A Dubbo firefighter who’s dedicated to serving the community has achieved a promotion.
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Stephen Gilbert has spent almost two years completing rigorous testing to attain the rank of leading firefighter with Fire and Rescue NSW.
He was recently presented with the new red helmet to match his promotion at Dubbo Fire Station.
It’s an impressive achievement for the officer who began his career as a retained firefighter at Coolah in 1994.
A worker who had done many jobs previously - on the railways, in shearing sheds, offices and shops - Steve said he was looking for something a bit different and to give back to the community when he became a retained firefighter in his home town.
He found that and a lot more.
“It was looking for something that was outside the box away from Monday to Friday working,” he said.
“...and I just found it was something I really enjoyed and I was really interested in and something that I was reasonably good at.
“That just led me from one spot to the next and eventually deciding I wanted to take it up as a full-time career.”
Candidates for the promotion first have to hold the rank of senior firefighter, a minimum of six years in the job.
Steve then studied for between six and eight months to sit the exam to enter the training course for leading firefighter.
Passing signalled the beginning of another 12 months of training “with online assessments and face-to-face assessments and finally a week’s assessment course down in Sydney and Albion Park”.
“So it’s a pretty tough course… it’s a great achievement to work towards a goal and realise it,” Steve said.
He paid tribute to the guidance and assistance provided by his superior Matt Havercroft, who had been through the assessment in the previous 12 months.
A dad and grandfather, Steve also acknowledged the commitment his family had shown in the time when he was either working in Dubbo or studying.
“Obviously they’re over the moon because I spent a lot of years away,” he said.
“It’s good for my kids to see that if you put the work in you’ll get the results at the end, and not everything has to be overnight.
“Some things that are worth doing are worth 12 months or 18 months or whatever to get to that position.”
Steve said he found being a firefighter satisfying for a number of reasons, from the community involvement to the variety of work.
“Today we could sit here all day, doing our training or going to see some schools,” he said.
“Or we could be at a house fire or a factory fire or chemical spill.
“We could be rescuing a cat out of a tree - it’s a cliche but it does happen.
“So I think the main thing I like about it is every day starts the same but every day is different, every day is a new challenge.”
The leading firefighter also steered the conversation towards a fire safety message when given the chance.
“We’re in the winter months now,” he said.
“The majority of house fires start in kitchens, and to just keep looking when cooking.”