 My name is Vicki Lenica and I belong to the Basin Fire Brigade. My girlfriends had a very big influence in me joining the Basin CFA. They encouraged me to come down and join the auxiliary. Six months later, my husband joined as an operational member. While working at the local plant nursery in the Basin, I could hear the fire siren going. So I approached the captain at the time, Don McGuire, and asked if I did some basic training. Could I turn out through the day? So I did my training. I was a third female to actually become an operational member. Happy anniversary dear. That was what I said to my husband as he got off our truck. I got on the truck as a changeover crew in the Yarra Valley in the 2009 fires. The day started with a very eerie feeling for me. I was on the first strike team out to go to Gippsland. We saved some houses in a church and patrolled around the town of Oracle. We were sent out to a caravan park to help defend it. When we got there, some of the caravans were already burning. We assembled into the caravan park and rallied round the centre. During the night, we started to hear the radio reports. It was a night never to be forgotten. My husband and I are both volunteers. We do this for our brigade, our district, our state and our country. If you ask 100 members why they belong to the CFA, you would get 100 different answers. But the common thread that runs through everyone, we belong because we can and because we want to. I don't get paid. I give my time freely. I do my job. I don't take holidays from the organisation. I leave my family and loved ones at the drop of a hat. I know that when I leave the station, I am putting my life on the line for someone else in need. I don't look for accolades or the tag hero or parades or specially struck medals. I do it because I can and I'm able to. A simple thank you is enough and all because I'm a CFA volunteer.