Ellen Ryan oficially graduates as a firefighter

She was one of the 264 new NSW Fire and Rescue recruits out of the FRNSW Emergency Services Academy at Orchard Hills and will be an on call firefighter based at the Goulburn Fire Station.

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Others in the Southern Tableland region include Sharon Woods who are based at the Crookwell Fire Station, Harley Jack and Nathan King, who work at the Braidwood Fire Station and Craig Abbott, Naomi Eccleston, Brett Huyton, Brooke Watson and Daniel Wilson at the Yass Fire Station.

FRNSW Commissioner Paul Baxter said the new recruits should be proud of their achievement.

"Becoming a firefighter is no easy feat," Mr Baxter said.

"We attract 6000 to 8000 applications each year, yet of these thousands, only an elite few are chosen.

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"264 of that elite few stand before us today, each of them from diverse backgrounds but sharing one common goal, to protect the irreplaceable.

"It is also pleasing to see that many graduates are joining family members already in service, with some being second generation firefighters.

"They have shown they have the diverse skills, capabilities and talents required to undertake the varied work that our firefighters do - from educating the community about fire safety and providing emergency medical care to responding to fires, natural disasters and hazmat incidents.

"They've been trained to be prepared for anything and I know they will uphold the high standards of integrity, courage and professionalism expected of a FRNSW firefighter."

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