Members of Fire and Rescue NSW Station 337 Junee, Sean Smith, Braiden Philipse and Ricky Pratt showed amazing efforts on October 26 at the NSW State Firefighter Championships held in Wagga. The guys were up against 24 other teams and put up a great fight, coming away in 10th place.
In addition 337 Junee you have done the town proud, being recognised as the most outstanding brigade which has not competed before or for the past 10 years at a State demonstration coming away with a perpetual trophy.
Braiden Philipse explained how chuffed the crew were to be recognised in this way.
“The State Firefighter Championships go over three days. Normally there’s Regional Firefighter Championships where they do two day events at different areas for two years and then every two years it culminates in the State Championships over the three days,” he said.
“In the case of the State Firefighter Championships, it’s the first time I have seen it and first time Junee has been involved in over a decade. During the days you do your event and every event has a small awards ceremony as they go. The top five teams get a certificate and the top three get a gold, silver or bronze medal.
“The presentation night is done after the whole event is completed on the Saturday and they give out perpetual trophies for all the events and add the plaques and that station will keep the trophy for the two years and have bragging rights.”
In different events across the day, Junee came fifth twice, fourth once and third as well.
“One of the fifth places we got was in an individual event with Ricky Pratt scoring fifth in the ladder climb event in just over seven seconds from about 60 competitors.
“Over the course of the weekend it was myself and Sean Smith, our deputy captain of Junee station. We both competed in every event for the Junee team and we had a composite of other members.
“On the first day we had Ricky and then we also had at all times a guy from Wellington station compete with us.
“On the first day we had a fill in. On the second day we lost Ricky so we had a fill in from the Temora station. Derek and Tim cycled in and out for us.
“I had a full team of six people but I couldn’t get them all to the event in the end.
“The next event is in Casino in March next year and we are keen to keep going and putting more teams in and partner up with Wagga, Turvey Park and Temora as needed.”
Junee Fire and Rescue wanted to give thanks to sponsors: Ray White, Capital Chemist, Junee Newspower, Junee Commercial Hotel, Brew at 102, The Mancave, Storehouse Botanica, Junee IGA, Splitt’s Family Day Care, Junee Red Cow Hotel, Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory, CWB Contracting, Junee Capital Chemist, Brad’s Butchery, Junee Ex-Services Club.
-Jack Murray
