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by Chrissy Strickland Stimson (Author), Cheryl Steer (Author), Belinda McMartin (Author)
Until 1981, the Fire Brigades Act stipulated that only men could be employed as firefighters in (the then) New South Wales Fire Brigades (NSWFB). In 1982, Dr Kristine Klugman became the first woman appointed to the NSWFB's governing body, the Board of Fire Commissioners. From the time of her appointment, Dr. Klugman assertively advocated for women's recruitment. However, it was only after she personally demonstrated to the Board that a woman could pass the Brigades' Physical Aptitude Test, that women were invited to apply. And so, in 1985, the first women commenced their training as 'permanent' firefighters at the Brigades' State Training College in Alexandria, Sydney. Now, 40 years later, approximately 12% of firefighters are female in Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW).
In 2020, Assistant Commissioner Cheryl Steer set out to record the history of female firefighters in Fire and Rescue NSW. This book details not only how these women came to join the organisation, their challenges, contributions and stories, but also the experiences of many other women who were 'firsts' - whether that be by date of commencement, achievement, or cultural influence.
Their first-hand accounts of the challenges they faced, the changes they witnessed and their hopes for the future, are powerful and inspiring.
