WITNESSING fires in his community, and the work volunteers could do to help, spurred Samual Harrison to join the Country Fire Authority in his early teens.
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He joined the Eaglehawk Junior Brigade, and later the Bendigo Fire Brigade. He believes the brigades’ focus on community helped him come out of his shell.
When Mr Harrison joined the Bendigo brigade at 16, he was just coming into his own sexuality and his own identity.
Ten years later, he wants to encourage other LGBTIQ young people in the Country Fire Authority and beyond.
His message of support comes on Wear it Purple Day on Friday.
Wear it Purple Day is an annual event to support and celebrate LGBTIQ young people.
Read more: Fireys come in all shapes and sizes
Mr Harrison has been a member of the Bendigo Fire Brigade since about 2007.
He had first joined the Eaglehawk Junior Brigade as a young teenager.
Along with his role as volunteer firefighter, Mr Harrison is also assistant equipment maintenance officer.
One of the moments that stands out to Mr Harrison from his time in the CFA was on Black Saturday.
Then a very young firefighter, he was rapidly deployed to the Bracewell Street fire in Eaglehawk along with a crew from the Sedgwick brigade.
He had never met the other firefighters before, but they were able to work together as a team with common training to come through for the community.
“It was quite a devastating event, but to be able to pull together as a team and work hard, we were able to make a great benefit to the community and do some really good work,” Mr Harrison said.
We don't care who you are we don’t care where you come from, if you’re able to serve your community and serve your community well, you’ll always be welcome as a member of the Country Fire Authority.
- Samual Harrison
It’s the focus on the community that Mr Harrison believes helped him come out of his shell when he first joined the brigade.
“It wasn’t an issue that anyone ever tried to make light of. It was: ‘we want you to be able to be you, and serve the community’,” he said.
“It was really heartening to see that this is an option that I’ve got and nobody cares about what I identify with.”
And this is the message Mr Harrison is pushing now.
He sees respect for other members, regardless of who they are, as one of the key values of the CFA.
“We don't care who you are, we don’t care where you come from,” he said.
“If you’re able to serve your community and serve your community well, you’ll always be welcome as a member of the Country Fire Authority.”
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Elspeth Kernebone
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
