Our People
24 March, 2025
Women play leading role at local brigade
THE recent celebration of International Women’s Day was a perfect time to celebrate the mothers, sisters, daughters, and wives who dedicate their lives not just to their families but also to their communities.
THE recent celebration of International Women’s Day was a perfect time to celebrate the mothers, sisters, daughters, and wives who dedicate their lives not just to their families but also to their communities.
For mother and daughter, Prue Cosgriff and Sophie Cooper, firefighting is more than just a service, it’s a family tradition.
Seventeen-year-old Sophie joined the Ararat CFA just eight months ago, continuing a legacy deeply rooted in her family.
“Mum is in CFA, my dad was in CFA but is now in FRV (Fire Rescue Victoria), and my pop, my uncle is CFA and then went into FRV, so I have been around it a long time. I've grown up with it,” said Sophie.
After living in Warrnambool for several years, Sophie made the decision to join the Ararat brigade.
“I remember when mum would go, she would pop me and my younger brother in the car and she’d drop us off at pop’s. Pop would stand out the front with us, and we’d watch the truck go off,” said Sophie.
Now, she fully understands why her family was drawn to firefighting.
“I understand now their drive to go. Not many people want to go up to a fire and be near it, but now I understand after being to a few, it’s a very fulfilling and rewarding task. The situations are never good, but once you've put it out or helped someone, it is very fulfilling,” she said.
Despite the CFA being historically male-dominated, Sophie has found Ararat’s brigade to be inclusive and supportive.
“I find with this brigade, the senior members are amazing mentors. If you are confused, they will walk you through it. They've always been really good to teach and let us learn,” she said.
Despite being one of the youngest female members in Ararat’s CFA she finds herself in a supported role.
“I feel like we are a very equal brigade. It's never been a ‘men can do this and the women can't.’ I know the other younger members are all males and we are all friends, so there has never been a divide, everyone does everything.”
Still, she hopes to see more young women join.
“I’m waiting for an all-female truck. I know I’m friends with the younger blokes, but it would be nice to have a young female around to talk to,” she said.
Prue, a 26-year veteran of the brigade, serves as both the communications officer for the Ararat brigade and the Ararat Group, has seen her fair share of fires and wouldn’t trade it for anything.
“It’s great, it's amazing really, I quite happily run into a burning building when everyone is running out, that adrenaline.”
Currently, Ararat CFA has around 30 female members, with seven active women serving on the frontline.
Prue believes more women would join if they knew firefighting isn’t just about running into burning buildings.
“I think women are put off from joining such a male-dominated field. People don’t have to run into a burning building, people don’t have to get on the back of a fire truck. There is lots of stuff,” she said.
She hopes that more women like her own daughter will step forward to join the CFA.
“Not many people want to dedicate and help the community. It would be nice to see more girls around. Girl power, it’d level the playing field a bit. And, of course, a bit of in-house competition on community days wouldn’t hurt, “Girls would win, absolutely,” said Prue.
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