While some people remain steadfast to keep their hobby and work separate, Rob Sandford couldn't be happier that his keenness a Country Fire Service volunteer evolved into becoming a full-time job and a lengthy and rewarding career.
Rob has pulled up stumps, finishing up in his role of CFS deputy chief officer on December 17.
Having left school at 14 to become a butcher, Rob first joined the Tea Tree Gully CFS as an 18-year-old volunteer in 1982, following in his family's footsteps. He became an official staff member in 1991.
"Several of my brothers and my Mum were members of the local CFS, Dad was a previous member of the CFS, one of my uncles and a couple of cousins were also members - so it was a bit of a family tradition," he said.
"Even though it might not seem so now, when I was a kid, Tea Tree Gully was considered the country - it was a big deal to go the city for a day."
Just 12 months into his time as a volunteer were the 1983 Ash Wednesday fires, which Rob said was a "catalyst for significant change" for the CFS, and an eye-opening experience for him.
"Those fires were devastating right across SA and other states, and it really cemented with me how great CFS was, and how great it was being a part of it and knowing you were helping the community - that side of it was a huge satisfaction for me personally," he said.
I have been very fortunate with my career over the years, with the opportunities presented to me from the CFS.
- ROB SANDFORD
Rob said a major change brought about by the Ash Wednesday fires was the establishment of minimum requirements for training and equipment levels for brigades right across the state.
"CFS is a great change organisation," he said.
"When we look back pre-Ash Wednesday, all trucks were built and bought by local councils, but post Ash Wednesday, the fleet was standardised.
"Half of the trucks that responded to the fires on Ash Wednesday either broke down or failed at the fires.
"It was a bold move by the CFS board to bring in the new trucks, but when you look at the fleet CFS has now, we have one of the most modern fleets of all the fire services in Australia, the highest safety features and are using world class technology."
Through the changes in the '80s, Rob said an increasing focus on firefighter safety - which remains the number one priority of the CFS - was an area in which Rob became particularly interested.
"The training side of things really interested me - I came to realise that I got a great deal of satisfaction from taking people from the unknown to the known and being able to pass on knowledge and skills," he said.
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"My goal was always to be one of our state training officers. I did lots of other things but never held that position."
Rob did hold a suite of other roles through his time as a staff member, starting in 1991 assigned to the firespotting tower at Mount Lofty, before a stint in the operations centre, followed by regional officer and commander roles and then a five-year post in Naracoorte as the region's operation and planning officer in the early 2000s.
In 2005, Rob returned to Adelaide, became manager of operational services, then the director of state operations, and finally the deputy chief officer.
"I have been very fortunate with my career over the years, with the opportunities presented to me from the CFS," he said.
"I've been to the United States on a study tour looking at various fire agencies over there; done a number of university courses funded through the CFS - it has been a real honour to have had these opportunities."
Looking forward, Rob said quenching the community's thirst for information would be an increasingly important focus of the CFS.
"I was at a firefighting conference about 15 years ago and a researcher there said social media and information provision for the community was going to be key for fire services across the world," he said.
"My colleagues and I all thought that seemed baffling, but now we have a social media person 24/7 on our rosters.
"We're always going to have big fires, and we don't have enough firetrucks to be at every house, so we need to empower people to make informed decisions.
"That's why information operations is such a key role.
"The changes in the 30-plus years I have been involved have been nothing short of phenomenal."
I'll always be wanting to maintain my volunteer service and will be keeping my ear to the ground about what's going on and helping out where I can.
- ROB SANDFORD
Rob is proud of the achievements of the CFS in his 30 years as a staff member and said the people in the organisation were what he would miss most.
"CFS is one of those places where there is an amazing camaraderie, because of the types of things you're doing together to help the community," he said.
Rob's final day in mid-December was also a day of firsts, with it being his first day at the new CFS headquarters at Keswick.
He also received the inaugural Chief Officer's Commendation, which he will hold proudly alongside the Australian Fire Service Medal he received in 2018, saying both accolades are "very special" to him.
His retirement plans include travelling throughout Australia, but Rob is keen to remain involved in the CFS, including as an active volunteer with the Tea Tree Gully brigade.
"I'll always be wanting to maintain my volunteer service and will be keeping my ear to the ground about what's going on and helping out where I can," he said.
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