David was born in Bunbury and raised in Brunswick Junction, located in the southwest of Western Australia between Harvey and Bunbury. He graduated from Australind High School in 2018 having attained Certificate II qualifications in IT and Business. David gained knowledge of IT and beef processing while working for Harvey Beef. Recently, David started working for Silver Lake Resources at the Deflector mine site in IT support.

At the age of six, David began competing in the competition firefighter games alongside his two brothers and sister. David’s father, Rob, has been the coach for many years so it would have been near on impossible for David not to be involved.

When David was 14 years old, he returned as a junior competitor. He earnt himself ‘composite team’ status, which is made up of the zone’s most competent athletics, and he would soon become the Junior Competition team’s coach. “I enjoy all aspects of the competitions. From the social aspect, to encouraging younger people to become involved, and being able to teach to others something that I love so much,” David explains.

In 2018 when David was 17 years old, he became an active firefighter with Brunswick Junction Volunteer Fire and Rescue Services. Over the course of a year, he dedicated all his spare time to turning out to incidents and furthering his training in all aspects of fire and rescue. All his hard work paid off when he was selected by brigade’s office bearers unanimously, to receive the Firefighter of the Year award for 2019.

In addition, David still competes in the senior firefighting games. At the 2023 State Easter Championships, David participated in all events alongside other brigades. He was placed third for the ‘One competitor Y’ event in a time of 17.23 seconds.

David expressed an interest to join the VFRS Association’s Youth Committee in 2022 and became Vice Chairperson in 2023.
“A huge priority for me is changing the way we put ourselves out there, not just by advertising what we are doing but showing the public in a visual way, to boost interest and encourage recruitment of youth to the Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service,” says David.

When he’s not working, training for the senior competition firefighter games, or turning out to incidents, David enjoys spending time in his home in Brunswick Junction.