Benjamin Millar
This was one of Star Weekly’s top stories from 2021.
Here’s your chance to read it if you missed it the first time.
March 2
The Eynesbury Fire Brigade’s newest captain has hit the ground running in putting her community on the front foot against fire danger.
Ms Newton’s passion for fighting fires stretches back more than a decade, when she was still living in Melton, but it took some time before she discovered it could even become reality.
“I always had an interest in firefighting and everything CFA, I had seen them around but I always thought you had to be a man,” she said.
“Everywhere I saw them I just saw men doing it, then about 12 years ago I finally made some inquiries and I joined the brigade at Melton. I didn’t know anyone at first, but I made a lot of friends.”
With a number of experienced firefighters and mentors more than happy to show her the ropes, Ms Newton began attaining valuable skills and experience she took with her upon moving to Eynesbury and joining the local brigade in 2012.
Her “fast learning journey” continued and she has recently completed her biggest step yet, taking over as the unit’s captain.
Other women also taking central leadership roles at Eynesbury include auxiliary president Kimberley Briggs and secretary Meghan Willingham.
“Firefighting is still very male dominated, but that doesn’t mean to say they’re not welcoming,” Ms Newton said.
“I think there may be a lot of girls out there who may think you need to be a man and I want to show them that is not the case.”
Ms Newton is no stranger to the danger that out-of-control fires can pose to communities.
She has been at the coalface of campaign fires stretching from Tasmania to the northern New South Wales and was in the thick of the fighting against the horrific 2019-20 summer bushfires.
“You meet so many amazing people and form friendships doing what you do and what you love,” she said.
Ms Newton is also aware of the dangers closer to home, with Eynesbury’s beautiful natural setting meaning fire remains an ever-present threat.
“To be honest, anyone who comes to our gorgeous little town always comments that we have one road in and one road out and that’s through a Grey Box forest,” she said.
“Our township has grown significantly in the last few years we have a school now and a sport complex opening soon, so we have a lot of residents who may not know the risk.
“Part of our role is to ensure they are ready for fire, it’s trying to teach them that knowledge, download the apps, use the apps, the tools that are in place, rather than wait until they see smoke.”
Details: facebook.com/Eynesburyfirebrigade
