Meet One Of Airlie’s Auxiliary Firefighters Thomas Torzsok

It is not a uniquely Australian character trait to lend a hand, but Aussies do it better than most.

When things turn sour, the ‘lucky country’ shows its compassion the best way it knows how; getting stuck in.

Firefighters embody Australia’s ethos of helping in times of crisis. Through secondary employment, Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) auxiliary firefighters balance full-time work with fighting fires and saving lives.

At the Airlie Beach Fire Station, there are roughly 15 of the casual, station-based firefighters who respond to emergency situations when the demand arises. One of them is Thomas Torzsok.

Mr Torzsok said being an auxiliary firefighter might seem superhuman to some, but to him it is simply serving his community.

“In Airlie Beach we have mineworkers, real estate agents, physiotherapists, and electricians balancing their lives alongside saving others with the FRS,” Mr Torzsok said.

“People working these normal, everyday jobs, still living the life they want, while giving back and serving their community.”

Mr Torzsok, like others at the station, wears “many hats”. In addition to his auxiliary role, he works full-time at tourism business Ocean Rafting, plays football, and runs his own business on the side.

“If you saw me ten minutes before I put on the uniform, in my boardshorts, a t-shirt, and thongs, you would never know,” he said.

“Being able to switch and turn into a firefighter is the best feeling in the world. I have not had a feeling like I have had inside a fire truck when you are gearing up to go somewhere.”

The paid position requires permission to attend emergencies from a full-time employer and requires two weeks of basic training and testing, then two to three nights a week being on-call alongside regular weekly trainings.

Mr Torzsok said he was swayed to join the FRS when meeting some of Airlie Beach’s firefighters and watching them in training.

“That is something I would recommend to everyone; there is no pressure watching a training session,” he said.

“I knew instantly that was what I wanted to do, and I would never have known if I had not come to watch.”

Mr Torzsok said the appeal of being an auxiliary is obvious; helping others is its own “reward”. The additional benefits of camaraderie, working alongside a team in mentally and physically challenging conditions, contributing during bushfire emergencies and flood events, were secondary.

“It makes me proud to be an auxiliary firefighter,” he said.

If you are interested in a career change and want to learn more about auxiliary firefighters, head here: https://www.qfes.qld.gov.au/careers-and-volunteering/fire-rescue-and-operations/aux-firefighter

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