More than 50 women from CFA brigades in the Macedon Ranges converged at the inaugural 'Current and Future Women Leaders Networking Lunch' in Gisborne.
More than 50 women from CFA brigades in the Macedon Ranges converged at the inaugural “Current and Future Women Leaders Networking Lunch”
The networking forum took place over a two-hour lunch at the Gisborne Bowling Club on Sunday 22 April and brought together current and emerging women leaders from CFA brigades across the Mount Macedon, Romsey and Hume fire brigade groups.
Attendees had the privilege of hearing from two of Victoria’s highest-ranking female leaders including CFA’s Deputy Chief Officer Stephanie Rotarangi and Forest Fire Management Victoria’s Assistant Chief Fire Officer Gill Metz. Both gave inspiring insights into their leadership experiences and especially being women in the traditionally male-dominated sector.
Emergency Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley also spoke at the forum and made it very clear about the importance of continuing to strive for greater gender diversity in the emergency services sector and particularly within volunteer fire brigades.
Captain of Riddells Creek Fire Brigade, Tom Morley, pioneered the event after being inspired through his participation in the Rural Challenge Gender Equality Leadership Program recently.
“The Rural Challenge program seeks to empower leaders in CFA brigades and sporting clubs to promote gender equality and be more family friendly in their organisations,” said Tom.
Tom gathered a small team of female leaders from several nearby fire brigades to plan and coordinate the networking event and make the concept become a reality.
“We really wanted to make sure the event could be attended by as many of our local female CFA members as possible and we set out to achieve this by removing common barriers including time and cost.”
The condensed two-hour format, combined with timing the event over Sunday lunch, was considered to be the most effective way to make the event as accessible as possible.
“The lunch was also free for participants to attend and this could not have been possible if it weren’t for grant funding we received from a North West Region’s 'Firing Up Women' grant and a Macedon Ranges Shire Council small community grant,” said Tom.
The balance of the required funding was made available through the Rural Challenge program.
The event concluded with a panel-style question and answer session and one of the common themes was the need for both the men and women in the room to continue the discussion back at their respective fire brigades and fire brigade groups.