Ben Church has smouldered in the Australian Fire Fighters calendar for five years in a row. We find out what motivates this handsome hero.
DNA: How did life as a firefighter begin?
Ben Church: My old man was in the navy so I thought I’d go down a military path. In Western Australia, people gravitate towards the mining industry, and I did 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.
What about as a calendar model?
I did the 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 met firefighters from all around Australia, and we bonded instantly. Then we were cuddling up to animals to be photographed!
You’ve been in five calendars, posing 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. They told us not to look the eagle in the eye or it could attack.
I 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.
As a firefighter, do you ever rescue animals?
We sometimes get cats from trees, and recently I had one of those cliches – rescuing ducklings from a drain! It’s nice how we get photographed with these animals and then actually engage with them. It’s a full-circle moment.
A bunch of you were on the Kelly Clarkson Show in the US.
We were 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 there 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, so seeing those people in the flesh was a wow moment.
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” speed date segment with five girls at Universal Studios. What an experience!
How do you feel about having a gay fanbase?
We seem popular in the gay community, and that’s great. We create the calendar to promote firefighters across all communities. It’s good to know the gay community is behind us… [Laughs] Can I say that?
You certainly can! Do you have gay mates?
Yep. 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.
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?
As a ’90s kid, The Offspring was one of my favourites – their Americana album with those classics like Why Don’t You Get A Job? and Pretty Fly (For A White Guy).
What will always get you on the dancefloor?
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!
Have you ever spun down the old-style pole in the fire stations?
They took them away from us in WA, but at other stations in 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?
Firefighters are 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?
Understand what the job entails in attending emergencies, because the whole purpose is to make communities safer. Ensure you know why you want to be a firefighter. You need to be fit. We carry a lot of heavy equipment.
There’s 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 self-harm. She later sent a letter to the station thanking us. She’d turned her life around. That was a moment where I knew I was doing the right work. The little bit I can do to help people is what I love about the job. Giving people a second chance is something I enjoy.
At the beach, briefs, boardshorts or butt naked?
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?
Boxer briefs. They’re comfortable and don’t ride up 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!
australianfirefighterscalendar.com
Follow Ben on Instagram @churchofbenny
Nick Cox Finishes Our Sentences
Currently playing Elder Cunningham in The Book Of Mormon, Nick Cox finishes our sentences.
The state of my hair is… A crow’s nest in the morning, Don Draper in the evening.
The state of my underwear drawer is… Oh, there’s the blender!
The best accessory I ever bought is… My sunhat, and I don’t care if I look like I’m going camping all the time.
The most famous person I’ve met is… Bryan Cranston after All The Way on Broadway. I took my first selfie with him! It was below zero degrees, my hand was shaking, and I fudged it big time. He even said, “Dude, you’re doing it wrong.” Legend!
Back in high school, I was… Frantically trying to complete and or copy someone’s homework before class, while counting down the periods until performing in the band or chorus.
The best thing about live theatre is… When everyone performing is switched on and firing on the same wavelength and the audience is ready and willing to be there for the ride. That’s when the magic happens!
The worst thing about live theatre is… Performing twice a day, which means wearing two dance belts! [crotch supports]
I feel sad when… I can’t help my loved ones.
The last time I laughed hysterically was… Playing Cranium with friends during the run of Beauty And The Beast. I dare not repeat what happened, but legend says at night you can hear the faint cries of hysterical laughter!
I’m shit scared of… Snakes.
People don’t know that I once… Got my black belt in Kenpo Karate. Watch out GSP! [George-Saint Pierre an MMA fighter].
When alone in my car, I… Sing both for joy and to distract myself from the fact that I am definitely going to need to pee at any second.
If you want to make my blood boil, start talking about… People who mistreat animals.
My best on-stage stuff-up was when… I was in Beauty And The Beast, playing Le Fou. One of my scenes was The Scarf Scene, in which Belle realises something has happened to her father because Le Fou is wearing his tattered scarf. But I ran on stage forgetting the scarf! It’s only the trigger to the entire plot! The most horribly awkward improv happened afterwards. My poor co-star Grace Williams! I can’t forgive myself.
My secret food indulgence is… Margarita pizza with chicken, spinach and pineapple. Try it before making a face!
My autobiography would be called… So Sorry I’m Late! – A Nick Cox Story.
If I could have a superpower, it would be… To heal people.
My favourite TV character ever is… Michael Scott [Steve Carell] from The Office.
The song that makes me smile and want to dance is… Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars.
The song I can’t get out of my head is… Vanessa Amorosi’s Absolutely Everybody!
My gay mates are… Gay as hell and the absolute best!
Interview by Matt Myers
The Book Of Mormon is playing at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre
thebookofmormonmusical.com.au
Follow Nick on Instagram @nick_cox27
Photography: NBC Universal Media.
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