The story of the Carlyle Fire Brigade speaks to this, and is one District 24 Women's Reference Group member Marelle Whitaker is promoting on the International Day of Rural Women.

Ms Whitaker, Chiltern captain, has written in a piece for the CFA that the Carlyle brigade was "in dire straits" about 12 years ago with only five to six active members.

A community meeting was held and "The brigade began to think about involving and attracting whole families to the brigade rather than just the men".

"During Black Saturday in 2009, many of the men were away supporting strike team deployments," she wrote.

"Female members began to realise they were largely left 'on their own' and so decided to train up and be ready to turn the truck out if the brigade was paged to local incidents.

"Training has brought with it a newfound confidence for women because it has helped them feel capable and know what to do on a practical level."

Member Diane Chant, who door-knocked to recruit new members, said Captain Wayne Vincent led the team with an open mind.

"It really helps to have a captain who is receptive and a brigade climate that is supportive of women in the brigade," she said.

There are now 35 active members with 20 per cent female membership, and a number of women are among the leadership team.

Secretary Kaye Cofield was crew leader at the 2015 Indigo Valley fire.

"It's not all about getting on a truck. Some people want to carry out complementary roles," she said.

Carlyle's female leaders said the CFA had changed with the growth in diversity, providing personal protective clothing equipment designed for women and a toilet trailer for District 24.

"Kaye is well-supported in her own brigade, but every now and then has come up against sexist views working at bigger events with other brigades on the fire-ground and has learnt to stand her ground," Ms Whitaker said.

"Carlyle Brigade has been instrumental in determining its own future.

"Women recruited to join the brigade have strengthened it for the long term and through their involvement the future of the brigade has been turned around."

Ms Whitaker said the women's reference group, established three years ago, had led to the district planning committee amending their constitution to have her group sit on the table.

"We are now an integral part of that decision-making process," she said.

"Slowly over time, the culture changes."

Marelle Whitaker, CFA Media Relations Officer, D24 Women's Reference Group-Rutherglen Group

Imagine your fire brigade in dire straits. About 12 years ago, Carlyle Fire Brigade, a small brigade in rural Victoria, found itself at the crossroads: active memberships were dwindling and many of its members were aging. Stewart Kreltszheim, CFA District 23 Operations Manager at the time, discussed with the brigade the difficulties they faced trying to get a truck out the door and the importance of finding ways to reinvigorate their membership and increase the number of active members they had available. Carlyle Brigade members recently met to reflect back on that time as well as the changes that ensued and the role women have played.

Back then things looked ominous, the brigade was down to about five or six members actively turning out. 2nd Lt Trevor Cheeseman (Ex-captain) recalled the brigade's VESEP application for a second tanker had been knocked back due to a long list of reasons around a declining brigade. Trevor said this was a trigger point for them because it gave them a very clear goal, "To address the long list of reasons why they were losing brigade viability."

Firstly, Carlyle Brigade decided to hold a community meeting to address the issues it faced. Local landholders were door-knocked and encouraged to attend. The community responded enthusiastically, including a strong contingent of women who were determined to turn things around.

Carlyle Brigade had to work hard to recruit and sustain memberships because without a township, they had to rely on the sparse population from the surrounding property owners in their district. Brigade members realised that as well as long-time families living in the district, they also needed to attract new people who had moved into the area on lifestyle properties. The brigade began to think about involving and attracting whole families to the brigade rather than just the men; an approach that has proved to be highly effective. Brigade members, such as firefighter Diane Chant, door-knocked to recruit new members and educate the locals about fire safety. Soon after, things began to change around and Carlyle put 14 new members through Minimum Skills training.

During Black Saturday in 2009, many of the men were away supporting Strike Team deployments.Female members began to realise they were largely left 'on their own' and so decided to train-up and be ready to turn the truck out if the brigade was paged to local incidents. Training has brought with it a new found confidence for women because it has helped them feel capable and know what to do on a practical level. At a local fuel-reduction burn a few years back, a supporting brigade were familiarising themselves with their new big 4.4 tanker. The Carlyle Brigade women felt quite chuffed when they figured out and showed the 'boys' how to refill it.

