As you may know, my daughter Nicole is a volunteer firefighter with the CFA. She and her crew were heavily involved in the Black Saturday bushfires. As a result of their tireless efforts during the bushfires, the Female Volunteer Firefighters have been nominated in the Cosmopolitan "Fun, Fearless, Female" Women of the Year competition for Outstanding Contribution (Community).
Nicole and her crew worked for 21 hours straight during Black Saturday saving lives, wildlife and property for countless people they have never met. During this exhausting 21 hours she and her crew experienced a flashover (when the entire vehicle is engulfed in flames). When the flashover passed they simply picked up their hoses and kept on going. We can never underestimate the risk and dangers involved with being a volunteer Firefighter as these courageous people put their lives in direct harm in order to save or protect others. I'm obviously extremely proud of what Nicole did on that day and on many days thereafter...
I therefore ask that you support Nicole and the many other women in the CFA, by voting for them on the Cosmopolitan web site and selecting the Volunteer Female Firefighters, Country Fire Authority (Victorian Bushfires). Vote as many times as you can. The more votes the better chance for them to win.
http://www.cosmopolitan.com.au/funfearlessfemale.htm
The time and effort it takes to vote is nothing compared to the sacrifice these women give every time they're called out.
If the women of the CFA are successful in the voting, Nicole has been nominated by CFA Command to accept the award on behalf of all the Volunteer Female Firefighters.
Not only do they deserve to win, they also deserve our admiration and support so please vote and vote often.
I'm extremely proud of Nicole and her achievements as well as her contributions to the community.
Nicole is on the right in this photo...
Regards
Tim Hands
Project Executive
IBM Global Technology Services
(via Roger Dalton)
