New CFA recruit Sam Dash recalls the rigorous assessments he and 29 other graduates had to pass before earning their firefighting stripes.
“The first thing you do is a beep test, then an aptitude test, then an interview, then a psychological assessment where you’re asked about 500 questions,” he continues. “Then a physical aptitude test and then a final interview before a panel.”
The former project manager and personal trainer appears to thrive on the mental and physical challenges thrown his way.
Last Wednesday, a group of 30 recruits with families and friends gathered at the Craigieburn state training centre for a graduation ceremony.
CFA chief officer Euan Ferguson said the new fireys would be working alongside more than 850 career firefighters in some of the busiest and fastest-growing areas of the state.
“They have made a serious commitment to the protection of lives and property in our communities, and today’s event is all about acknowledging and celebrating that,” he said.
At 27, Mr Dash is one of three new graduate firefighters at the Greenvale station.
He says he’s looking forward to his new posting after 19 weeks of training. And while these weeks may have been physically demanding, Dash describes the course as one of the best things he’s ever done.
“One week, we went to the Bendigo mines and climbed down a mine shaft. When am I going to be able to do that again? Sometimes you just pinch yourself.”
