Airservices Fire Fighters Take On The World's Best

Airservices Fire Fighters Take on the World's Best

MEDIA RELEASE

28 July 2009

Current and former Airservices fire fighters are preparing to take on the world at the 2009 World Police and Fire Games in British Columbia, Canada.

Six serving and two retired fire fighters from stations at Adelaide and Sydney Airports will represent Australia at the games, to be held 29 July 9 August.

They will compete against some of the toughest police and fire fighters from 55 countries. More than 30,000 people are expected to attend to watch over 60 sporting events.

Airservices representatives will join a team of metropolitan fire fighters to represent Australia in a diverse range of events including the 'ultimate fire fighter'. This gruelling test includes four challenges: a hose task, weights and strength, obstacle course and a high rise test.

With the last games being held in Adelaide in 2007, contingent spokesman Scott Geyer said participants were hoping to build on past involvement in the games.

"The games provide an opportunity to meet colleagues around the world, demonstrate our sporting prowess as Aussies and of course our specialist skills as fire fighters," Scott said.

Airservices representatives at the 2009 games are:

* Al Green (cross-country run, road run, team triathlon)
* Geoff Fuller (open water swim, pool swimming events, team triathlon)
* Dave Cottle (toughest competitor alive, cross-country run, wrist wrestling, ultimate fire fighter)
* Wes Garrett (cycling, horse shoes throw)
* Scott Geyer (dragon boat, Gaelic football, muster)
* Al Lepiniere (rugby 7s, Gaelic football)
* Joe Portolesi (archery)
* Bob Beveridge (open water swim, pool swimming events).

Airservices fire fighters and the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service have largely self-funded their trips through extensive fund raising, including the production of a fire fighting calendar which proved a sales hit. This fund raising also included raising money for the Women and Children's Hospital Burns Unit in South Australia.

The next biennial event will be held in New York in 2011 to commemorate a decade since September 11, 2001.


Airservices Australia is a Government owned organisation responsible for the safe and efficient management of air traffic across 11 per cent of the world's air space. Services include air traffic control, airspace management, aeronautical information, radar communications, radio navigation aids, aviation maintenance and engineering, environmental management and aviation rescue and firefighting.

www.airservicesaustralia.com


SOURCE: Airservices Australia