Trailblazing

<p><span style=background-color: rgba(249 249 249 1); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>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).</span></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(249 249 249 1); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>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.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(249 249 249 1); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Their first-hand accounts of the challenges they faced the changes they witnessed and their hopes for the future are powerful and inspiring.</span></p><p> </p>