Charlie Sexton took over as captain of the Benalla Fire Brigade three months ago.
Photo by
Billie Davern
For over two decades, Benalla Fire Brigade’s newly appointed captain has been dedicated to volunteering.
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“I started in 2003 ... In the western district of Victoria, in the Grampians, and when I moved here I just transferred,” Charlie Sexton said.
“I transferred to Benalla in 2005. Ever since, for 20 years, I’ve volunteered here.”
It wasn’t long after the transfer that Mr Sexton joined the brigade’s management team, on which he served as lieutenant for about 14 years.
July of this year is when he took over from the previous captain, Jamie Beaton, and while it’s definitely been a change of pace, he said the support of his peers helped to smooth the transition.
“It was certainly an easy move,” Mr Sexton said.
“However, it is a totally new perspective on running a brigade with 75 to 80 members. A lot of work, a lot of hazards, a lot of personalities. And, there’s a lot happening at the moment, so it has been a very busy three months.
“It’s pretty hectic right now, but there’s a very strong management team here. When I’m not here, there are enough officers here to make good decisions.”
When he’s not in his turnout gear, Mr Sexton serves as operations manager for the SES, looking after the 13 units of the north-east catchment.
While emergency services have played a significant role in his life for many years, he still recalls where it all began.
Charlie Sexton says he’s committed to supporting the members of his brigade.
Photo by
Billie Davern
“I trained agriculturally, and I was told to join the CFA as a 20-whatever-year-old in the western district because I was the youngest person in the district, and at the time I could get on the truck,” he said.
“That’s how I ended up in the CFA; the bloke I was farming with went, ‘go to the neighbour’, who was the captain of the brigade. I thought I was going over there to do some farm work, and then I was recruited.
“I had no idea that I would be in emergency services and be a volunteer in a rural brigade, and then coming to a larger urban brigade like this. Being a member of this brigade is what helped me form a career.”
Mr Sexton’s passion for emergency services is immediately evident when he speaks of his roles, both paid and volunteer.
Not only is it a sense of fulfilment that has sustained his dedication to the CFA, Mr Sexton said it was also those within the Benalla brigade that kept him coming back.
“We get to do some really cool stuff, but we also go to people’s worst days of their lives, so that brings a really challenging side to a really positive thing that we can do,” he said.
“I feel a real, deep-seated commitment to the people here; supporting our people here to be the best they can be is rewarding for me.
“The camaraderie that we have here with our people means we can work through and deal with that stuff we need to in an emergency, sometimes, with very little impact to ourselves, and that’s what the community needs; they need us to be performing at our best to support them at their worst.
“This is the community’s brigade, I’m just the guy lucky enough to steer the direction at this time.”
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