Cadet program has room for more

Three training sessions in and the members of the Bunbury Volunteer Bushfire Brigade have fine-tuned their cadet program.

With more than 10 cadets taking part in the program so far, organisers say there is room for more.

Cadet program coordinator Naomi Dekker said children and parents alike were enjoying the program.

“For a lot of them, it’s different to anything they’ve done before,” she said.

The cadet program involves activities including learning how to use firefighting equipment and using the radios.

“I’m really enjoying organising this program – the support I’m getting from the brigade is great,” Miss Dekker said.

The program will run through to the end of October and will finish with an awards night.

Brigade Capt. Terri Kowal said the unit was looking for funding to increase the resources they had available for the cadets.

“We need more things like jackets, boots and other gear that we run out of,” she said.

Cadet Chloe Boothey, 14, said she enjoyed trying an activity that was different to anything she had done before.

“We’ve been playing around with the equipment and having races to see who can put on all the gear first,” she said.

Email ndekker@hotmail.com for more information or to enrol a child aged 11-16 years.