Celebrating Sunday 8th March 2026 MEET OUR INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN OF THE GOULBURN VALLEY IN THIS SPECIAL FEATURE
16 P A G E F E AT U R E SERVIING THE COMMUNITY... Women play a major role in local emergency services. Standing every day as pillars of the community to be respected and admired. Pictured from left, CFA Secretary, treasurer, community engagement officer and media manager Sarah Pearson, Ambulance paramedic, Millie Donegan, Victoria police sergeant Bridie Sutton, Ambulance Paramedic Chenayde Reid, and CFA 3rd Lieutenant, recruitment and HR officer Sharleen Bachelor. Photo: Aaron Cordy
By Aaron Cordy PARAMEDICS, Police and County Fire Authority (CFA) volunteers stand on the frontline of a crisis. Along with other Emergency Services, they put themselves in danger when duty calls. In Victoria, the first women police officers, known as ‘police agents,’ joined in 1917, and were sworn in, in 1924. It wasn’t until the 1980s that Victoria saw its first paramedics
and CFA volunteers. Today, women lead the charge in these and other emergency fields. According to 2023 IBAC data, there were 4,797 female police officers in Victoria out
of a total of 16,571 sworn police officers. That number is expected to grow in the next report. As of mid-2025, women make up 55.2 per cent of registered paramedics in Victoria, which is among the highest in Australia. As of February 2026, there are approximately 12,537 female volunteers in the CFA in Victoria. From Operational Volunteers: 4,597, Support
Volunteers: 7,486 and Junior Volunteers: 454. Local, Sarah Pearson, found a rewarding challenge joining the CFA. She has served on two strike teams, including Longwood this summer. Continued Page 22
The Adviser. Australia No.1:1804 Wednesday, March 4, 2026 – Page 13