I take pride in the training i have done and in the fact that i am an active firefighter within the SACFS and am quite proud to wear their logo/star when i am representing them. and think it is a wonderful idea for members to be able to appear much more unified and professional. (and look like "real" firefighters in t :wink:he public eye)
With views like yours, it is quite easy to see why we have brigades responding with 20yr old appliances, and inadequate equipment.
Bring on a common uniform for SACFS firefighters i say! Although make it navy blue, leave the bottle green for the paid staff...
G'day Pixie !!
As a proudly well-trained fire-fighter, I guess you weren't one of the crews "mopping
up" from the rear deck the other day then. Or blacking out under a burning tree sans
helmet. (shakes head sadly)
Have to agree with the Dog on this one. There's a world of difference between being
professional & looking uniform. Also that if $$ are taken from our limited (
and
reducing) budget for PR photo opportunity clothing, that money is NOT available
to replace 20 year-old appliances & inadequate equipment.
Having written that, I note that most of the near-Adelaide equipment is far better than
many of our interstate bretheren and sisteren can afford. Even on our 2 nearly 20 year
old appliances. Possibly due to their budget expenditure on uniforms? I think I'd
still rather have new appliances than go head-to-head in a dress-up contest with RFS or
CFA. If that makes me some sort of Philistine, I cheerfully plead guilty. (I'm ctually
a Queenslander, but I understand that some people can't tell the difference.
)
Funny thing - there was an article about this in Careers in the paper today. er.. yesterday. SA & NT are the 2 states where dress is considered to have least bearing on
performance. I agree. I'm pretty sure a common uniform wouldn't make me think any
clearer inside my CFS hat, nor make fires any more "out". (Caffeine would help, but I
understand it is not a recommended drug for fluids management.)
Despite our rag-tag appearance, the public usually seem pleased enough to see us
whatever we are wearing. The dope-growing crowd are a notable exception, but I suspect
their displeasure would be unchanged even if we were attired in spiffy matching garb.
The other thing on which I must take issue with you is the colour. While blue is
definitely my colour, the pre-occupation with dark shades in our climate leaves me
baffled. They absorb much too much heat from the sun & air. I strongly commend a sky-
blue shirt (at darkest), or even a light khaki. King Gee do a very cool & comfortable
work shirt that is even presentable at the office.
warm regards
