A MILLICENT great grandmother is happy to have recently volunteered five days of leave to serve as a firefighter on Kangaroo Island.
When the Country Fire Service (CFS) put out the call late last month for support from the mainland to battle the blazes, Elaine Wilson-Bennett quickly put up her hand to help.
She donned the yellow overalls and helmet as she has previously done to such away-from-home deployments to Port Pirie, New South Wales and Victoria.
Instead of having some festive season downtime as one of the Wattle Range Council outside work crew, Ms Wilson-Bennett boarded a chartered flight with other CFS volunteers which left Mount Gambier on December 29.
They were based in huts at Parndana for the next four nights.
“It was hot and very hectic and we spent long days on duty,” said the 20-year CFS veteran and Tantanoola Brigade member.
“We manned the CFS truck from Aldinga Beach.
“We were joined by Metropolitan Fire Service fire-fighters on our first day and then National Parks and Wildlife Service crew for the next days.
“New Year’s Eve was spent on the back of the truck as well as the next day.
“I learned a lot and I witnessed the successful use of controlled burns.
“There was great comradeship and many new friends were made.
“There were firefighters of all ages and different brigades.”
It was the first time Ms Wilson-Bennett visited Kangaroo Island and she had a chance meeting with its number one citizen.
“While we were waiting to catch our return flight when we met Kangaroo Island Mayor Michael Pengilly,” she said.
“He is a very down-to-earth man and even took our photograph.”
Ms Wilson-Bennett was able to grab a few days of rest back home in Millicent before resuming her council duties on Monday.
She is pleased that one of her grandsons, Brandon Foster, is set to join the Naracoorte CFS Brigade.
In turn, there is no doubt that her nine other grandchildren along with her four children and three great grandchildren are proud of her efforts in serving the community.
Tantanoola CFS Brigade captain Daniel Jazepyck thanked Ms Wilson-Bennett for her latest acts.
“She is an extraordinary and well-respected member of the Tantanoola Brigade,” Mr Jazepyck said.
“Tantanoola member Tim Frisch has been fighting fires in New South Wales.
“We have also helped with the fires at Keilira and Nangwarry in recent weeks.”
