The Yass Valley Composite team will head to the NSW Rural Fire Service State Championships in September after securing first place in the Region South State Championships qualifier on Sunday, April 22.
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The top three at the event, held in Murrumbateman, qualified for the State Championships.
James Alley, Yass Valley crew leader, said the first placing was recognition and validation of the team’s hard work.
“It takes a lot of time out of our personal lives.
“We all work and have family commitments, so to train 2–3 times a week leading tinto the event and to win by a significant margin was a reward,” Mr Alley said.
The qualifier and State Championships are designed to simulate and test crew members’ firefighting skills.
Asked about what to be expected in September, Mr Alley said that it “being a state competition, a lot of skills will be on show.
“Some of the teams competing have been the same teams in the past 10 or so years.
“They’ve spent a lot of time working each other, so it’d be a strong competition,” he said.
We all work and have family commitments, so to train 2–3 times a week leading tinto the event and to win by a significant margin was a reward.
- James Alley, Yass Valley Composite Team
Mr Alley said he expected the Yass Valley crew to improve on previous years.
“We’ve been getting better each time – a few awards at the last event,” he said.
The Yass Valley Support Brigade also congratulated the Jinderra and Hanwood brigades who also made the championships.
“And a big thank you to all the helpers and volunteers that made the day possible,” it stated on Facebook.
The 2018 NSW RFS State Championships, which is held every two years, will be held September 14–16 at Lake Centenary, Temora.
Teams from north, south, west and east regions will compete.
It will be the third time the Yass Valley crew will be making an appearance.
More on the State Championships’ Facebook page.