For the past five years, Ben Church has featured in the annual Australian Fire Fighters charity calendar. We discover what it takes for this striking rescue worker to put out the fire!
How did life as a firefighter begin?
Funny enough, I never thought about firefighting as a youngster. My old man was in the Navy, and I thought I’d go down a military path. In Western Australia (WA), people gravitate towards the mining industry, and I did just that, beginning in an Aboriginal heritage team. It was cool working with the traditional owners and discovering Indigenous artifacts. While on site, I joined a volunteer emergency response team and discovered a passion for rescue, including road crash rescues and firefighting. I spoke to police, ambos and firefighters about which was the best career, and firefighting won out.
What about as a calendar model?
I originally did the local Perth Firefighters calendar and was approached to do the national one, which opened the fun side of being a firefighter while also having a great purpose. I’ve met a network of firefighters from all around Australia, and we bonded instantly. And then we were cuddling up to animals to be photographed!
Ben Church
You’ve now been in five calendars, including poses with pups, cats, horses, koalas and even eagles. There’s one with a koala digging its claws into your bare pecs!
(Laughs) A lot of those animals have extremely sharp claws. We had to wear a glove with the eagle perched on our arm. I don’t know if it was a stitch-up, but they told us not to look it in the eye or it could attack. I really like the charity called Healing Hooves for the horses. We get to see how the donations stop disabled horses from being put down. The organisation gets people with disabilities to look after horses with disabilities. It’s a great organisation that shows how animals like this still have a purpose.
“One of the firefighters from our shoot is gay. When we went to LA, he took us to West Hollywood.”
As a firefighter, do you ever rescue animals?
We sometimes get cats from trees, and recently I had one of those cliches you hear about – rescuing little ducklings from a drain! It’s nice how we get photographed with these animals and then actually engage with them. It’s like a full-circle moment.
And a bunch of you were on the Kelly Clarkson Show in the US?
We were on her show promoting CatCon, another animal event we support, where Pasadena Humane adopts out stray cats and kittens. Meeting Kelly was a huge pinch-me moment. I’m from a small coastal city in Perth, and here I was in LA with Kelly referring to me by name! I also met Kit Hoover and Mario Lopez on Access Hollywood. I grew up watching those shows, and to see these people in the flesh was a wow moment.
Ben Church
And you did speed dating on Access Hollywood?
Yes, you need to be careful what you say to Americans because they take our humour quite literally. Jokingly, I said I was single and that my mum wanted me to meet a nice American girl. So, they set up a ‘fire drill dating’ segment where I went on a speed date with five girls at Universal Studios. What an experience!
How do you feel about having a gay fanbase?
We seem to be very popular in the gay community, and I think that’s great. We create the calendar to promote firefighters across all communities, and it’s good to know you’re all behind us. Can I say having the gay community behind us? (Laughs).
You certainly can! Do you have gay mates?
Yep, I have gay friends. One of the firefighters from our shoot is gay. When we went to LA, he took us to West Hollywood, where we got to experience the gay scene and have a few drinks. It was certainly an eye-opener. Where I live, the most popular clubs in Northbridge are gay, such as The Court and Connections.
“We seem to be very popular in the gay community, and I think that’s great.”
If you were gay, who would be your celebrity crush?
I’m sure everyone would say Chris Hemsworth, because he’s the Aussie guy, but I’ll go for Chris Pratt. He was a lot tubbier when he was Andy Dwyer in Parks and Recreation, and he was so hilarious. He was the comic genius on that show, but now he’s taking on more serious roles.
So, you prefer the bubble-butt Chris than the chiselled-butt Chris in the Marvel films?
(Laughs) Well, yeah, otherwise it’s too much competition!
Who’s your favourite songstress?
I watch The Voice, and I love Cassie Henderson. She sang some amazing covers like Lorde’s Green Light and deserves a shout-out. I also like Taylor Swift. You can’t go past Shake It Off.
What about a male singer?
I’m very old school when it comes to bands. As a Nineties kid, The Offspring was one of my favourites. I’d listen to their Americana album with those classics like Why Don’t You Get a Job? and Pretty Fly (for a White Guy).
Ben Church
What’s your irresistible dancefloor song?
I loved it when we danced to Ginuwine’s Pony for the Perth calendar shoot, but that’s a common dancefloor number. So, I’ll go with Right Round by Flo Rida and Kesha. That’s the banger that’ll get me up, and it’s usually after a few pints! I’ll spin a few girls on the dancefloor to that song! (Laughs)
Speaking of spinning, have you ever spun down the old-style pole in the fire stations?
They took them away from us in WA, but when I’ve visited other stations in cities like LA and London, they still have them. I was dying to try them, and now I’ve ticked that off the bucket list.
Do you have a grooming tip?
I don’t do much in a skin care routine, but as firefighters, we’re required to shave every day due to the breathing apparatus we wear. So, I would invest in a three-blade razor and always moisturise afterwards. Don’t skimp on shaving cream, or you’ll end up with cuts. I learned the hard way!
What advice can you give to someone wanting to be a firefighter?
You need to be fit, especially as we carry a lot of heavy equipment. My main advice is to understand what the job entails in attending emergencies, because the whole purpose behind what we do is to make communities safer. And ensure you know why you want to be a firefighter.
There’s obviously more to it than meets the eye.
Yes, for example, we went to a car accident and saved a young girl who had intended to do self-harm. She later sent a letter to the station thanking us for saving her. She’d turned her life around with a new reason to live. That was a moment where I knew I was doing the right work. The little bit I can do to help people in need is what I love about the job. Giving people a second chance is something I enjoy.
“It’s good to know you’re all behind us. Can I say having the gay community behind us?”
At the beach, briefs, boardshorts or butt naked?
(Laughs) There’s a nude beach near where I live in Port Kennedy, but I don’t usually go there. I could probably pull off the briefs, but I grew up wearing boardies to go surfing and snorkelling. You need pockets!
And underwear? Briefs, boxer briefs or freeballs?
Boxer briefs. I find them a comfortable support, and they don’t ride up in your bum, which is great because we do a lot of crouching and crawling. We don’t want to be pulling out a wedgie when we enter a structure fire! (Laughs).
For more visit: australianfirefighterscalendar.com
Follow Ben on Instagram @churchofbenny
