Anthea Shearer has made the move from fulltime mum to firefighter.
It was determination and hardwork behind Anthea’s graduation into a job she loves.
“At the start, I could only do three push-ups,” laughs Anthea.
Part of the application process includes a level of physically fitness.
Anthea was cardio fit, but her strength needed development and twice she failed the fitness test which has the same requirements for women as it does for men.
Her determination to pass the test cemented for her just how much she wanted to be a firefighter.
After one and a half years in the gym, getting her upper body strength up to scratch, along with some delay through Covid, Anthea passed and went onto the national training recruits’ course in Rotorua.
Anthea had previously worked in the office of a freight forwarding company before she transitioned to having and raising three children.
When the kids got older and discussions started about her returning to the workforce, her Monday to Friday, 9-5 job didn’t have as much appeal due to her husband’s shift work and the resulting lack of chances to spend time together.
Anthea had always been impressed at the role her husband had as a firefighter and had joked a few times about becoming a firefighter too, but the joke became a reality with the support of her husband, albeit a few years down the track.
“The training is a hard slog,” says Anthea, “mentally and physically you’re pushed to your limits every single day for 12 weeks.”
Anthea added that of 30 recruits on her course only two didn’t make it through the 12 weeks.
Anthea is one of many female firefighters in the Nelson Tasman region, which has a high percentage of female firefighters compared to other areas in the country.
Although she and husband don’t work on the same shifts, the way the shifts are organised means they end up having four days out of eight days off at the same time. Giving lots of time to share their passion for mountain biking.
It will be another 2 years until Anthea is a fully qualified firefighter with a couple more weeklong courses to go along with more assessments and exams.
She’s still quite a newbie at the station but says everyone is supportive. Being a firefighter means being part of a team that has to be there for each other in what can be dangerous situations, so everyone looks out for each other says Anthea.
Anthea has no concerns about wearing a uniform, getting dirty and having helmet hair but did get a bit of a name for herself during training because of her beautifully painted nails.