Opinion

It takes courage to run into danger when others run away. And in Jamberoo, that courage wears ponytails, work boots and smiles that hide sleepless nights.

The local Rural Fire Service brigade, like Kiama’s Surf Life Saving Club, is quietly reshaping what frontline service looks like - and who belongs in it.

Half of Jamberoo RFS’s operational team are women. Its captain, Hannah McInerney, is the first female brigade leader in the Illawarra.

Their message is simple: inclusion isn’t just nice to have.

It’s critical to capability. It makes our emergency services more resilient, more responsive and more connected to the communities they serve.

That’s why it is so disheartening to hear public figures still clinging to outdated beliefs about who belongs in what roles.

When a would-be federal representative questions whether women should serve in combat, it is not a policy debate.

It’s a warning signal.

It tells every girl who dreams of making a difference that her ambition will always be second-guessed - not because of her skills, but because of her gender.

Normalising diversity in frontline roles doesn’t weaken the system.

It strengthens it.

It sends a powerful message that courage, leadership and care are not defined by age, gender or background.

When the community sees inclusive teams protecting their homes and livelihoods, it reshapes old stereotypes and opens the door for everyone to contribute.

These women - from Kiama’s beaches to Jamberoo’s valleys, are not asking for praise.

They are asking to be recognised as capable.

To be seen for the hours of training, the split-second decisions, the physical toll, the emotional weight.

They are showing up, night after night, sometimes risking their lives.

What they should never have to risk is their right to belong.

Let’s not slide backwards.

Let’s take our cue from the communities that already know better - and do better.