Country brigade gets first female captain

SUTTON Grange and Myrtle Creek CFA has its first ever female fire captain, and she’s stepping into the role with a long history of service in the area.

Jan Hull started volunteering at Harcourt Fire Brigade, leading the Ladies Auxiliary with her mum.

Later, she went into firefighting at the same brigade with her dad and brother, and then transferred to Sutton Grange and Myrtle Creek when she got married.

Captain Hull continued as a firefighter before moving into a communications officer role for 10 years, then taking on the rank of lieutenant, before making captain.

“I don’t see it personally as a big thing for being the first female, I think it’s just all gender equality now, and this is just the next chapter,” said Captain Hull.

“I’m hoping for inclusive leadership and being able to bring technology into the forefront a little bit more, getting people onto learning hubs and doing training that way and being more engaged in the brigade itself.

“We’ve got a good mix of gender equality through the brigade, it has got more and more over time. I don’t get treated any differently.”

Retaining volunteers is something Captain Hull said she wants to focus on, and she said it’s important to showcase to new recruits what the CFA can offer.

“It’s just as important for people to volunteer in their community or neighbouring communities, to keep the community alive so to speak, and to keep people interested in where they live,” Ms Hull said.

“Probably the major issue is to keep people engaged, a lot of people come in with good intentions and wanting to do things but then sort of drop off the radar over the next few years.

“We need to keep those people still interested and keep supporting each other and then that will then gravitate to the next generation coming forward to bring that skill level forward as well.

“CFA can offer the peer support program for mental health, development in leadership roles, courses to extend self and the brigade in further development as well.”

Captain Hull said she was grateful for the support of those around her who helped her achieve her new position.

“You can’t do these sort of leadership roles without the support of your family as well, you need your whole team around you,” she said. “CFA support and also your own personal family support.”