IF you had two young daughters and worked a busy one man business you would not be expected to take on a demanding community role even if you wanted to.
Well known 42 year-old electrician Stuart Spalding is the exception to that rule and he has no intention in altering his all consuming daily schedule.
Wife, Katrina and daughters Alyssa,14, and Isabelle,12, support him fully in his role as the Captain of the Canungra Auxiliary Fire Brigade.
They know that at anytime of the day his phone could alert him to an emergency fire or rescue operation and that’s how it has been since he first joined the auxiliary 21 years ago.
“I certainly have a busy life combining everything, but I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said.
“I love the fire service as it allows me to give back to a community that has supported my family and my business SKS Electrical since I started it here in Canungra.”
Stuart has been a local since he moved to a home opposite the Canungra Showgrounds with his twin brother Cameron and family when he was just a youngster.
His stepfather Paul and mother Elaine both worked as assistant teachers in the area.
Stuart attended Canungra Primary School and later Beaudesert High School before taking a job as an apprentice electrician with Riviera Marine.
That role gave him the experience needed to open his current one man electrical business which he admits has been ‘flat chat’ over the past years.
“I believe the business has been successful because I am always honest with the customer, if I am delayed I let them know what’s happened and I always try to do a great job for them when I get there,” Stuart said.
He admits that life would be a lot quieter if he wasn’t so involved with the Canungra Auxiliary Fire service, but says he has never thought about leaving.
“We train every Wednesday at the station and each year we average around 100 call outs.
“You never know what a situation will be like until you get there and you have to be ready for anything.
“We also provide advice to the local community of what to do in case of an emergency and we are always training new recruits for the service.”
As you can gauge Stuart Spalding is a man on the go 24 hours a day seven days a week.
Too much you may say, not for Captain Stu.
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