A poem dedicated to CFA firefighters

 

Sarah Nicholson's husband, Brett, is a Greendale Fire Brigade firefighter, and her daughter Kate will soon be one too now that she's finished Juniors.

 

Sarah's involvement with CFA prompted her to write a poem about the work of our firefighters.

"Over the years, I've heard many stories about fires and CFA, which I've put into a poem," Sarah said.

Call out for the CFA 

Raking the yard and there’s barely a breeze.
Fire season starts tomorrow night. 
It wasn’t even near the trees. 
The sparks weren’t up at any height. 
“Glad I got this done in time!” 
But then the gusts got bad… 
Call out for the CFA:
That’s my dad! 

Too much rubbish for your bin. 
It’s only a really small pile. 
You don’t think it’s worth calling it in.
It’ll only burn a little while. 
“I’ll have this out before lunch!”
So you didn’t bother… 
Call out for the CFA:
That’s my mother! 

Dunno why the power’s gone out.
Light the fire grate to cook. 
Put those snags and veges on. 
Enjoy a wine but don’t stop to look. 
“Summer power failures are common!”
You need to find out why, mister… 
Call out for the CFA:
That’s my sister! 

Weeds and shrubs and overgrowth.
Uncleared for many a summer. 
A tinder box of undergrowth. 
You could not be dummer. 
“We don’t live there, it’s just a holiday house!”
You’ll get up there someday or other… 
Call out for the CFA:
That’s my brother! 

You were sure to check before you lit.
Low danger and no fire ban. 
Dug a hole and cleared around it. 
Such a responsible man. 
“This will be burnt out in no time at all!”
But you forgot you need plenty of water…
Call out for the CFA:
That’s my daughter!

You tried to put it out but running late.
Supposed to be catching up with friends. 
No worries mate.  She’ll be right mate. 
But that’s not how this story ends. 
“There’s nothing better after some hard yacka!”
Sure, go on mate, have another one… 
Call out for the CFA:
That’s my son! 

Hiking in a forest to a camping site.
Fireplace provided there looks great.
Cook those potatoes in foil tonight. 
By morning it looks out and you can’t wait.
“Let’s get going, let’s hit the track!”
Those coals will destroy this woodland. 
Call out for the CFA:
That’s my husband!

A country drive and a trip to take.
Nothing to see but farms for miles. 
A bottle of fizzy drink keeps you awake.
Just don’t count the hay bales in piles.
“I’ll just toss this empty out the window!”
In the sun it sets grassfire to life… 
Call out for the CFA:
That’s my wife! 

Our fire brigades are all volunteers. 
They deserve our consideration. 
We live in fire prone communities. 
Let this be your education. 
“It’s a slice of heaven, living or visiting here!”
We need everyone to remember… 
When there’s a call out for the CFA:
That’s someone’s family member! 

 

Submitted by	News and Media