ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
Subscribe
There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis
Watch 0:37

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis

{headline}

{headline}

Back from the brink!

Back from the brink!

A cockatoo proposed to me!

A cockatoo proposed to me!

Brave Ellie - 420 days in hospital for a new heart!

Brave Ellie - 420 days in hospital for a new heart!

I woke up with no hands and feet

I woke up with no hands and feet

{headline}

{headline}

How chalk found me love!

How chalk found me love!

Gone for 13 minutes – then my boy came back to life!

Gone for 13 minutes – then my boy came back to life!

Pregnant at 51 – My mum had my baby

Pregnant at 51 – My mum had my baby

{headline}

{headline}

Brave Bella - saved by her twin!

Brave Bella - saved by her twin!

We found $40,000 in our garage!

We found $40,000 in our garage!

I SHAVED my head on my WEDDING day!

I SHAVED my head on my WEDDING day!

Born with no hands - but nothing will stop my boy

Born with no hands - but nothing will stop my boy

Dumped wife's revenge: 'Be fabulous!'

Dumped wife's revenge: 'Be fabulous!'

I LOVE the skin I'm in!

I LOVE the skin I'm in!

I became an ice addict at 40 - Now I'm helping others

I became an ice addict at 40 - Now I'm helping others

  1. Home
  2. Real Life

Meet Ember: The hero doggie helping fireys

What a good girl! - by Amber Wemyss
  • 09 Feb 2020
Meet Ember: The hero doggie helping fireys

Australia is famous for its bright blue skies, serene beaches and vast bushland.

But photos of our nation have recently depicted a different kind of scenery – smoke-filled skylines, deserted beaches and entire communities reduced to ash.

Then there’s the heart-wrenching pictures of our hero fireys tirelessly battling the catastrophic blazes that have ravaged the country since September 2019, or snatching rare moments of much-needed rest.

One firey’s daughter posted a photo of her dad getting five minutes sleep on their lawn after he finished his 10th 12-hour day in a row volunteering with the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS).

Today I heard my dad cry, Jenna O’Keeffe wrote. He said ‘Jen I have never seen anything like this, it’s never ending.’

Facebook - Jenna O'Keeffe
Facebook - Jenna O'Keeffe

While some towns have experienced downpours of rain helping the smoke to clear, authorities have advised that the bushfire crisis is far from over.

Still, in true Aussie spirit, we’ve seen communities rallying together and brave fireys and volunteers refusing to give up.

One four-legged friend helping to lift their morale is Ember.

Here Natalie Brindle, 40, from Portland, Vic, shares Ember’s story in her own words...

Supplied
Supplied

Collapsing on the lounge one night, I felt a soft nudge against my hand. It was my beautiful labrador, Ember, coming to say hello.

Wrapping my arms around her, I felt a calmness wash over me.

Working as a firefighter for the past 18 years, it can be difficult but incredibly rewarding work. Though I love helping others, we’re often met with confronting scenes.

With her gentle temperament and loving nature, Ember always helps to lift the spirits of everyone she meets.

So I decided to get her involved in therapy dog work where she could provide support to patients in our local hospital.

Supplied
Supplied

Cuddling up on their beds, her job would be to distract them from their treatment.

But first she had to go through basic obedience training for 12 months, which she passed with flying colours.

Next, she learned how to ignore distractions like food, unfamiliar objects and loud noises − instead picking up on people’s emotions when they were feeling down.

Then she was ready.

Visiting sick and injured patients at hospital, Ember would put her head in their laps.

I was so pleased to be making a difference to the lives of others.

Supplied
Supplied

That’s when I realised Ember could really help the firefighters I worked with who had experienced a traumatic incident.

After talking to a
friend who works as a psychologist, she agreed dogs could be a fantastic asset to people working in emergency services.

With the help of my Country Fire Authority (CFA) colleagues, Ember was appointed as Australia’s very first crisis response dog in January 2018.

Travelling to fire and police stations all over Victoria, Ember can look for cues in those who are feeling stressed or anxious, and give them a much-needed cuddle.

Supplied
Supplied

Though they aren’t always willing to talk about their feelings, Ember allows them to just take some time out.

And if my fellow fireys need more support, I can refer them on to additional services, such as counselling.

Recently, after the devastating bushfires across the country, Ember and I travelled to fire stations in Victoria and NSW to help bring a smile to the faces of the exhausted firefighters.

‘Everyone is so much calmer,’ one firefighter said after stopping us for a pat.

Supplied
Supplied

Now aged four, Ember loves nothing more than lending a helping paw.

Taking part in events such as the annual Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb, we managed to raise more than $8000 for various mental health charities last year. We’ve also recently started selling Australian-themed bandanas to raise funds for Lifeline and the Black Dog Institute.

Together, Ember and I are determined to help others to reduce the impact of workplace trauma.

We’re all in this together.

  • News
  • Real Life
  • Pets
Amber Wemyss
Amber Wemyss
Amber is a Features Writer for that's life! Her work has also been published with 7News, New Idea, Practical Parenting, Kidspot, Daily Mail, The Sun, Daily Mirror, Pick Me Up, Real People, Chat and Daily Star.

Subscribe to That's Life Weekly for your chance to win a share in $25,000-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life Weekly for your chance to win a share in $25,000

Subscribe to That's Life Weekly for your chance to win a share in $25,000-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life Weekly for your chance to win a share in $25,000

Recommended to you

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis
Watch 0:37

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis

{headline}

{headline}

Back from the brink!

Back from the brink!

A cockatoo proposed to me!

A cockatoo proposed to me!

Brave Ellie - 420 days in hospital for a new heart!

Brave Ellie - 420 days in hospital for a new heart!

I woke up with no hands and feet

I woke up with no hands and feet

{headline}

{headline}

How chalk found me love!

How chalk found me love!

Gone for 13 minutes – then my boy came back to life!

Gone for 13 minutes – then my boy came back to life!

Pregnant at 51 – My mum had my baby

Pregnant at 51 – My mum had my baby

{headline}

{headline}

Brave Bella - saved by her twin!

Brave Bella - saved by her twin!

We found $40,000 in our garage!

We found $40,000 in our garage!

I SHAVED my head on my WEDDING day!

I SHAVED my head on my WEDDING day!

Born with no hands - but nothing will stop my boy

Born with no hands - but nothing will stop my boy

Dumped wife's revenge: 'Be fabulous!'

Dumped wife's revenge: 'Be fabulous!'

I LOVE the skin I'm in!

I LOVE the skin I'm in!

I became an ice addict at 40 - Now I'm helping others

I became an ice addict at 40 - Now I'm helping others

ThatsLife
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy
ThatsLife Magazine Subscribe
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • New Idea
  • Who
  • Girlfriend
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • New Idea food
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • Home Beautiful
  • All Recipes
  • 7plus
  • 7News
  • Health Engine
  • Starts at 60
  • The West Australian
  • Perth Now
  • Airtasker
  • Society One
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe to That's Life Weekly for your chance to win a share in $25,000-

Shop This Offer
Subscribe to That's Life Weekly for your chance to win a share in $25,000