Serving the community has been a life long calling for Jim Armstrong.
Presently the Captain of the Berrima Rural Fire Service Jim is no longer a novice as he joined the service over 31 years ago.
He has been captain at Berrima for the last six years having originally joined the Moss Vale Rural Fire service as a 12 year old.
At that age he was only permitted to assist in behind the scenes activities and was not allowed into the field until he was 16. “Today you’re not allowed at the fire front until you are 18 and have basic fire fighting accreditation,” said Jim.
He found it a very valuable experience to serve as a junior member as they are still permitted to attend the training sessions and can learn much about the operation of the service.
Jim has also had a stint at working in the catering section before they had the truck and he was a member of the building committee in the early 80s.
Jim’s dad fought fires in the ‘60s and it was as a result of the encouragement received by a family friend, Neville Melrose, that Jim joined the Moss Vale Brigade.
The Berrima brigade has been one of the many static displays at The Australia Day celebrations since they moved in to Berrima.
Jim said that it is good for the community to be able to see the trucks and talk to the fire fighters about their experiences.
He is still astounded when some people ask all about the service, about how they can become involved and then turn around and ask how much they get paid.
They are all volunteers and some people are unable to grasp that they do it for their community.
“The feeling of camararderie and knowing that you are helping your community give you a great deal of self satisfaction,” said Jim.
Servicing the community is what Jim has done for as long as he can remember.
He was a St John Ambulance volunteer from 1976 until the late ‘80s. He celebrated his 21st birthday among the ranks of the St John’s volunteers who, even though it was his birthday, insisted that he come with them to a function at The Journeyman and he still didn’t realise that it was a surprise party in his honour until after he sat down and saw all the familiar faces.
The Moss Vale Show Society also had the benefit of his assistance when he worked with the Industrial and Commercial section at the show.
He has had a wide range of volunteer serves having also spent some time with the Berrima District Rescue Squad that he left in 1982 when he went over to the SES. He left the SES for a while but has recently returned to its ranks and is now the deputy controller for the Wingecarribee district.
CREST, Citizen Radio Emergency Service Teams, is another organisation that benefited from his services from the early ‘80s to late ‘90s.
For the last 11 years Jim has also been a member of the Moss Vale Lions Club having served in the past as president and secretary and currently being the Lion tamer, i.e. custodian of the regalia.
He proudly displays his National medal that represents 15 years service to the Bridage.
With all this experience in community activities it is not surprising that he was the recipient of the Young Australia Day Citizen of the Year in 1983 and the Australia Day Citizen of the Year award in 1990.
Jim is always keen to encourage others to come along and join the Berrima rural Fire Service as they are always on the lookout for new members.
He stresses that volunteers do not have to go and fight fires as they are always keen to hear from community members who may be interested in assisting with the fundraising efforts of the service or more hands to assist on days like Australia Day or other community functions that they like to attend.
Anyone prepared to join as a fire fighter will be suitably trained before they are permitted in the field.
The Berrima Rural Fire service holds an open day during Fire Awareness week in October and they hold numerous raffles throughout the year to purchase additional supplies.
Jim said that there are many ways in which the community can assist, not only the rural fire service, but also any other community groups and that is by offering a little of their own time.
“We are all busy people,” said Jim, “but if we all rolled up our sleeves and did just a little bit extra it would make a big difference.”
“So metimes I wonder why I’m doing this but then I realise that it is a service to the community in which we live”.
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