Key Note Address, Women in Firefighting Conference 2006

A celebration of diversity in the

fire services.

Professor Merilyn Childs, University of Western Sydney

Retirement Address

International Women in Fire Fighting Conference,

Darling Harbour, Sydney, Australia

7th June 2016

The focus of this address…

This address is about culture and history, and is based on social research

It has not about pitting “men” or “women” fire fighters against each other

Rather it is about the way in which we imagine “fire fighters” and how what we imagine is possible is shaped by language & images

It will foster the idea that it is time for us to imagine and to remember that it is normal for fire fighters to be female

Good work sister –

a century of female fire

fighting in Australasia.

Dr Merilyn Childs, University of Western Sydney.

Key Note Address

Australasian Women in Fire Fighting Conference, Darling Harbour, Sydney, Australia

7th June 2006

Web site: http://www.firegirls.info/

Australia and New Zealand sit within a diverse

geopolitical, social & economic region.

The Amazons- c1901

The First Ladies Fire Brigade, Armidale, NSW Australia.

Shown here in their fire fighting uniform.

The Amazons- c1903

The First Ladies Fire Brigade, Armidale, NSW Australia.

Shown here in their dress uniform.

Captain Minnie Webb

Today I’d like to honour all these remarkable, yet normal women of the Amazons. In particular Captain Minnie Webb, arguably the first female Captain in the Australian fire services.

I'd also ask you to acknowledge the presence of Mrs Netta Darby and Ms Patricia Webb, Minnie Webb's nieces.

During WWII, across Australasia, women were

deployed in what had previously been deemed to be

“men’s” jobs”. One of the jobs they were deployed to

perform was fire fighting. The women of the Women’s

Fire Auxiliary trained as the men did, attended fires,

checked equipment, engaged in community safety,

and competed in fire fighting games.

Women’s Fire Auxiliary c1940s

Women’s Fire Auxiliary on parade,

c1942.

New Zealand women of the NZWFA

WA Women of the WFA

Women’s Fire Auxiliary

Today, I’d like to ask you to honour the presence of

four female fire fighters who served with the NSW

Women’s Fire Auxiliary during World War II.

Mrs Madeleine Pinning nee Woodham

Mrs Norma Ethel Manning nee Nicholls

Mrs Marjorie Anderson nee Gow

Mrs Nita McClure nee Stephenson

An excerpt from the WIFF

Conference

Women’s Fire

Auxiliary –

dress uniform,

NSW.

Women’s Fire Auxiliary – operational

uniform, NSW.

Your

heritage…

Normal

then…normal

now.

Also normal……

Thanks go to….

Dazzling Fancy Dress, Yagoona. Christine Grant (inspired

owner!) & Andrea, Mel, Johanne, Janelle, Gabby, Richelle,

Rebecca, Johanna and Pat, for their inspired interpretation of

historic photographs, the many hours and skills for turning

photographs of historic uniforms into reality

Work experience students Mia Harris and Al Zhu Jin (Ultimo

TAFE) and Mahn Ishoo (Macquarie Fields TAFE) who helped

out with meticulous stitching and other labour, Dazzling Fancy

Dress, Yagoona

Numerous female & male fireys and friends for lending or

giving historic artefacts to assist in this and the foyer display