Coordinated by the Gloucester RFS, the program required students to attend skills and theory based training sessions over nine weeks during term two. 

During the sessions students learned skills such as how to use rakes as a fire tool, go up and down a ladder safely, how to quickly unroll and attach a hose to a hydrant and to use pumps, generators and stand alone hydrants to gain access to water supplies. 

They also learned how fires can behave, the phonetic alphabet and gained their first aid qualifications.

The sessions came to a successful conclusion on July 17 when 11 students completed their theory and practical assessments. 

For the final practical assessment the students were divided into three teams: Team Alpha - Byron Hall, Jaime-Lee Bird, Jake Chong-Sun and Wyatt Hall; Team Bravo - Victoria Pilmore, Jayden Harrod and D’Arcy Tuckwell; and Team Charlie - Erin Maslen, Peter Harris, Callan Radford and Callan Stewart. The students 

travelled to a Barrington property where they were put through their paces with four separate challenges: a first aid scenario, pumps and pumping, hand tools and team work. 

Students had to rely on their problem solving skills, team work and communication skills and were required to maintain constant radio contact with Fire Command throughout the challenges.

After a barbecue lunch provided by the RFS the results were announced. 

Team Charlie won the first aid challenge with Team Alpha successful in the other three.

However, when the overall point score was tallied, it was Team Charlie that finished first, with Team Alpha a close second and Team Bravo in third. 

Congratulations go to the students for their fantastic achievements. They consistently demonstrated excellent team spirit and are a credit to their families and the wider school community. 

Thanks also to the three ‘casualty’ volunteers for the first aid scenario - Clare Butler, Isabel Everett and Chloe Haynes.