Young people across South Australia’s Riverland are being encouraged to get involved with their local Country Fire Service (CFS) after the success of the region’s first cadetship championships at Waikerie last month.

Key points:

  • Volunteers say cadets are vital to the fire service
  • CFS cadets learn how to do everything a senior firefighter does in a controlled environment
  • Young people encouraged to get involved with their local brigade

Cadets from Morgan, Waikerie, Mannum and Tailem Bend put their hose, crash rescue and hazard awareness skills to the test.

Haylee Campbell, who got involved with the Morgan CFS at the age of 11, said showcasing the cadet program was an opportunity to boost numbers throughout the Riverland and Mallee.

“Growing up in such a small country town, there wasn’t a lot to do as a young kid,” she said.

Volunteers say becoming a cadet is a great way to learn life skills and meet new people.(Supplied: Yvette Rathjen)

Now a senior firefighter based at Murray Bridge, Ms Campbell sees the cadet program as the future of the service.

“I can just see how much potential each and every one of them has,” she said.

Captain Dave De Grancy (far right) says the Monash CFS is community focused.(ABC Riverland: Sophie Landau)

‘Just feels like a family’

Many CFS volunteers remember their cadetships as being full of camaraderie, community service and friendship.

For some Riverland firefighters, family was the reason their CFS journey began.

Amelia Humphrey, 14, joined the Monash brigade about a year ago.

Her dad, Matt Humphrey, is the brigade’s lieutenant and her 16-year-old brother Isaac recently became a junior firefighter.

“That sparked my interest in becoming a cadet,” Amelia said.

Amelia said the sense of camaraderie is one of the best aspects of being in the fire service.

“It’s a pretty good feeling, to be honest, because you’ve got everyone in the station,” she said.

“It just feels like family.”

Mr De Grancy started with the Monash CFS as a cadet in 1984.(ABC Riverland: Sophie Landau)

Monash CFS Captain Dave De Grancy said the cadets made him “very, very proud”.

He said the brigade’s leadership team understood the importance of fostering young people’s involvement in firefighting, because many had been cadets themselves.

People who are interested in becoming a CFS cadet are encouraged to contact their local brigade.