Northam’s perceived lack of volunteers has reached one of the community’s most vital groups, with the Shire’s emergency services manager calling out for more locals to join fire brigades in order to protect the area from bushfires.
Read more: Volunteers in demand in the Wheatbelt
The Avon Valley Advocate has explored the shortage of volunteers in our community in recent times, with the Northam Farmer’s Markets and an outdoor cinema series cancelled because of a lack of people putting their hands up to pitch in.
Shire of Northam emergency services manager Brendon Rutter said despite a strong membership of around 320 people, he wants to see the number of volunteer brigade members increase to ensure the safety of not only locals, but those in all Wheatbelt communities.
“It can be difficult to find volunteers,” he said.
“Globally, volunteering is struggling as it is.
“We are certainly not unique in that regard.
“We need to try and work on picking up more members.
“There are seven brigades surrounding the Northam town site so there is always something people can do.”
Mr Rutter said volunteers are relied on greatly when it comes to delivering emergency services in the community.
“Without volunteers we’d be in big trouble,” he said.
“Volunteers are critical to the longevity of our rural areas; they are the backbone.
”Less volunteers means more risk.”
The push for more volunteers coincides with the 2019/20 bushfire training period, due to commence in the next six weeks as the current bushfire season comes to an end.
Mr Rutter said being a part of a volunteer fire brigade does not always been being on the ground fighting fire.
”Not everyone wants to be on the end of a hose out there in the heat getting dirty, but there is more than enough other roles that people can do,” he said.
“It might be looking after the brigades social media page, it might be working as secretary, you could be doing vehicle checks, equipment check or even just looking after the grounds.
“We have members who just look after the gardens for the fire shed.
“Every single role plays an integral part in the jigsaw puzzle.”
Mr Rutter said in order to make the brigades sustainable, youth needs to be injected into the groups.
“We have an aging demographic that we are mindful of,” he said.
“In saying that, we have members who are pushing into their 70s and 80s and are just as good on the ground as they were when they were in their 20s.
“Younger people would be the next generation of our volunteers so we are certainly open to kids 16 years and up.
“Even if they are at school and don’t have their licence we can still get them down to the station, they can still come to jobs, they are still a valuable import to the fire brigade structure.
“Every member plays an important role in the greater organisation.”
He said it is important that the knowledge and experience of life long brigade members is carried down to those starting out.
“At the moment youth is bred into it,” Mr Rutter said.
“Most of the younger generation we are getting through are generally getting involved because they have a friend or a family member who has been involved for years, in particular with the farming units.”
Mr Rutter said the culture of fire brigades is slowly transition from a ‘boys club’ to a family environment.
“There is still the idea that it is a boys club but we want to encourage more females to join the ranks,” he said.
“Grass Valley has a really strong brigade.
“They have a really strong emphasis on the social side of things.
“They meet every Friday night and have barbecues down at the shed and the family comes along which is really important; keeping that family focus as well.
“If dad or mum is out for a few days dealing with a pretty intense fire a lot of the home stuff falls by the waste side unfortunately, so it is good that they keep the family as part of the process.”
Anyone interested in getting involved in one of the seven bushfire brigades within the Shire of Northam is asked to contact Brendon Rutter on 9622 6137 or via cesm@northam.wa.gov.au.