District 7 Women's Network Avalon Airport visit

District 07 Women's Network members with Large Air Tanker

 

On 15 February, 20 volunteers from District 7 participated in a tour of Avalon Airport Hangar 5, organised by the District 7 Women's Network.

 

The event was hosted by Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) staff,.

Aviation Service Unit Manager Alina Hamblyn highlighted the value of having the group visit and learn about the aviation side of firefighting.

"Crews on the ground often say, 'we see and hear the aircraft fly over, but we never get the chance to see them up close or see the other side of what it takes to get them in the air'."

The group had the opportunity to hear from women in the aviation sector, including Alina and her colleagues Sharon O’Sullivan (Senior Commercial and Procurement Manager), Anne Chamberlain (Safety, Risk, and Assurance Manager) and Amy Caddick (Lead Officer Aviation Operations). They all shared insights into their roles and their personal journeys in the aviation field.

Alina also spoke about the significant role aircraft played to battle major fires this year, such as the Grampians and Little Desert fires, and shared some interesting facts about their involvement.

Commander Simon Scharf spoke about his role as an air attack supervisor, and Commander Wayne Aylmer discussed volunteer pathways in the aviation sector.

After the presentations, the group toured the hangar, where they were surprised by the large quantity of fire retardant stored onsite. They also had the opportunity to see how the retardant is mixed and loaded, explore the air observer plane, and tour the Large Air Tanker (LAT) inside and out, and talk with the pilot who explained how the plane worked.

Highlights of the day were hearing from the women from DEECA and EMV, as well as seeing the LAT up close and being able to speak with the pilots. For some participants, the day inspired them to pursue aviation roles themselves.

The District 7 Women’s Network is led by volunteers committed to supporting women and their growth in CFA. The purpose of the District 7 Women's Network is to develop initiatives that foster a culture of inclusion to increase opportunities for, and participation by, women at all levels of CFA in District 7. Members of the network are also members of the CEO and Chief’s Women’s Advisory Committee, District 7 Planning Committee, and subcommittees. The network organises training, activities, and social events across the district, to connect new and existing members.

 

Submitted by	Jessica Brittain