It’s been a pleasure serving the Port Stephens community, says veteran firefighter Rob Jansen who was recently awarded life membership with the Medowie Rural Fire Service (RFS).
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The 64-year-old business consultant said that there has seldom been a dull moment in his 48 years of fighting fires, the first 11 years being spent at Soldiers Point and the past 37 years at Medowie.
Jansen first joined the volunteer organisation as a 17-year-old in 1970, and was the first Port Stephens member to attend bush fire council school in August of 1975.
He has held positions of deputy captain, secretary and treasurer at both the Soldiers Point and Medowie bush fire brigades, including the past 14 years as treasurer at Medowie. In 1974 he became the youngest deputy captain in the RFS.
“I joined the volunteer service because I wanted to serve my local community and fighting fires appealed to me,” Jansen said.
“I found that I enjoyed not only the fire fighting part, but also all the activity and training that went with it.
“More recently I have taken a backward step to the foot slogging, and while I miss that to an extent I am happy playing the role of treasurer and administrator.”
Approaching five decades in the RFS, Jansen said that while firefighting techniques had not changed dramatically over the years, there had been great advances in the firefighting equipment and training methods.
“Tankers have come a long way from the old Ford Blitzes to the modern state-of-the-art vehicles and there is more emphasis on safety, which is a good thing.
“Today the RFS will also attend a whole range of incidents from bush and structural fires to car accidents.”
Jansen said that he attended many of the Port’s worst bushfires dating back to 1975, including a 10-day stint in 1994.
“That was one of only two times that I can honestly say that I felt my life was in danger. Fortunately, we managed to stay ahead of the danger with no casualties on both occasions.”
Asked what he considered to be the major causes of bushfires, Jansen was emphatic: “There are three main causes – man, woman and child.”
“On the odd occasion you will have a fire started by lightening or combustion, but by and large there is a human element involved and the best way to combat arson I believe is stiffer penalties.”
Jansen is only the 11th life member in the brigade’s 72-year history and said that while he was totally surprised to receive the life membership at a recent Medowie RFS meeting, it was a great honour.
“He deserves the medal,” wife Gail said.
