Min McDonald: Grandmother's difficult home situation and historic work moment

And she is an infectiously upbeat person whose good cheer is being tested by a family health scare.

In October, she will ride 400km for charity.

Welcome to Min's world.

On Monday, Min McDonald - the former Tamworth Cycle Club president - was part of the South Tamworth fire station's first all-female crew on the 448 alpha pump, the city's main fire truck.

Read also:

On Sunday, she revealed on Facebook that her 17-year-old son, Luke, had resumed a "normal life" and was continuing his treatment at home after suffering "very serious complications" linked to epilepsy.

He has received treatment at Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney.

"We are still waiting on test results," McDonald said in the post, "which could take weeks or months, and Luke's case will be presented again at the NSW state neurological conference this month.

"All this may not result in a conclusive diagnosis... and that uncertainty is hard to live with, but we are incredibly grateful to know his doctors are continuing to do all they can."

McDonald said her son had "really shown" her "what he's made of" through "his approach to keeping a positive outlook in difficult times".

His attitude had "really been inspiring", she added.

McDonald had been retained as a firefighter for two years before opting in 2018 to apply to become a full-time firie.

She has been based at Fire and Rescue NSW's headquarters in the Sydney for the past two years, and returned to Tamworth on what is called extended country relief. She has requested a permanent transfer to Tamworth.

Before joining Fire and Rescue NSW, McDonald worked for Essential Energy as a contracted communications/PR specialist based in Port Macquarie.

"I always enjoyed what I did," she said, "but I guess I wasn't particularly passionate about it.

"I liked the idea of doing something in emergency services when I first left school, but it was very uncommon and I certainly didn't have any role models for doing something like joining the firies.

"When I was a teen, it was virtually unheard of - particularly in Armidale [her hometown]."

The mother of four sons, who also has a grandson, thought that "if I'm going to make a [career] change, now is the time ... So I threw my hate in the ring, and here I am".

McDonald described getting the letter of offer to join Fire and Rescue NSW as "one of the best days of my life". Working to benefit the community "ticks a few boxes for me", she added.

"I love anything that involves serving the community, love working in a team, love doing exciting physical things - and I think this job offers all of that."

Luke, who went to Calrossy, works at Little Kindy Tamworth.

McDonald said: "His mum's a firie in a male-dominated industry, and he's becoming an early childhood carer in a very female-dominated industry ... kids love him; he's like the Pied Piper with small children."

Despite so much happening in her life, both professionally and personally, McDonald has carved out time for the annual 400in4 Charity Ride - a four-day, 400km event from Huskisson to Mount Kosciuszko that raises money for the burns unit at The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney.

She is an amateur athlete who swapped endurance running for cycling years ago, after completing three marathons and 21 half-marathons.

To sponsor McDonald's 400in4 ride, click here https://www.400in4.org/melinda-mcdonald

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: