The zone’s senior management team have been working on strategies to develop a new support brigade for the district ahead of this year’s fire season.

They were also separately working on ways to recruit more women into the service, particularly into leadership roles.

In September those two inadvertently came together during the first meeting of the South West Slopes Zone District Support Brigade to officially form the brigade and appoint leadership roles from those who attended.

District manager Andrew Dillon said Louise was elected by the people accordingly for her skills and qualifications.

It’s a role she said she was very honoured and privileged to take on.

“I was very fortunate to be nominated, I didn’t expect it… I feel there’s great expectations,” she said.

“I hope other women realise that it’s possible, that it’s not restricted only to men in leadership roles.”

Her dedication to the role has already paid dividends with Andrew saying she’s proven she’s perfect for the job.

“I think it’s great [a woman has been appointed] and it’s only the start,” he said.

“I’d certainly like to see a number of women in leadership roles.

“We’ve got key women, including Louise, attending our senior management meetings and we’ve formed a women’s work group to identify, recruit, retain and encourage women into leadership.”

The zone has 363 female members compared to its 1810 male firefighters, and prior to Louise’s appointment, three women filled deputy captain roles only.

Louise - now going on two years as a volunteer firefighter - has been completing several courses, including obtaining her Medium Rigid truck licence to drive a fire truck, assisting with fire cadet training, actively involved in the new women’s group and volunteering at the Fire Control Centre in Harden.

She’s also been holding recruitment days to encourage others to join her 15-volunteer strong brigade.

“We’re not a firefighting brigade, we’ll be assisting Fire Control and group captains with communications, logistics, setting up staging areas, transport and community education,” she said.

“I love the RFS, I want to help as much as I can and if that means helping others to get involved, I think it’s fantastic.

“It’s a challenge, [I love] the opportunity to learn more.”

So far this fire season the brigade hasn’t been called out, but Louise said everything was in place for when they are.