By VICTORIA STONE-MEADOWS
LILIAN Pagles, 15, will this week be the first junior firefighter from District 13 to represent her CFA brigade in the Australian National Fire Cadet Championships.
Miss Pagles was selected over two other applicants in her district and will compete against 17 of her peers in the championships at Myuna Bay in New South Wales.
Currently in Year 9, Miss Pagles has been a member of the Hoddles Creek CFA since she was 11 years old, and says it was a natural step for her to join the brigade.
“My dad was a CFA member, my sister used to do it, and so did a good family friend,” Miss Pagles said.
“One day when I was 11 and I was the right age to join I just did it. I fit in really easily and it was really fun.”
Miss Pagles will compete against other junior firefighters from across the country over two days with an opening ceremony, awards presentation and closing ceremony, all lined up.
The official competition will include events and activities like emergency drills such as drafting, rolling out hoses, a portable pump relay, station response and knapsack drill, and tank and ladder challenge.
Miss Pagles said she was very excited to be competing at the championships.
“It’s pretty amazing,” she said.
“We’ve never had somebody been selected from (District 13) before, and I count myself really lucky.”
The CFA has more than 180 junior brigades across the state with a total of 2181 members, aged between 11 and 15 years with more than one third of CFA’s junior membership base being female.
Acting executive director of Operational Training and Volunteerism Kate Harrap said the championships were a great way for young CFA members to develop valuable skills.
“The championships give participants the opportunity to further develop their practical, social and leadership skills,” she said.
Ms Harrap said the event also helped promote the importance of cadet firefighters and youth volunteers to the wider community.
“CFA is one of the world’s largest volunteer-based emergency services organisations, and our young members are vital for our future,” she said.
“It’s hoped the championships will inspire others to join the juniors program.”
