The National Fire Agency held a press conference on Wednesday to officially launch the 2025 Australian-Taiwanese Firefighters Charity Calendar, an event attended by firefighters from both Taiwan and Australia. The event featured a friendly competition between the two teams, testing skills such as gear-donning speed and physical fitness training. In preparation for the calendar, six Taiwanese firefighters traveled to Australia to collaborate with ten local firefighters in its production.
In his remarks, the National Fire Agency Director General Hsiao Huan-chang (蕭煥章) expressed his happiness at the opportunity to bring Taiwanese and Australian firefighters together to work on the calendar, highlighting it as a symbol of their strong partnership.
Hsiao emphasized the longstanding fire cooperation between Taiwan and Australia. He noted that, in addition to the calendar project, the agency also sent a delegation of firefighters to Australia to learn about the country's international certification reassessment process and to foster further exchanges.
He added that the agency hopes to deepen the friendship between Taiwan and Australia through more active multilateral exchanges, strengthening their collaborative efforts in disaster relief, and enhancing their rescue capabilities.
Queensland Trade and Investment Commissioner in Taiwan Juna Ferret praised the joint calendar project as a reflection of the growing ties between Taiwan and Australia. She also shared that the warmth and hospitality shown by the Taiwanese had deeply moved Australian firefighters. Ferret said she looks forward to continued cooperation between both sides.