FOURTEEN Armidale High School students have graduated from the NSW Rural Fire Service cadet program.
Run by the RFS in conjunction with Armidale High School, the course took the year 9 and 10 students 10 days to complete.
RFS Inspector Tim Butcher congratulated the boys on their performance and thanked them for their interest in the taking part in the program.
“The students learned about equipment used on the trucks, hoses nozzles and hand tools for dry fire-fighting techniques,” Inspector Butcher said.
“They were taught how to prepare their own home to be bushfire safe by preparing a bushfire survival plan and what do in case of fire emergency.
“We talked about the role of the RFS and other emergency service operators.
“There are great life skills to be learned by doing this and the program fits in with Year 10 syllabus and can be a part of their school curriculum.”
Mr Butcher said the program gave the RFS a great chance to interact with local youth both in terms of giving them fire knowledge and but also as a potential recruiting tool, encouraging the students to go further as either a volunteer or a staff member in the RFS.
Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall, who congratulated the cadets at the ceremony, said the students gained an appreciation for community spirit and volunteering while developing their confidence and leadership skills.
“It’s an excellent program for high school students and I commend and congratulate you for choosing to do the course and completing it successfully,” he told the students.
