By KATH GANNAWAY
WARBURTON CFA Captain, Hazel Clothier, is one of four volunteer fire-fighters appointed to the CFA Board on 19 July.
The English-born brigade leader came to Australia 16 years ago and moved with her family from the inner city to Warburton eight years ago.
She was one of a large number of highly qualified candidates who registered interest when the Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria (VFBV) put out an urgent call to action on 17 June for the remaining four of the nine CFA Board positions.
Under the CFA Act, the four VFBV nominated members must include two volunteer members of brigades predominantly serving urban communities, and two from brigades predominantly serving rural communities.
Captain Clothier will represent CFA volunteers at a tumultuous time.
The restructure of the CFA Board followed the controversial sacking of the existing board back in June over their refusal to back a new United Fire Fighters Union EBA (Enterprise Bargaining Agreement).
Emergency Services Minister, Jane Garrett, resigned, followed by CFA Chief Executive, Lucinda Nolan and Chief Fire Officer, Joe Buffone.
Captain Clothier acknowledged last week that it was a challenging new role.
“Everyone is well aware that the CFA is going through a difficult time, but it’s not something to shirk away from,” she said.
“It’s more important now than ever that CFA volunteers have a voice at the highest level of the CFA.
“We need to make a CFA that’s strong for everybody at all levels of the CFA.”
She said the very large number of CFA volunteers who responded to the VFBV’s call for nominations reflected the commitment of the state’s 60,000 strong CFA volunteers.
“People were very keen to make sure that the VFBV had a large pool of people to get the right skills,” she said.
The skill set is clearly set out under the CFA Act.
And Captain Clothier’s skill set is impressive on many levels, starting with her history of volunteerism.
Her ‘day job’ is as an epidemiologist concentrating on infectious diseases and public health and she also lectures at the University of Melbourne.
Before coming to Australia she spent nine years in Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon islands as a volunteer and later as a project officer with a focus on public health.
Her experience in pandemic planning and management of outbreaks, she says may not be traditional skills required in her new role, but provide a valuable research and evidence-based approach, and the analytical skills that the Act prescribes.
“This is huge, and a real honour for which I’m delighted to have the opportunity, although it’s not going to be easy,” Captain Clothier said.
“I see this as a way of further supporting the Warburton brigade and the brigades of the Yarra Valley.”
She added the feeling was mutual, with brigade members greeting her after the announcement last week with flowers, cake and wine.
“It’s lovely to have that brigade support behind me,” she said.
