2007 Monthly VCE Achiever Winner

June: Alison Meikle

For most VCE students, it’s their friends, the television or their mobile phones that can take them away from their studies. For June VCE Achiever Alison Meikle, it’s fire.

Alison, a Year 12 student at Terang P–12 College, is a volunteer firefighter with the Country Fire Authority — and this means she is permanently on-call should a fire break out in her local area.

‘We have pagers with us and when we get a message we have to make an instant decision about whether to go to the fire – there is no warning at all. I got called out to a fire the other night when I was doing Biology homework, but I decided to go.

‘In the end, someone losing their house is more vital than my school work.’

Alison first joined the CFA as a junior volunteer in Year 10. At the age of just 16 she was elected to the officer ranks of her local brigade, where she performs the position of Communications Officer.

She is now a senior operational firefighter, trained in the use of breathing apparatus and chemical splash suits, and able to enter properties to search for, and rescue, people. Despite her young age, on a few occasions she has performed the role of Officer in Charge of a firefighting operation, which involves deciding where to send the fire trucks, allocating tasks and equipment to crew members and contacting other emergency services if needed.

‘Out here firefighters are volunteers, so when house fires or bushfires happen we have to drop everything, leave work or school – and we don’t get paid for it. But if we didn’t do that there would be no-one to fight the fires.’

Alison is keen to support the CFA through activities at her school. She helped the school set up a CFA Youth Crew, so that VCAL students could do CFA activities as part of their Personal Development Skills program.

She also made a bushfire safety presentation to 120 younger students at the college, telling them about bushfire plans, how to evacuate safely and how to prepare for, and defend against, bushfires.

‘The kids know that I am a firefighter now, so they come up and say “Can I be a firefighter too?” and ask me lots of questions. I really enjoy that.’

Alison is also School Captain of Terang College. She runs assemblies, heads the student council and helps students deal with problems they might be having at school. She is a keen member and co-organiser of the school’s fundraising activities, which this year have included a Terang Idol competition to raise money for World Vision.

Alison is also a member of the Terang Community Building Initiative, which aims to make the town a better place for both locals and visitors. The committee has already started planning for a gym to be built in the town.

A keen public speaker, this year Alison reached the regional final of the Lions Youth of the Year competition. She has also competed at regional level in school athletics and swimming events.

While some students might be tempted to cut down their non-school activities during their VCE, Alison says she has taken more things on.

‘School work does come first as it’s a ticket to your future. But as long as you’re organised and don’t let your homework get on top of you, there is always time for other things.’

Alison is still keeping her options open about her life after VCE, but is considering studying agriculture at TAFE. Whatever happens, she knows she will continue to be involved with the CFA.

‘I might even become a career firefighter one day – it’s always going to be part of my life.’

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		2007 Monthly VCE Achiever Winner June: Alison Meikle For most VCE students, it’s their friends, the television or their mobile phones that can take them away from their studies. For June VCE Achiever Alison Meikle, it’s fire. Alison, a Year 12 student at Terang P–12 College, is a volunteer firefighter with the Country Fire Authority — and this means she is permanently on-call should a fire break out in her local area. ‘We have pagers with us and when we get a message we have to make an instant decision about whether to go to the fire – there is no warning at all. I got called out to a fire the other night when I was doing Biology homework, but I decided to go. ‘In the end, someone losing their house is more vital than my school work.’ Alison first joined the CFA as a junior volunteer in Year 10. At the age of just 16 she was elected to the officer ranks of her local brigade, where she performs the position of Communications Officer. She is now a senior operational firefighter, trained in the use of breathing apparatus and chemical splash suits, and able to enter properties to search for, and rescue, people. Despite her young age, on a few occasions she has performed the role of Officer in Charge of a firefighting operation, which involves deciding where to send the fire trucks, allocating tasks and equipment to crew members and contacting other emergency services if needed. ‘Out here firefighters are volunteers, so when house fires or bushfires happen we have to drop everything, leave work or school – and we don’t get paid for it. But if we didn’t do that there would be no-one to fight the fires.’ Alison is keen to support the CFA through activities at her school. She helped the school set up a CFA Youth Crew, so that VCAL students could do CFA activities as part of their Personal Development Skills program. She also made a bushfire safety presentation to 120 younger students at the college, telling them about bushfire plans, how to evacuate safely and how to prepare for, and defend against, bushfires. ‘The kids know that I am a firefighter now, so they come up and say “Can I be a firefighter too?” and ask me lots of questions. I really enjoy that.’ Alison is also School Captain of Terang College. She runs assemblies, heads the student council and helps students deal with problems they might be having at school. She is a keen member and co-organiser of the school’s fundraising activities, which this year have included a Terang Idol competition to raise money for World Vision. Alison is also a member of the Terang Community Building Initiative, which aims to make the town a better place for both locals and visitors. The committee has already started planning for a gym to be built in the town. A keen public speaker, this year Alison reached the regional final of the Lions Youth of the Year competition. She has also competed at regional level in school athletics and swimming events. While some students might be tempted to cut down their non-school activities during their VCE, Alison says she has taken more things on. ‘School work does come first as it’s a ticket to your future. But as long as you’re organised and don’t let your homework get on top of you, there is always time for other things.’ Alison is still keeping her options open about her life after VCE, but is considering studying agriculture at TAFE. Whatever happens, she knows she will continue to be involved with the CFA. ‘I might even become a career firefighter one day – it’s always going to be part of my life.’
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