AFTER living through the terrifying blazes of late 2019, Edithvale firefighter Alison van den Dungen decided to make a difference.
Ms van den Dungen was in East Gippsland during the 2019 fire season. She was urged to evacuate, and watched as the situation worsened. “Over the next few weeks, I was watching what was happening on fire grounds across Australia and I just knew I had to do something,” she said. “I didn’t want to go through another fire season thinking here I am, perfectly capable with the right skills to be able to put my hand up and am not doing what I can to help.”
After the experience of being so close to the danger, Ms van den Dungen signed up for the Edithvale CFA. “I was welcomed with open arms from the moment I walked in,” she said. “Edithvale brigade is quickly becoming a family to me.
“I was excited to put my hand up for it – I was new to the CFA world but was able to apply my everyday skills to this role and have become quite confident in it. I’ve helped the brigade organise community events like school visits, getting the truck to school fetes, as well as managing brigade social media channels and other outward-facing roles. No matter what your skillset is, the brigade will find a role suited to you.”
To submit an expression of interest form for joining the CFA visit cfa.vic.gov.au/volunteer.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 18 August 2021