By Lindy Schneider
“It’s damn hard work and sometimes it’s not that pretty.”
Renelle Verkes is crew leader at Melbourne Water’s Warburton firefighting depot and is helping to kick off the 2018-’19 recruitment campaign for seasonal firefighters.
The mother of two said what started as a casual position in Melbourne Water’s seasonal crew evolved into a rewarding fulltime leadership role.
“I’ve been a firefighter for 31 years. I get a lot of job satisfaction out of the work that we do, the camaraderie and working close to home,” she said.
“I’ve worked my way up the ranks with the support of my mentors and team mates and I can honestly say that I love getting out of bed every day for this career.”
Melbourne Water’s latest recruitment drive is seeking 43 seasonal firefighters for the upcoming fire season.
Prospective team members need to pass medical and fitness tests and live within 20 minutes of the Warburton and Healesville depots.
There’s a focus on adding more women to the ranks.
Last year, female firefighters made up about 30 per cent of Melbourne Water’s total firefighting team.
The roles can be challenging, with rostered work from November this year to April next year covering fire suppression and first responder duties near water supply catchments, as well as land management, water supply and general maintenance.
Melbourne Water’s firefighters work alongside other agencies including the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), Parks Victoria and VicForests.
“We come together to work as one,” Ms Verkes said.
“A lot of people might not know that Melbourne Water has firefighters, but it’s a great career opportunity.”
Last year Melbourne Water received 104 applications across three firefighting depots including Healesville and Warburton.
Visit www.melbournewater.com.au/about-us/jobs-and-careers/seasonal-firefighters to apply.
