UNE’s sustainability messages are echoing around the world – and helping to save lives – thanks to the foresight and determination of one amazing alumnus.
Tom Wilson undertook his Bachelor of Sustainability with us from 2015-2017 and it was during a three-week biogeography study tour to Bhutan that he was moved to put theory into practice. Tom was a retained firefighter at Armidale Fire Station when he met some of the local firefighters in the rural province of Bumthang.
“I was immediately shocked to see the lack of resources they had to undertake their critical role,” Tom said. “Some professional Bhutanese firefighters had reasonable uniforms, however many of the volunteers were fighting fires in jeans and gumboots.”
Many of the volunteers were fighting fires in jeans and gumboots.
When Tom returned to Australia, a practical solution ignited.
He knew that many perfectly good NSW firefighting uniforms, which had simply passed their service date, ended up in landfill. And he’d seen first-hand the threats that Bhutanese firefighters faced.
“Bhutan is very mountainous and some 80% of the nation is forested,” Tom said. “The fuel load is very high because the dense stands of pine trees contain lots of oil; it’s the perfect storm for forest wildfires. This presents a major challenge for the few hundred professional firefighters in Bhutan, who are supported by volunteers throughout the rural areas, known as desuups.”
There was an important social component, too.
“In Bhutan, the connection to the landscape and the environment is personal, a lot like the connection that Indigenous Australians have,” Tom said. “Large forest fires are accompanied by a period of mourning. It’s like losing a loved one. That’s another of the reasons I felt the need to assist.”
Large forest fires are accompanied by a period of mourning. It’s like losing a loved one. That’s another of the reasons I felt the need to assist.
Fast forward to 2019 and, by then working as a professional firefighter in Sydney, Tom and his team dispatched 60 sets of pre-used firefighting uniforms to Bhutan. Earlier this month, also thanks to sponsorship, a second shipment of 2,000 uniforms left our shores for the Kingdom of Bhutan.
WATCH: Tom Wilson shares how the project started
“This will be enough for every professional firefighter and a significant boost to their volunteer service as well, and they might be able to get on top of fires faster with greater protection,” Tom said. “One of my passions is firefighter health and safety, including minimising exposure to chemicals and smoke. This donation helps to ensure that the careers of the Bhutanese firefighters are safe, longer and more sustainable.
“That’s what drives me and what I’m most proud of; that the uniforms will help them to come home to their families. In this way, the donated uniforms will not only help the firefighters but their families and communities as well.”
There are also bigger, international benefits.
Meeting with Bhutanese Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Tandi Dorj and Ambassador to Australia, His Excellency Ambassador Sonam Tobgay.
“My sustainability degree highlighted the fact that every time there is a fire, anywhere in the world, it can have global impact,” Tom said. “Big bushfires here in Australia affect the amount of carbon dioxide and other chemicals released into the atmosphere, and it’s the same in Bhutan. If we can assist those firefighters to manage their forest fires more effectively, we can contribute positively to the global environment.”
Big bushfires here in Australia affect the amount of carbon dioxide and other chemicals released into the atmosphere, and it’s the same in Bhutan.
And it doesn’t end with uniforms. Tom is now working to formalise the relationship with his international colleagues. Online training is being planned, and possibly some in-person education, coupled with more equipment donations.
“It’s fantastic to be able to contribute my degree and skills in this way, and I would love to go back to Bhutan,” said Tom, whose current role with Fire and Rescue NSW has brought him back full circle. As well as being a senior firefighter, he is working as a temporary sustainability officer, helping to contribute to an environmental management system and implement the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
“Fire and Rescue NSW is responsible for protecting the environment as much as protecting the community; our lead role is in hazmat and assisting the Rural Fire Service with bushfire-fighting,” Tom said. “We are committed to ensuring that our practices are as sustainable, ethical and responsible as possible.”
His UNE education in sustainability is therefore applied practically every day. “It fostered this situation, where I can bring my experiences and professional learning to the fore to assist others,” Tom said. “UNE provided a fantastic foundation for my career and I’m now pleased to be giving back. I wouldn’t have done any of this if not for that UNE study tour to Bhutan.”
UNE provided a fantastic foundation for my career and I’m now pleased to be giving back. I wouldn’t have done any of this if not for that UNE study tour to Bhutan.
