Kōrero with JJ Edmondson, founder of International Firefighters’ Day

Kōrero with JJ Edmondson, founder of International Firefighters’ Day

Last Saturday (4 May 2024) was International Firefighters’ Day – a chance to recognise all of our operational personnel and honour those who have fallen in the line of duty. In the lead up to the day, Kerry Gregory had the opportunity to have a kōrero with JJ Edmondson who founded the day 25 years ago.

JJ Edmondson is an operational firefighter and a Lieutenant in the District 8 Headquarters Fire Brigade in the Country Fire Authority (CFA) in Victoria, Australia. As you’ll hear, the idea for a day came about following the tragic loss of five firefighters in wildfires back in 1998.  Ideas flowed for when and how to recognise the day from around the world and 25 years on, the day is well-recognised internationally with buildings lit in blue and red, sound offs happening at stations all over and recognitions posted through numerous media and social media channels.

You can check out the kōrero with JJ in the video above. 

Ngā mihi | massive thanks to JJ for chatting with Kerry about IFFD and shout out to Mitchell Brown, Community Risk Manager, for helping arrange this. 

What is Kōrero with Kerry?

No matter what role you have at Fire and Emergency, we’re all working hard to protect what matters; people, property and the environment.  To showcase some of the mahi that’s happening across our organisation, Kerry will be getting out and about to kōrero with different people about what their role is, what they’re working on and potentially share a few stories. 

If there’s some mahi you’re keen to hear about, a person you think Kerry should chat to or if you have a comment about Kerry’s kōrero with JJ, feel free to post below.