Attracting new members has brought fresh blood, new ideas and a diverse range of skills. Women recruited to join the brigade have strengthened it for the long term and through their involvement the future of the brigade has been turned around. The women are committed and fulfil a wide range of roles within the brigade from operational to organisational, including fundraising and social functions. Each has found their own niche according to their personal interests and strengths; importantly, no one feels held back.

Dianne said, "It really helps to have a captain who is receptive and a brigade climate that is supportive of women in the brigade." Captain Wayne Vincent said, in his role, "It really helps to have the support from the rest of the brigade." referring to the massive amount of work contributed by many women in various brigade roles. Kaye Cofield, brigade secretary and truck driver said, "It's not all about getting on a truck. Some people want to carry out complementary roles, such as what has evolved into our famous Trivia Night fundraiser, or the Royal Children's Hospital Appeal.

Katrina Horne is a great example of someone who has risen up through the ranks as a firefighter, who is now carrying out roles at the Group level in Communications and Incident Management working in the Local Command Facility (LCF). On the other hand, brigade member Debbie Sanders, uses her expertise in a variety of complementary non-operational roles: she helps organise brigade fundraising events; coordinates the LCF Monthly Check Roster for the Rutherglen Group; and carries out the role of brigade Community Safety Officer. Suzi Sanders, Debbie's daughter, enjoys the organisational side too and showed her amazing prowess as MC extraordinaire at the recent Trivia Night! Kaye Cofield and Michelle Smits conversely, prefer to be in operational roles on the fireground, such as crew leader or truck driver.

At the Indigo Valley Fire in 2015, Kaye found herself suddenly thrown into the role of crew leader when their own crew leader, Rodney, had been called away in an emergency to act as spotter for one of the excavators. What was expected to be a short- term job, continued on for the next four to five hours but Kaye found she coped well because she had been well-trained.

Rodney Eggleston said, "The women work hard and know what to do. I'll have Michelle on the truck any day." and of Di, "...Di carries a big stick and keeps everyone in line!" Rodney says he has always insisted on good sound training for everyone. "Women need to know how the truck works and how to draught water...we would make time to go down to the river to practise."

Rodney carried out the role of Brigade Training Officer for many years and says he prefers training women because: "They listen, they don't come with pre-conceived ideas and they don't have the macho attitude! They are much more open to learning, they think a problem through and are less inclined to take risks; they talk it through and work it out." Rodney says that in conducting training, it is important to give clear instructions and know that everyone learns a little bit differently.

There is an obvious sense of camaraderie amongst the brigade members. Their conversation demonstrates a high level of mutual respect for one another peppered with good humour. Kaye says she is well supported in her own brigade but every now and then has come up against sexist views working at bigger events with other brigades on the fireground and has learnt to stand her ground.

Wayne said if there is ever a lack of respect shown towards the women, "We get protective of our ladies at Carlyle, if they (the women) don't rip a strip out of them, we will!" Trevor said, "Our brigade perspective has changed from it being about just the bloke in the brigade to now the whole family being involved. There are now young members too and those who are born into it like Zoe." Carlyle Brigade now better represents the diversity of its community and is strengthened by the broad range of skills and viewpoints each person brings.

From the women's perspective, they talked about improvements to CFA they have seen made over the years that now better support female firefighters, such as the D24 Toilet Trailer and female designed PPC. They remember how difficult it used to be out on the fireground when despite the heat and exertion, they felt they couldn't drink water because it was too difficult to go to the toilet.

Carlyle Brigade has been instrumental in determining its own future. Through perseverance and determination the brigade has re-invigorated its membership with currently about 35 active members truly strengthened by their diversity. They have forged strong links with their community and after many years of fundraising and concerted effort, they have worked together with support from CFA through its grants programs, to achieve two new trucks inside a new station building; they have certainly come a long way.

Carlyle Brigade is now strong and viable again, proudly continuing to protect and serve its community.