CFA and MFB recruits remember September 11

by Mark Kennedy, Recruit Course Coordinator

Thursday 11th September saw both CFA recruit course 1/2008 and MFB recruit course 98 come together for a 9/11 memorial followed by a combined dinner and social evening.

Recruits observe a minutes silence

As part of the MFB program, recruit course 98 was at CFA Training College Fiskville for a week of hose and small gear drills. At 1745 hours both recruit squads, along with their instructors, fell in at the flag pole at the front of the Fiskville property. They were addressed by Station Officer Tony Martin in relation to the occurrences of September 11, 2001.

Tony outlined the numbers of firefighters and emergency services personnel that lost their lives that fateful day in New York in a very sobering reminder to all about the dangers of the job. Tony also spoke about the bonds that exist between firefighters throughout the country, and worldwide.

Both squads were called to attention and observed a minute silence in front of the Australian flag at half mast.

At the conclusion of the minute silence, Fire Officer Mark Kennedy addressed both squads on the remaining activities for the night. Mark spoke about the bonds already mentioned by Tony but focused on the one between CFA and MFB and explained that even though our shirts are a different colour, we do the same job and that the community has the same expectations of us all.

CFA and MFB squads in a group photo

The squads then intermingled for a combined photo and proceeded to the dinner, which had a mix of MFB and CFA personnel on each table. The purpose of the dinner was to enable interaction and allow the recruits and instructors to talk and discuss the similarities and differences between services. Many lasting friendships have started from previous dinners and we are sure that some have been formed this time round.

For the members of CFA recruit course 1/2008, this was their second opportunity for such a dinner as they were also privileged to do the same with MFB recruit course 97 several weeks prior.

After some short speeches all recruits and instructors enjoyed a social evening continuing to build on the newly formed friendships.