General News
23 May, 2024
After 15 years in CFA, Ash has seen it all
FOLLOWING in the family footsteps to give back to his community was always something which captivated Terang Country Fire Authority (CFA) brigade captain Ash Miller.
Capt Miller is among the 52,000 CFA volunteers this week being celebrated as part of National Volunteer Week.
His journey with the CFA began in Lismore 15 years ago when he followed in the footsteps of his family, joining his father and older brother as a CFA volunteer.
“I just wanted to volunteer and give back, to do something for the local community,” he said.
“My mum also joined the CFA, and is now a secretary, so it’s been important to our family.”
A move to Terang saw him transfer brigades, and in 2018 he was approached about becoming a captain.
Capt Miller said in recent years CFA brigades in the region had embraced younger members emerging in leadership roles, carried out under the watch of seasoned veterans who were still active to provide support and guidance.
“You’ve got guys like Michael Williams over in Noorat and Andrew Smith was captain over in Bookaar, and I know there’s a younger bloke in Ecklin and some other brigades too,” he said.
“It’s good having the younger ones come up in these roles because they’re the future.
“If you have younger members in a management role, you typically see younger members coming along in to the brigade too.
“The CFA is really concentrating on succession now as brigades can fold if a captain of 40-50 years is looking to hang up the boots and nobody is there to take it up.”
The same year he took the reigns as captain coincided with the devastating St Patrick’s Day bushfires, which destroyed more than 40,000 hectares and 4000 livestock, in addition to 27 homes and 40 sheds.
Capt Miller still vividly recalls the unique circumstances on the night as soaring temperatures and 100 kilometre per hour winds had the wider community on edge.
“It was one of those nights,” he said.
“You don’t normally fight fires at night like that, and they don’t normally take off like that.
“It was a new experience for everybody, even some of the older ones on the truck who are very seasoned.
“It made it hard because you had to keep your bearings, know where you were, and keep fighting fires until you had to go back.”
While Capt Miller acknowledged the difficulties associated with the role during the worst of times, he said the catastrophic fires also showcase the best of the community.
“That’s where the CFA and the wider community really banded together, and that was a monumental achievement,” he said.
“The support we had locally was incredible and I still remember the Country Women’s Association coming down to drop off cakes and scones - everybody just wanted to help.
“When you see the worst like that, you also see the best.”
As daunting as the task can be, Capt Miller said the CFA provided comprehensive, first class training to ensure all members are prepared to arise to any challenge.
“It’s down to training, and CFA give you the skillset to handle any of these situations,” he said.
“Then you have not only the skills, but the mates behind you to support you.
“At the end of the day we’re in the bright red truck, we’ve got the water, we’ve got the equipment, and it’s knowing how to use it and to be safe because our mindset is everybody has to go home to their family.”
CFA brigades across the region are currently in the process of recruiting.
Among those seeking new members is Terang, Mortlake, Ellerslie, Hexham, Kolora, The Sisters, Boorcan, Darlington, Ecklin and Noorat.
Capt Miller said being part of the CFA had the feeling of being in “a community within a community,” connected by a culture of mateship and teamwork.
“You get such a big network because you’re not just joining Terang CFA – you’re joining CFA,” he said.
“That whole network goes throughout the district with every other brigade you work with or do training with.
“It’s not just here that we fight fires, it’s other communities across the state, and you make some great mateships doing that.”
The theme for the 2024 National Volunteer Week is ‘Something for everyone,’ a sentiment Capt Miller believes to be befitting for the diversity in roles available through the CFA.
“It doesn’t matter what stage of life or what you want to do, there’s a role,” he said.
“It’s not just being on the big, red truck fighting fires if that’s not something for you - there are so many support roles.
“Once you get involved with CFA and you go down that path, you might find you just want to do community engagement type of things because you love talking to people and getting out and about, but don’t want to be on the truck.”
Capt Miller said he hoped to see diversity in the ranks continue to grow, as he believed the CFA was at its strongest when represented by people from all walks of life.
“You need diversity, be that a stay at home mum or a retired person,” he said.
“A dairy farmer may be more likely to be able to turn the truck out than someone working nine-to-five.
“When you have that diversity, that’s when brigades start thriving.”
If you are interested in learning more about becoming a CFA volunteer visit https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au.