Community & Business
14 September, 2024
Hayley serves her community
At just 21 years old, Haylee Haynes has already dedicated four years to serving her community as a volunteer with the Rural Fire Service (RFS).
Her journey into firefighting began with a desire to help her community and learn new skills, a motivation that continues to drive her today.
Meeting members from other brigades and participating in various training sessions are key motivators for Haylee.
“The training inspires me to want to do more,” she said.
One of Haylee’s most memorable experiences in the RFS was her first fire response.
“I was a little nervous and excited at the same time,” she said.
This blend of emotions marked the beginning of her hands-on journey in firefighting, where rigorous training equipped her with the skills to handle real-life emergencies effectively.
When she joined the RFS, Haylee received comprehensive training, including Firefighter Minimum Skills (FMS), Bushfire Tactics, and P3 mask training.
“All the training has allowed me to understand fire better and how to control my emotions and how to communicate in stressful situations better,” she said.
Balancing her volunteer responsibilities with personal and professional commitments comes naturally to Haylee.
“I find it easy to do both because I enjoy both equally,” she said.
Encouraging others to join the RFS, Haylee cites the experience, training, and connections made along the way.
“For the experience, the training and the people you meet... free pizza and cold burgers,” she joked.
Addressing common misconceptions, Haylee clarified that RFS volunteers are not paid to attend fires and do it for their passion.
She also stressed the importance of attracting younger volunteers to the service.
“We need to find a better way to encourage more younger people to join the RFS,” she said.
“We need to let people know that RFS offers nationally accredited training, which is paid for by the service.”
