The all-female firefighting crew protecting Lake Tyers Aboriginal Trust

When fire threatens Lake Tyers Aboriginal Trust (Lake Tyers) in Victoria’s Gippsland region, Charmaine Sellings and her crew of female firefighters spring into action.

This highly skilled team of Gunaikurnai women protects 4,000 acres of bushland including sacred sites and more than 40 homes in the community.

Charmaine and her team are the only all-Indigenous crew in the Country Fire Authority (CFA).

Before the crew’s formation, the nearest CFA was 45 minutes away from Lake Tyers with only one road in and out of the community.

When a series of deliberately lit fires threatened to burn down the culturally significant land twenty years ago, Charmaine sprung into action.

She asked the CFA whether the community could form their own crew.

“They said if I could get a crew together, they will give it a try.”

Soon after, the Lake Tyers Aboriginal Trust satellite station of the Toorloo Brigade was born. Starting with eight women, the crew was nicknamed the “Banana Women” because of their bright yellow outfits.

The crew has changed a lot over the last two decades to become a highly skilled team not only responding to fires, but also other emergencies in the community. They also play an important role in the CFA teaching other firefighters with cultural awareness training and traditional land management practices.

Four women continue to serve in the crew, three of whom have served since it the beginning.

While they are currently an all-female team, it is not an opportunity exclusive to women. Over the years, many men have been involved and young women and men are encouraged to join in whatever capacity they want to volunteer.

“You don't have to go out fighting fires. If you think you can’t do it, there are so many positions within the CFA you can fill if you do the training”.

Charmaine continues to patrol and fight fires because she loves it. Her favourite parts of her service are “meeting new people, protecting the community, friendship and family”.

To this day, Charmaine continues to be part of the Lake Tyers CFA satellite station because “they didn't think we'd be able to do it… we enjoy it and we're proving people wrong that we can do it.”