After living in Pyramid Hill for 10 years, Filipino families decided they needed to say thanks to the community.
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So, they held a meeting, and decided to join the local CFA Brigade.
Pyramid Hill’s Filipino community make up about 20 percent of the town’s population, which sits at about 500 people.
Read more: Pyramid Hill’s own taste of the Philippines
Seven of the group signed up and have now completed their firefighting training.
New CFA member Richard Fernandez has been in Pyramid Hill for nine years now.
He followed his wife Marilyn to Australia with three of their six children. Their other three children came later.
His family have found the town warm, welcoming and safe for their children.
“Us Filipinos we had a chat about maybe [being] time to contribute to Pyramid Hill as volunteers,” he said.
“We want to be part of the community as much as possible and give back.”
It’s not just about saying thanks though.
The members mostly own houses, and Mr Fernandez said they felt it wasn’t fair on the CFA to sit back and watch them protect them.
“Most of these new members have actually bought their house here in Pyramid Hill now so they want to join the community and join the CFA,” he said.
“We’re looking forward to being able to help with fires during the summer season.”
Pyramid Hill Brigade captain Steve Mann said that new members were no different from anyone else joining the brigade.
Mr Mann said the CFA had been struggling for volunteers, and the members of the town’s Filipino community just wanted to sign up and serve the community.
“They’re members of the community and just part of the brigade that’s all,” Mr Mann said.
“They just wanted to be a part of the community and volunteer… like in all these little country towns, everyone does stuff, and they just wanted to do their community services and join up.
“It’s no different to anyone else joining the brigade.”
The seven new members meant the brigade had about 25 active firefighters.
The new members have completed their basic training, but they are yet to fight a fire.
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