There’s no bond quite like the one between this Wandin mother and her daughter.
Every mother-daughter relationship is special in its own right – for Helen Henderson and her daughter Scarlett, it’s their joint dedication to the local CFA brigade that makes them shine.
Ms Henderson and Scarlett are a team to be reckoned with. They both volunteer for the Wandin CFA where side-by-side they fearlessly fight fires, perform precarious rescues and keep the community safe.
Last week, Australia celebrated National Volunteer Week and the CFA marked its own achievement of 52,000 members across the state and commemorated their dedication in protecting Victorian communities.
As part of its Give Us a Hand campaign, the CFA are encouraging new members to sign up, just like Ms Henderson and her daughter Scarlett did.
In March 2024, only one half of the mother-daughter duo initially planned to join the CFA.
17-year-old Scarlett Henderson wanted to join the CFA when she found out it would help land her dream job of working for Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic).
Last March, Ms Henderson offered to accompany Scarlett to an open day at Wandin CFA, simply to support her daughter – little did she know she’d end up enjoying that day so much, she’d sign up herself.
“I was merely a support person for Scarlett,” she said.
“I absolutely fell in love with the CFA, with the people and the whole vibe. So before long, we were just doing it together, and I don’t think we ever questioned it, to be honest.”
Once Ms Henderson was settled in, she quickly rediscovered a passion for volunteering she’d once had when she was involved with local sports clubs and community groups.
It reignited the flame that once burned inside of her and it filled her with purpose.
“I’ve grown up in Wandin and now to join the brigade in Wandin just made me feel complete. Like maybe something was missing, and I kind of found my niche,” she said.
“Now, 12 months or more down the track, I love the family feeling, I love the camaraderie, I love being supported by people. We are a team, we are a very strong team and we’re a very knowledgeable and close-knit team.”
For Ms Henderson, the CFA brought her back to her volunteering days and injected some zeal into her life.
But for Scarlett, the CFA is a place for adventure, helping the community and learning.
She recalled how her first turn out (the term for when a member is paged to an incident) took place early in the morning before school and that it was a testament to the supportive culture within the CFA.
“Matty, one of our firefighters, he just threw me in the deep end and passed me the hose and was like, ‘here, you do it.’ “
“But obviously they were with me every step of the way. It was really good to get that experience while knowing that they were there in case something went wrong,” she said.
Scarlett was hooked ever since. Some mornings, she’d turn out to a call with her school uniform underneath her CFA gear. When she can’t turn out, she’d listen to the radio communications for the incident on her phone to learn more.
Ultimately, the best part for both Ms Henderson and Scarlett is how volunteering for the CFA strengthened their bond.
Ms Henderson said she feels immense pride watching her daughter.
“She is a true inspiration and I wouldn’t get to see her development if I wasn’t involved as a member myself,” Ms Henderson said.
“She’s in it with me and I’m in it with her. We support each other.”
