Seeing her dad volunteer during the Ash Wednesday fires started a long-lasting love of the Country Fire Authority within Tanya Lumley.

She can now not only be found volunteering with the Strathbogie Brigade, but also working in the Volunteer Sustainability Team (VST) in the north-east region.

Originally becoming a volunteer for the Boneo Brigade, Tanya recently transferred to Strathbogie, where she said she is incredibly lucky to have an amazing mentor.

“I was sad to have left an awesome brigade when I moved, and joining a new brigade felt a little like starting again but seeing my new team in action on the fireground, and how willing they are to share their skills and knowledge, made me happy about a great new brigade home,” she said.

Tanya also recently began her role working in the VST.

“I returned to the CFA a few years ago, joining the amazing team at Boneo. I got to see the VST in action down in the south-east and so appreciated the work they did supporting growth in volunteers and the brigade.”

Tanya said she loves both her VST role and being a volunteer at CFA and she is lucky that the roles complement each other nicely.

“Although I’m only new to the role in VST, I can see that it allows for a great understanding of the diverse experiences and needs of brigades and volunteers,” she said.

“On the other hand, learning from the experienced and skilled members of my brigade equips me with valuable knowledge that I can take to my day job.

“Working on projects that help to empower brigades and members, having experienced what it’s like in a brigade, is incredibly rewarding. It’s a bit of a symbiotic experience.”

Tanya is a huge lover of community and she loves that CFA really embodies this value and gives her a place to uphold it in both her personal and professional lives.

“Being a member of a CFA brigade embodies community for me — a bunch of people working together to do good,” she said.

“At both my brigade and office, I get to be surrounded by dedicated individuals who are passionate about making a difference, that’s such a wonderful place to be.

“I am fortunate to have been supported and mentored by some incredible members of brigades, and that learning experience is something I truly value.”

Tanya said balancing her role with volunteering is no different to all the other volunteers who give up their time around other life commitments, including work.

“Just like all members who have a job and volunteer in their brigade — we do what we can and what we have time for.

“We all have families and hobbies and interests outside of these roles and they’re just as valuable and important.”

Despite being new to working with CFA, Tanya said she was already feeling good about taking her passion for CFA and making it her day job.

“I am still learning all of the many, many processes within the organisation but what I have discovered is that it is filled with some fantastic people all over the state, who I am so glad to be working with.”

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Thursday, 15th January 2026

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