A Bowral High School student has been named as the NSW RFS Cadet of the Year.
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Olivia Cole, 17, was named Cadet of the Year after she was nominated by her teacher Mr Andrews. The Year 11 student completed at 10-week program with the Southern Highlands Rural Fire Service last year.
She was inspired to complete the program after the RFS came to the school and showed the students how the trucks and hoses worked.
"I loved the team work part of it," she said.
"Being in a group setting meant we got to develop [relationships] and rely on each other."
It was only three months ago that Olivia got the call to say she named Cadet of the Year.
"I was waiting to do an Ancient History test and my teacher Mr Andrews handed me the phone.
"I thought it was a joke.
"It shocked me because it was a 10 week course, but I was very proud of it.
As for whether Olivia would consider volunteering with the RFS, she said it was "possible".
"My brother is with fire and rescue, so it's possible that I will do go down that path, but I'm not sure yet, I'm still focusing on school."
RFS community safety officer Inspector David Stimson said that it was a "big honour" to have a cadet from the Southern Highlands awarded Cadet of the Year.
"It was nice to see her develop and blossom in to this role," he said
"It's a credit to the volunteers and a credit to the program.
"[Olivia] was absolutely professional when she gave her speech and she is a credit to her parents."
The program runs in a number of schools for 10 weeks and teaches students are range of skills.
In 10 weeks students learn a number of skills such as what to do in fires and fire behaviour, team work, responsibility and decision making. The program ends with a graduation and a showing of skills learnt.
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