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Community

8 June, 2024

New firies set to fight blazes

EIGHT new auxiliary firefighters have graduated across the Far North.


The new firies from left (back row) Adam Tickner, Troy Nowlan, Natasha Isabella, Nadine Welch, Kyle Jose, John James, Dean Pacitto, Stephen Bowden, (front row) Captain Joshua Weier, Inspector Wayne Roe, Far Northern Region Assistant Commissioner Michael O’Neil, Lieutenant Rene Van Raders and auxiliary Shane Gibson. Picture: QFES
The new firies from left (back row) Adam Tickner, Troy Nowlan, Natasha Isabella, Nadine Welch, Kyle Jose, John James, Dean Pacitto, Stephen Bowden, (front row) Captain Joshua Weier, Inspector Wayne Roe, Far Northern Region Assistant Commissioner Michael O’Neil, Lieutenant Rene Van Raders and auxiliary Shane Gibson. Picture: QFES

The eight have been stationed across the region, including Adam Tickner (Cardwell station), Nadine Welch (Cairns South), Kyle Jose (Mossman) and Stephen Bowden (Tully). Others are Troy Nowlan (Thursday Island), Natasha Isabella (Atherton), John James (Cooktown) and Dean Pacitto (Malanda).

Protecting and serving the community runs in the blood of Natasha Isabella and Dean Pacitto – two young auxiliary firefighters who have just taken on roles at Atherton and Malanda.

After spending her childhood hearing the stories of her father, Atherton Captain Jimmy Isabella saving lives, 19-year-old Natasha knew she had to become a firefighter.

After witnessing a house fire at the end of high school, she knew becoming a firefighter was what she wanted to do while also completing her hairdressing apprenticeship.

“I thought it was pretty cool what the firefighters were doing – saving casualties and properties – so I started going to Monday night training with my dad,” she said.

“I was about to become of age (18 years old), so I kept going to training to see what it was all about.”

For 29-year-old ex-serviceman Dean, being an auxiliary is how he gives back to his wife and in-law’s community of Malanda.

After spending many years as an ambulance driver in the army and living in Brisbane, he moved to Malanda and was convinced by his father and uncle-in-laws to join QFES.

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