do has prepared us for what ever situation we may face when we climb on the truck for a call out.
Engagement is belonging and being missed when you are not there and knowing that your mates in the CFA are looking out for you and your family.
VITAL
Chris Latcham, Melbourne
I view the CFA from a limited perspective in the headquarters, learning of the history and development of the organisation from a place many shun. I don’t have volunteer experience and I’m still a relative new-comer compared with the average.
I find CFA a remarkable place to work, with so many layers interwoven. The potential for splitting of fracture lines between the many interests - HQ, area, region, brigade, group, office, field, staff, volunteer, union, operations, admin, personalities, etc - is overcome by a shared passion to be part of a ‘good’ organisation and do something great.
So, how to reflect the fundamental co-existence of the “do-it-yourself” attitude of founding volunteers, looking after their families and communities, alongside the essential corporate governance and performance standards demanded in today’s society? Bound together by shared experiences in the most difficult circumstances, but pushed apart by the differences of expectation that occur naturally across such wide geographic, demographic, historical and operational backgrounds.
I wanted a word that would have at least two interpretations to paint my picture of CFA. I settled on VITAL.
“Vital” has a number of related meanings including:
- Necessary or essential to life; being a source or support of life
- Living; imparting life; invigorating, full of life and vigour; energetic; animated
- Necessary to continued effectiveness; essential; highly important; indispensable
To its volunteers, members, partners and customers, CFA is a vital (living, full of life) organisation. To the Victorian society, communities and government, CFA is a vital (indispensable) organisation. When CFA turns out to deal with the fire, attend a vehicle accident, help prepare for bushfire or teach about prevention, these services are vital (essential to life) to the recipients.
And to me, vital reflects the life force that keeps the fracture lines from splitting, that kindles the passion and drives people to do great things. It’s my word for CFA.
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