THE states only all-female Rural Fire Service cadet group has been congratulated at a graduation ceremony at Tenterfield High School.
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The 15 girls were presented with graduation certificates at a Tenterfield High School assembly on Monday.
RFS assistant commissioner, Jason Heffernan, was joined by Member for Lismore Thomas George, Tenterfield mayor Peter Petty and other RFS dignitaries for the ceremony.
Mr Heffernan said he took extra pleasure in honouring the group, because it consisted solely of young women.
“Please don’t let your involvement stop at the cadet program. I encourage you to join your local fire service,” he said.
“Right some wrongs,” he said, touching on the fire services’ history of low female employ.
“It would have been great to have this program when I was still at school,” he said.
The RFS Secondary Schools Cadet Program, open to year 9 and 10 students, went for a 10 week duration.
Members of the local RFS gave up their time each Wednesday to help the girls learn the ropes.
It is the seventh year Tenterfield High School has conducted the program.
Tenterfield High School teacher and cadet coordinator, Helen Clothier, said the girls deserved credit for their participation.
“We’re really proud of the interest in the RFS shown from the girls.
“Hopefully it’s a measure of their interest for the future,” Ms Clothier said.
She thanked the RFS volunteers for their enduring support for the program.
“If not for them turning up every week and facilitating the program it wouldn’t run,” she said.
The graduating cadets included Isabella Savins, Michelle Townsend, Amber Smith, Kaitlan Azzopardi, Eliza-jane Roots, Sarah Aquilini, Chloe Morris, Leyla Campbell, Sonya Campbell-Astra, Georgiana Chawner, Emily Ryan, Abby Henry, Kaiana Spiller, Patricia Willoughby and Samantha Cox.
The school plan to continue their relationship with the RFS when the program kicks off again in Term 4 later this year.