Japinder Sandhu has been recognized with the 2022-23 Point Cook Fire Brigade Champion Firefighter Award for his contributions to Country Fire Authority (CFA).
In a statement, Mr Sandhu said:
“A big thanks to my family, friends, and brigade members as achieving this milestone wasn’t possible without your continuous support.”
Mr Sandhu has over 18 years of extensive IT experience in a variety of market sectors and is presently running his own IT Consultancy Business.
During the 2019/2020 bushfire crisis, Mr Sandhu visited Bairnsdale to provide support for the bushfire victims by organising and running food supply trips and delivering critically needed supplies to a vulnerable community. Here, he met CFA volunteer firefighters and observed their contribution to the community.
“I always shared the experience of my stay in Bairnsdale and meeting the brave firefighters with my son and one day he questioned me “Dad why can’t you be a firefighter?” and my answer to him was “Son its not easy to be a firefighter, you need have a lot of responsibility and courage to be a firefighter.” And he looked sharply into my eyes and said “Well if they can do it what’s stopping you?” and that’s it, within the next 5 minutes, I opened the CFA website and applied for the CFA volunteer firefighter position. Today my Son and the rest of my family, friends, and relatives are proud of me.”
Mathew Hilakari MP observed while presenting the award to Mr Sandhu:
“Was an honour to present the Champion Fire Fighter Award to Japinder Sandhu. Selfless service deserves our thanks everyday, but this day was particularly special.”
On 2 September 2023, Mr Sandhu will climb 28 floors in 25kg of kit to help raise $700,000 to support Lifeline, Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation, and 000Foundation.
Apart from CFA, Mr Sandhu is also a Volunteer Team Manager of the under-10 boys team at Footscray Hockey Club, a Volunteer Project Coordinator for United Sikhs and Lets Feed, and works very closely with Uniting Wyndham and Werribee.
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