Passion for volunteering still burns

When John James joined his local volunteer bushfire brigade nearly 60 years ago, they fought with little more than wet sacks and tree branches.

Picture by David Bailey

Things are different now they get around in air-conditioned fire trucks, but the 77-year-old’s dedication to his local Capel brigade remains the same.

Even breaking his neck in a fall at home 14 months ago did not stop the great grandfather, recently stepping into a new role as equipment officer.

Told by doctors he was lucky to even be walking, Mr James said all he wanted to do was get back out and lend a helping hand.

‘‘I just love doing things for other people, helping people out that are in trouble,’’ he said.

Firefighting was a community effort when Mr James joined the brigade in 1954 and he remembers how people would ‘‘come out of the woodwork like white ants’’ to help when the town’s fire siren sounded.

Admitting he had his fair share of ‘‘close calls’’ over the years, the selfless volunteer said he was always more worried about his wife Joy’s feelings than his safety.

"I’d tell her ‘oh, it will only be for acouple of hours’ and I would be away for five or six hours,’’ Mr James said.

‘‘Back in the years of not having a mobile phone, she’d be worried ‘was I alright?’, sort of expecting the worst when somebody comes and knocks on the door.’’

A former fire control officer for 12 years and captain for 10 years, Mr James has no plans of taking a rest and encourages young people to join him by volunteering in their community.