General News
9 March, 2023
CFA marks Women’s Day
FEMALE CFA volunteers from the Camperdown brigade and surrounds came together for International Women’s Day on Sunday.
FEMALE CFA volunteers from the Camperdown brigade and surrounds came together for International Women’s Day on Sunday.
Women make up only 12 per cent of CFA’s volunteer firefighters and 20 per cent of support roles.
Only four per cent of leadership roles are held by women in districts six and seven, and 17 brigades have no women firefighters.
Women from Port Campbell, Bostocks Creek, Terang, Nalangil, Chocolyn and other brigades took part in some fire fighting training using the new gas training prop at Camperdown Fire Station.
Morning tea and lunch were provided, and was followed by a sit-down discussion on the various roles within CFA available to women.
Event organiser Jessica Brittain said it was important for female volunteers to be able to come together.
“We have quite a few brigades that have no women at all, so often they won’t see another woman on a fire ground,” she said.
“It’s fantastic that we’ve got some captains and lieutenants and people who are in leadership roles within brigades here because sometimes we can’t be what we can’t see.
“If we’re not seeing women in leadership roles, we don’t get an opportunity to see that we can do that.
“It’s such a great thing to give back to the community, to broaden your social networks, to experience activities that you might never have done before, and step outside your circle of comfort sometimes.”
Speakers included Emily Walsh of the Chocolyn brigade, Angela Carter of the Nalangil brigade, Katy Millard of the Port Campbell brigade, and a video sent in by Jayde Neil of the Derrinallum brigade.
Port Campbell brigade volunteer Sarah-Jane Walsh said she wanted to be more involved in the Port Campbell community.
“I’m relatively new to the community, so I thought it was a good idea to do something and it’s totally outside my comfort zone,” she said.
“It’s nice to retrain and do something totally different to what you’re familiar with.
“It’s nice to do something very different and do it with a community and get to know people better in the community.”
Ms Carter of the Nalangil brigade said the CFA as a voluntary organisation, relied on the community being involved.
“I know I’ve always been passionate about being part of the community and emergency services, so it just comes naturally for me to get involved in the CFA,” she said.
“I want to make sure we have a capacity to protect our communities, and it’s a great way when you live in the country to get to know people.
“It’d be great if there were a lot more women; we can do just as well as the blokes, and women often have a lot more availability than men.”
