Our First Responders

The after effects of this fire season will be devastating financially and emotionally for the communities who have been impacted, say Ian Avage (NSWRFS Deputy Group Officer and member of the Splitters Creek RFB), Dave Rossiter (Lieutenant Recruitment and Communications, Wodonga West Fire Brigade) and Brent Jackson (Firefighter, Wodonga West Fire Brigade). In 2019/2020 Australia experienced the worst bushfire season in living memory. The purpose of the Our First Responders project is to pay tribute and give voice to the many people who risked their lives and livelihoods to protect the Albury Wodonga community from this bushfire season. Special thanks to NSWRFS Deputy Group Officer and member of the Splitters Creek RFB Ian Avage, Lieutenant Recruitment and Communications Dave Rossiter and Firefighter Brent Jackson of Wodonga West Fire Brigade for volunteering your time not only towards the actual firefighting but also towards this project. PLEASE NOTE These podcasts contain traumatic content that may be triggering to some listeners. If you are worried about your mental health or the mental health of a loved one, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Curator: Aimee Chan Sound Editing: Tony Grace Graphic & Web Designer: Ben McLeish Web Development: Rohan Latimer DONATIONS TO: NSW Rural Fire Service fund for Samuel McPaul at Westpac BSB 032 001 Account 183554 or www.cfa.vic.gov.au/about/supporting-cfa ourfirstresponders.com.au

Ian Avage (NSWRFS Deputy Group Officer and member of the Splitters Creek RFB), Brent Jackson (Firefighter, Wodonga West Fire Brigade) and Dave Rossiter (Lieutenant Recruitment and Communications, Wodonga West Fire Brigade) acknowledge the vast network of volunteers and emergency services who form part of the essential front line teams for our first responders. In 2019/2020 Australia experienced the worst bushfire season in living memory. The purpose of the Our First Responders project is to pay tribute and give voice to the many people who risked their lives and livelihoods to protect the Albury Wodonga community from this bushfire season. Special thanks to NSWRFS Deputy Group Officer and member of the Splitters Creek RFB Ian Avage, Lieutenant Recruitment and Communications Dave Rossiter and Firefighter Brent Jackson of Wodonga West Fire Brigade for volunteering your time not only towards the actual firefighting but also towards this project. PLEASE NOTE These podcasts contain traumatic content that may be triggering to some listeners. If you are worried about your mental health or the mental health of a loved one, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Curator: Aimee Chan Sound Editing: Tony Grace Graphic & Web Designer: Ben McLeish Web Development: Rohan Latimer DONATIONS TO: NSW Rural Fire Service fund for Samuel McPaul at Westpac BSB 032 001 Account 183554 or www.cfa.vic.gov.au/about/supporting-cfa ourfirstresponders.com.au

An insight into a day in the life of a volunteer firefighter during the height of a bushfire season and what kind of training is required to join by Ian Avage (NSWRFS Deputy Group Officer and member of the Splitters Creek RFB) and Dave Rossiter (Lieutenant Recruitment and Communications, Wodonga West Fire Brigade). In 2019/2020 Australia experienced the worst bushfire season in living memory. The purpose of the Our First Responders project is to pay tribute and give voice to the many people who risked their lives and livelihoods to protect the Albury Wodonga community from this bushfire season. Special thanks to NSWRFS Deputy Group Officer and member of the Splitters Creek RFB Ian Avage, Lieutenant Recruitment and Communications Dave Rossiter and Firefighter Brent Jackson of Wodonga West Fire Brigade for volunteering your time not only towards the actual firefighting but also towards this project. PLEASE NOTE These podcasts contain traumatic content that may be triggering to some listeners. If you are worried about your mental health or the mental health of a loved one, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Curator: Aimee Chan Sound Editing: Tony Grace Graphic & Web Designer: Ben McLeish Web Development: Rohan Latimer DONATIONS TO: NSW Rural Fire Service fund for Samuel McPaul at Westpac BSB 032 001 Account 183554 or www.cfa.vic.gov.au/about/supporting-cfa ourfirstresponders.com.au

Firefighter Brent Jackson of Wodonga West Fire Brigade speaks about his first experience facing serious bushfires on 30 December 2019 with his crew leader Dave Rossiter Lieutenant Recruitment and Communications. In 2019/2020 Australia experienced the worst bushfire season in living memory. The purpose of the Our First Responders project is to pay tribute and give voice to the many people who risked their lives and livelihoods to protect the Albury Wodonga community from this bushfire season. Special thanks to NSWRFS Deputy Group Officer and member of the Splitters Creek RFB Ian Avage, Lieutenant Recruitment and Communications Dave Rossiter and Firefighter Brent Jackson of Wodonga West Fire Brigade for volunteering your time not only towards the actual firefighting but also towards this project. PLEASE NOTE These podcasts contain traumatic content that may be triggering to some listeners. If you are worried about your mental health or the mental health of a loved one, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Curator: Aimee Chan Sound Editing: Tony Grace Graphic & Web Designer: Ben McLeish Web Development: Rohan Latimer DONATIONS TO: NSW Rural Fire Service fund for Samuel McPaul at Westpac BSB 032 001 Account 183554 or www.cfa.vic.gov.au/about/supporting-cfa ourfirstresponders.com.au

Ian Avage, NSWRFS Deputy Group Officer and member of the Splitters Creek RFB discusses the Green Valley fires that resulted in the tragic death of volunteer firefighter Samuel McPaul. In 2019/2020 Australia experienced the worst bushfire season in living memory. The purpose of the Our First Responders project is to pay tribute and give voice to the many people who risked their lives and livelihoods to protect the Albury Wodonga community from this bushfire season. Special thanks to NSWRFS Deputy Group Officer and member of the Splitters Creek RFB Ian Avage, Lieutenant Recruitment and Communications Dave Rossiter and Firefighter Brent Jackson of Wodonga West Fire Brigade for volunteering your time not only towards the actual firefighting but also towards this project. PLEASE NOTE These podcasts contain traumatic content that may be triggering to some listeners. If you are worried about your mental health or the mental health of a loved one, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Curator: Aimee Chan Sound Editing: Tony Grace Graphic & Web Designer: Ben McLeish Web Development: Rohan Latimer DONATIONS TO: NSW Rural Fire Service fund for Samuel McPaul at Westpac BSB 032 001 Account 183554 or www.cfa.vic.gov.au/about/supporting-cfa www.ourfirstresponders.com.au

NSWRFS Deputy Group Officer and member of the Splitters Creek RFB Ian Avage talks about the 2019/2020 fire season. In 2019/2020 Australia experienced the worst bushfire season in living memory. The purpose of the Our First Responders project is to pay tribute and give voice to the many people who risked their lives and livelihoods to protect the Albury Wodonga community from this bushfire season. Special thanks to NSWRFS Deputy Group Officer and member of the Splitters Creek RFB Ian Avage, Lieutenant Recruitment and Communications Dave Rossiter and Firefighter Brent Jackson of Wodonga West Fire Brigade for volunteering your time not only towards the actual firefighting but also towards this project. PLEASE NOTE These podcasts contain traumatic content that may be triggering to some listeners. If you are worried about your mental health or the mental health of a loved one, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Curator: Aimee Chan Sound Editing: Tony Grace Graphic & Web Designer: Ben McLeish Web Development: Rohan Latimer DONATIONS TO: NSW Rural Fire Service fund for Samuel McPaul at Westpac BSB 032 001 Account 183554 or www.cfa.vic.gov.au/about/supporting-cfa ourfirstresponders.com.au