A MIDLAND raised man whose career path has transformed from firefighter to neighbourhood fencing boss to film-stunt worker says his Swan area upbringing helped set the trajectory.

Actor and stuntman Sam Desmond’s recent work involved bringing the vision of Craig Silvey’s story Runt, largely filmed in York,  to cinemas both on screen as an extra and off screen as a stunt team member.

He said the abundance of sporting venues and opportunities to stay active in the City of Swan helped prepare his foundation for stunt work.

“I grew up on (2.4ha) in Bellevue and I got the best of both worlds, having that farm life experience while being close to the city.

“We drove cars and rode dirt bikes, and I think that’s where my love of thrill-seeking came from.

“Dad, who was born in Midland and was one of the founding La Salle students, took me for truck rides with him when I was young, and we used to always have the 8mm running at home which is where my love for film came from.

“I went to (Midland’s) Police and Community Youth Centre from a really young age where I did gymnastics, boxing, and got to use air rifles.

“I also played baseball at the Swan Districts Club, and I boxed in winter at the Speed Dome, so I was always around the area.”

Eventually, Mr Desmond’s love  for thrill-seeking led him to skydiving in York as a teenager, where the experience compelled him to travel to America and become a smokejumper.

“(Smoke jumping’s) a remote type of firefighting they do over there,” Mr Desmond said.

“You parachute in and fight fires that way, which appealed to me, but I had to make money to get there.

“So, I did security crowd control at 17 and made enough money to go overseas by 19.

“I teed up a job as camp councillor in San Diego and did that for four months before meeting a mate there whose old man offered me a job as a forestry firey in Victoria.

“I took the job and then fought in some of the biggest fires back when 1.5 million hectares of Victoria was burning in 2002 and 2003 and received a medal from the premier at the time.

“We nearly died a few times, and it put me off it, so I left and then found myself doing some work as a firey in New South Wales.”

Mr Desmond said the wet seasons meant the work in NSW was uneventful, and when a friend invited him back home to do some fencing in Swan, he accepted.

“I opened Neighbourhood Fencing to service the Midland community and we expanded to service all through the Perth CBD,” he said.

“I was fencing successfully, but after working nonstop for 15 years, the repetition of getting up and digging holes took a toll on my body with all the heavy work.

“I wanted more for my career life, and I thought if my body was going to go, I needed to do something more

“After I had my third kid, I took a bit of time off and thought, ‘Is this it?’”

In the time off, Mr Desmond was invited to help a friend on a film set, where a sound technician pointed out his active upbringing made him a good fit for stunt work.

He then found himself diving into work in the film industry, working full time in stunts in 2019 and using his trade skills in the art department of films such as Love and Monsters.

The pandemic arrived, and Mr Desmond was stuck in Victoria during lockdowns where he continued to work in the film industry before coming home and working on Runt, which he was glad to see being screened now.

Mr Desmond said he hoped his story would be an inspiring showcase for local talent and the Swan region’s achievements.

“Doesn’t matter where you come from, if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything,” he said.

“If you’re not happy with what you’re doing then you need to do something else.

“If your interest is in films, it’s a great time to get into the film industry right now with the (Home Fire) studio being built in Malaga.

“Keep your eye on the Screenwest website because they always have opportunities.

“Making connections is the main thing and when job opportunities pop up, give them your CV and get involved.”