Originally Posted by
bankrunner
I've done just that. Knocked off work at 5pm, jumped in the RFS tanker at 7pm and driven towards Sydney. Got to Springwood around midnight, and went into property protection until around 7am. I didn't go straight back to work though, I kept at it for 14 hours a day for the next four days, before being relieved by another crew.
The average volunteer has a job and a family. Their annual leave will run out eventually, and while they're protected against reprisals from their employer for going off to fight fires, they don't get paid when their leave runs out. Strangely enough, the kids still want to eat and the bank still wants their mortgage payments every month whether there are bushfires or not.
Thanks for your efforts BR.
The Studmistress and I were discussing this a couple of nights ago.
She was a local CFA member until her health precluded it recently.
Her suggestion was that volunteer fire fighters receive a payment similar to jury duty payment.
You won’t get rich but it might just pay the rent.