Between full-time studies in Exercise Science at Victoria University and visiting friends and family, the 19-year-old Tatura local fights fires on three fronts in three brigades.
“I started in a championships team with the Tatura fire brigade,” Charlotte said.
“My mum had a family friend who was a part of the Melton fire brigade.
“Tatura hosted the state championships one year. We went as a family and saw it, thought it was cool, then I signed up and started running with them the next year.”
‘We’ are Charlotte’s mother, father and two brothers — the whole family possessing the same fiery passion for going above and beyond for the community.
Charlotte joined the CFA at 14 and became an operational member at 16.
Her parents work mainly behind the scenes as a community engagement officer and a non-operational member.
But the firefighting spirit burns strong in her two brothers, especially the youngest, who Charlotte says “steered them more that way”.
A family that fights fires together, stays together, and Charlotte says turning out with her local fire brigade is one of the reasons she loves returning to her home town.
“When away from home, I volunteer with Northwest Mooroopna as well and occasionally with Ballarat due to having friends and family over there,” Charlotte said.
“A lot of my friends I’ve met through the camps they do for junior members.
“When I go off and do training in different areas because I can’t always get back to Tatura to do it, I meet many interesting people. I have made a lot of friends just doing what I can, where I can.”
More and more young people are signing up to join the CFA, with 55 per cent of recruits in the past 12 months falling into the 18-44 age category.
However, regional and rural communities still need more volunteers, particularly daytime responders and young members.
Charlotte is joining the CFA’s call for even more young people to sign up.
“It’s 100 per cent important for more young people to join. The firefighting community is mostly older people in the area; young people give fresh eyes and fresh opinions,” she said.
“Young people joining up is important to ensure we have firefighters for our futures, as well.
“My advice to people who study full-time or have full-time jobs is that volunteering is flexible, and you can suit it to your own schedule.
“I love being a volunteer for CFA because it gives so much flexibility, but also you get introduced to a lot of new people, and you get to learn a lot of new skills.”
• If you’re interested in joining the CFA or would like more information about volunteering, check out: www.cfa.vic.gov.au/volunteer
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