More than 500 passionate volunteer firefighters in the ACT are spread across eight brigades: Guises Creek, Southern, Tidbinbilla, Jerrabomberra, Molonglo, Rivers, Gungahlin and Hall. Photo: Dave Tunbridge.
Canberra has a giving culture. Across the community, we’re celebrating charities that help locals during the Canberra Day Appeal.
Residents of the capital love their charities and aren’t afraid to sing praises for local volunteers, or roll up their sleeves and offer their own time for a cause that really hits home.
But can you imagine being willing to drop everything – work, family, recreation or rest – at a moment’s notice to fight one of the most fierce, powerful forces on Earth?
That’s exactly what Canberra’s 500-plus volunteer firefighters do, time and time again.
Dave Tunbridge has been in the game for more than half a century. This kind of work is his bread and butter; he has also served for 30 years with the local State Emergency Service.
“The ACT RFS [Rural Fire Service] is a small cohort and our volunteer brigades are even smaller, especially compared to those in NSW. But we’re all part of something huge. It’s a very passionate community,” Dave says.
“I was proud to help keep communications going during Cyclone Tracy and fought hard against the south Namadgi fires in 1983, then again in the 2003 Canberra fires, and most recently Black Summer.
“But it’s not just the huge catastrophic events volunteers get called to. The job never stops, really.”
Dave’s wealth of wisdom has been put to good use in a number of leadership and management positions over the years.
His documentation of the firefront, alongside the lives and service of colleagues who have died, earned him the ACT Rotary Emergency Services Community Award in 2024.
“When you drive down the street in the truck during fire season, people stop to wave and show their appreciation. That respect is wonderful and the honour has never been lost on me,” he says.
“We’ve put a lot of work into community engagement over the last decade, especially in education, fundraising and public awareness of fire safety.
“It’s a great delight of mine, going out to schools, meeting with young people and teaching them about preparedness, fire responsibility and the effects climate change have had on our fire seasons.”
Supporting volunteers such as Dave is the ACT Volunteer Brigades Association (VBA). This year marks the organisation’s 40th anniversary.
Vice president of the ACT VBA Allison Ballard is also a volunteer member with Molonglo brigade.
“Our volunteer firefighters give generously and freely of their time to protect life, community, property and the environment from bush and grass fires,” she says.
“The association is also run by volunteers, so we know how important this is. It’s our job to give our community the tools, guidance and support they need to be safe and effective.
“We have lobbied to government to bring our workers compensation in line with paid firefighters, sponsored professional development, and we also distribute emergency funds to volunteers who have lost their homes to fire or become injured during their work.”
The ACT VBA is the driving force behind limited edition photojournal, Ablaze. The Long, Hot Summer of 2019 – 2020.
“Ablaze gives a really unique insight into the work our volunteer firefighters did in Queensland, throughout NSW, and in the ACT over the course of Black Summer,” Allison says.
“It was a year in the making and is really quite special. You get a glimpse of what Black Summer was like through the eyes of the people on the front line.”
All proceeds from Ablaze. The Long, Hot Summer of 2019 – 2020 support local volunteer firefighters.
Our city is set to come alive with festivities on 10 March, including the Canberra Day Appeal which offers a unique opportunity to give where you live.
The ACT VBA will raise money this Canberra Day to strengthen its emergency firefighter fund and to design a purpose-built backpack for members to take on deployment.
Donate to help the many men and women who pull on their gear, jump in the truck and head out to the fire front to keep us safe every season.
To learn more about local volunteer firefighters, visit ACT VBA.
To show your support for charities getting involved this Canberra Day, visit Hands Across Canberra.
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