A Newham born and raised helicopter pilot was among the air attack team fighting a bushfire that broke out at Benloch last Tuesday.
Amy Miller flew a Firebird 306 and said it felt good to help out around her home area.
“I knew mum and dad’s place was fine because they’re on the other side of the Cobaw Forest,” she said.
“There were a lot of houses near the fire though.”
Amy, who attended Newham Primary School, Kyneton Secondary College and LaTrobe University Bendigo, completed her training at a flight school at Moorabbin Airport seven years ago.
“I was lucky to secure my first commercial flying job at 12 Apostles Helicopters and thoroughly enjoyed working there for three years before I moved across to Microflite (helicopter services) where I’ve been for the last four years,” she said.
After finishing university, Amy first worked as an advertising account manager for News Limited for six and a half years but realised that career path wasn’t for her.
“I always loved the thought of flying but never followed through on the dream until later in my career,” she said.
“I really wanted to fight fires and help the community, and here I am today doing exactly that.
“I still pinch myself because it’s hard to believe how far I’ve come and that I’m doing something I really love to do.”
Amy said a local from Woodend was also working as an air attack supervisor for the fire and one from Newham was an air observer.
The fire burnt about 30 hectares of bush before it was brought under control by firefighters. No homes were lost in the blaze.
More than 200 volunteers fought the fire and many returned to continue to do so over the following days.
