BY DYLAN BRUCE
LIFELONG LEARNER
AND DOER
A Law Degree may not sound particularly useful for a firefighter, but Mark Gunning insists it has served him well. A Commander with the CFA in south west Victoria, Australia, Mark is a lifelong learner with an extensive history of education, but it is the Law Degree he highlights as his most useful. “It trained me to identify critical issues, identify the rules and procedures that apply to those issues, and then apply them under challenging circumstances.” With qualifications ranging from emergency management to fire science and suppression, Mark is a life-long learner. “I believe it sets a strong example for my children that you
32
wildfire
|
JANUARY - MARCH 2021
can put your mind to things and succeed at any time, and that you are never to old learn new things, or understand ‘old things’ better.” Mark has over 35 years of firefighting experience, and from a young age it was a family affair. “My mother’s family were heavily involved in the fire brigade, and I was encouraged to follow suit.” He began as a volunteer at the young age of 14, and would join as a career officer when he turned 22. “When I started I did not know what to expect or have a picture of where the career may lead.” An ordinary day for Mark involves managing issues that arise in fire brigades in the Otways and Western Plain regions of Victoria, Australia, but his role leading Incident Management teams means he must be adaptable. At a moment’s notice, his day can be interrupted by serious accidents, such as building fires and other emergencies that he must attend to. As well as developing an understanding of the different risks he may face, Mark says that having a capable team with the appropriate expertise with him helps a lot. “One of the most important things I have learned is that ‘None of us are as smart as all of us’.
