By Kath Gannaway
Gruyere CFA firefighter Pat Bigham is among 25 inspirational women inducted into the 2017 Victorian Honour Roll of Women.
The honour roll acknowledges and celebrates the outstanding achievements of women in Victoria with the 2017 presentations made by Minister for Women, Fiona Richardson in Melbourne on Monday, 6 March.
“Too often, women’s achievements and contributions are not recognised, despite leaving a lasting impact on their communities,” Ms Richardson said.
“These women have changed lives and the Victorian Honour Roll pays homage to their work.”
It’s an honour Mrs Bigham accepted humbly, on behalf of all CFA volunteers who gave their time to protecting and supporting their communities.
“To me, this is recognition of the CFA as a whole, and the people in CFA … you don’t do anything in the CFA as an individual, it’s always teamwork,” she told the Mail.
Mrs Bigham was one of the first female volunteer firefighters in CFA District 13 and was instrumental in the development of the CFA’s Peer Support Program after the Ash Wednesday fires in 1983.
The Honour Roll citation speaks of Mrs Bigham as a ‘can do’ person whose first priority is to help people during difficult times and said her commitment to mentoring and supporting her colleagues was a direct result of her strong will and enthusiasm.
“She has created a safe, respectful environment where individuals can feel confident to discuss their concerns within the workplace,” it says.
“Her vision and devotion to the community has played a major role in the establishment of effective peer support programs.”
The title ‘firefighter’ is an important distinction for Mrs Bigham who said while she recognised that there were areas where woman faced huge struggles in achieving their goals, gender had never been an issue in her 35 years with the Gruyere Brigade and the CFA as an organisation.
“I know you shouldn’t have to work at it on that basis, but in some places it is a fact of life,” she said.
“I think women may be accepted more equally in rural communities because they work on the farms alongside the men, whereas that may not be the case in urban areas.
“I grew up in a mining and RSL background and men have always been in my life so going to CFA was no different for me.”
She said CFA was an organisation where there were opportunities for men and women to achieve at whatever level and in whatever roles they aspired to.
“You don’t have to be on a truck, there is plenty of work off the fire ground whether you’re male or female,” she said.
While the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges CFA region boast the highest number of females within CFA, including several female brigade captains, Mrs Bigham said men were also well represented across the board.
“I have two of the best peers in the state in my region and they are men,” she said.
“It’s horses for courses. If you’re good at what you do and really want to do something, you strive to achieve no matter what it is and who you are.”
The CFA and her colleagues are enormously proud of firefighter Pat Bigham, in no small measure due to her welfare role.
“Pat continues to be behind training and development of CFA’s Peer Support Program, which now exists in every CFA district across Victoria,” CFA District 13 Operations Manager Dave Renkin said.
He said her inspiring leadership and outstanding commitment was being recognised through her induction to the Honour Roll.
“Her inclusion on this illustrious list, in the police and emergency services category, is a testament to her dedicated career and service to the community.”
Responding to induction into the Honour Roll, and to numerous previous awards, Mrs Bigham said it has never been about awards.
‘It’s bittersweet receiving these awards because my work consists of helping people at their lowest time,” she said.
“I don’t do what I do to receive awards. I get back more than I can ever put in and that’s what I tell people who are thinking of joining CFA.”
