From Afghanistan to Avalon, the career of fire fighter Luke Wood is now blazing a path into one of Australia’s hottest calendars. JOHN VAN KLAVEREN feels the heat.
Luke Wood is a model fire fighter – and has the photos to prove it.
The 26-year-old Avalon Airport fire fighter is the sizzling face of the first Victorian version of a massive fundraising calendar.
His hot photos will help kick off the new calendar, alongside Queensland and New South Wales versions that have raised more than $1.2 million in the 20 years they have been published.
Luke was a driving force behind bringing the hugely popular calendar to Victoria.
The calendar has become so big it has even attracted a “making of the fire fighters calendar” television documentary – and the Victorian version will be included in the show next year.
He’s also one of the youngest fire fighters to appear in it – but that hasn’t fazed him at all.
“I’m used to being the youngest in most things I do,” Luke confesses.
He was the youngest Australian soldier to serve in Iraq after enlisting at 17 as a paratrooper, following his family’s military background.
Luke served in the Solomon Islands, East Timor and Iraq for four years, spending 13 months overseas.
During his overseas service he put his physical training expertise to good use, acting as a combat fitness leader for his platoon.
He led the fitness training programs involving endurance, weight training, aerobics and nutrition.
“Dad was physical training instructor in the army, my sister was also in the army, so it’s a lifestyle I’ve grown up with in a military family,” Luke says
After his military service, Luke was looking around for a new job that suited his military background and applied for a role as a prison officer.
“I was at Barwon Prison for two years and, surprise, surprise, I was the youngest one again,” he laughs.
But an unfulfilled boyhood dream kept nagging away at him.
“I always wanted to be fire fighter, so I applied even though applications were limited. I managed to get through and topped the pool applying for a spot at Avalon Airport.”
When Luke saw a call for expressions of interest in appearing in the calendar, he thought he would give it a shot.
Read the full story in the Geelong Coast Magazine – in newsagents now.
