Geraldton gains four new firefighters a fortnight after bushfires tore through the town’s northern suburbs

Geraldton’s professional firefighting ranks have gained four new members after a group of recruits graduated from the WA Fire and Emergency Services Academy last Thursday night. It comes less than a fortnight after bushfires scorched about 160ha in Geraldton’s north and forced evacuations, placing around 600 properties under direct threat from the flames. One home was destroyed and two others significantly damaged. The four Geraldton-bound trainees — Francois Beukes, Matt Drew, Richard Ryan and Cory Tenardi — underwent an intensive 15-week course and were among the 48 recruits that made up Trainee Firefighter School 94. Mr Beukes has mostly lived in Geraldton since moving to Australia from South Africa, and has previously worked as a schoolteacher there before pursuing a firefighting career. He said always knew he wanted to be deployed to Geraldton throughout the training process, and that it is exhilarating and surreal to return as a firefighter. “It’s one of those dreams where you look forward to serving the community and then to finally see it come to fruition, it’s just unreal,” he said. “Previously, you can feel almost feel helpless in a way and want to help, but you can’t because you don’t know what to do. “Now I can be ready to serve and help on what could possibly be one of their worst days and have the potential to make that day a little bit better.” Five more recruits were deployed to other regional fire stations in Kalgoorlie and Albany, as part of the State Government’s $23 million commitment to provide an additional 60 firefighters to WA’s communities. Emergency Services Minister Paul Papalia congratulated the graduating class and said he was confident they would serve their communities well. “By successfully completing the demanding 15-week program, graduates have shown they have the courage and skills to take up frontline roles at fire stations around the State,” he said. “An extra 60 career firefighters is a major boost for the emergency services front line to keep WA communities safe from not only bushfires, but incidents including structure fires, dealing with hazardous materials and performing complex rescues and road crash extractions.” This year, WA has seen 84 new career firefighters graduate and deployed around WA. Additionally, the most recent group of firefighter graduates also marks the biggest graduating class in 55 years. Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm said he is confident the WA community will benefit from their diverse backgrounds and skills. “Our latest graduates join a service built on trust, respect and a strong commitment to community,” he said. “They come from a variety of backgrounds, and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services will benefit enormously from the different skillsets they bring. “A career as a firefighter is extremely challenging but is also incredibly rewarding, standing by communities and protecting them during their most challenging times.”