Women firefighters light up the night at celebratory dinner

To celebrate International Women’s Day, volunteer women firefighters from all over the Illawarra came together to toast to equality in firefighting on Friday, March 10 at Panorama House in Bulli Tops.

The three-course dinner was the first social event since the Illawarra and Sutherland districts merged two years ago and attracted about 75 volunteers from as far north as Engadine and as far south as Foxground.

Due to ongoing fires near Mudgee and continued flood work, some firefighters couldn’t make it and their seats were taken up by Girl Scout volunteers.

Jessica Simpson, president of Dapto Rural Fire Brigade, organised the event.

For Jess, the night was about equality and opportunity. “I’m from two amazing Brigades that have always allowed me the opportunity … We are very female strong at Dapto … We are very fortunate to have the community that we do at Dapto.”

Jess stressed the importance of community to her and to the Rural Fire Service (RFS).

“Community is everything to me,” Jess said. “As corny as it sounds, it’s family.”

Jess said the first recorded Australian women firefighters joined the New South Wales Fire Brigade (NSWFB) in 1985 as paid career firefighters.

A few years later, in 1989, a 14-year-old girl joined the Waterfall RFS. Her name: Kelly Browne, now assistant commissioner of the NSW RFS. Kelly's dedication and leadership have been rewarded with the Australian Fire Service Medal.

At the dinner, Kelly spoke of the way ahead: “We are here to celebrate the 17,000 women in the Rural Fire Service. We make up 24 per cent overall of our organisation. Looking at some of the statistics, we participate really well in the ranks of our catering brigades and our communication brigades.

"But when we look at the organisational side, we’re sitting at 4.5 per cent of female brigade captains. So I think it’s really important to tap women on the shoulder to say: Hey, you are ready, you are worthy and you can do this.

“Take every opportunity that comes your way. Women feel like they have to tick every box when they’re going for a job, while men jump on the opportunity when they meet only 50 or 60 percent of the requirements. It is really about tapping people on the shoulder and telling them to go for it.

"So take everything that comes your way, pick it up and run with it.”

After the dinner and speeches, the dance floor filled up thanks to local band Juzzt Jam, spearheaded by volunteer firefighter Justine Leonard, who helped to organise the night.

“We’ve got so many stories of wonderful women in our organisation and we’re celebrating each and every one of them tonight,” Kelly said.