VOLUNTEER firefighter Alida Goodchild has made history as the first female volunteer to be elected as a lieutenant at Tyabb fire brigade.
She joined the brigade 20 years at the age of 27, with 15 years having served as an operational firefighter. Now, she has earned a leadership role – etching her name not only in the history books but also becoming a role model for other women in firefighting.
Goodchild, who by day runs her own beauty salon called You Bewty, expressed immense pride in her accomplishment she never thought she’d achieve. She initially had hopes of becoming a paramedic but was unable to complete the required tertiary studies at the time due to having two young children. “The next best option was to join the CFA and see if I was actually made for what I thought would be a good job,” she said.
While conceding she never thought she’d take on a leadership role, Goodchild said she would embrace the challenges and the opportunity to learn new skills. “It’s not something to take lightly because you’re making decisions on behalf of the whole crew,” she said. “But I feel like now with my experience and that my kids are grown up and out of home and everything, I’ve got the time along with the skills and knowledge to do it. “Every job is different. Every time you go to a callout you could be doing traffic control, or you could be at the end of the hose, or you could be consoling someone’s family or sitting with someone waiting for an ambulance. “There’s so much versatility to it.”
Goodchild, who was appointed as 4th lieutenant at the start of May, encouraged more women to join their local brigade, adding she was as capable as anyone to be a firefighter. “The friendships I’ve made are next level,” she said. “We’re getting more and more women now that want to get in and then they want to eventually move up to leadership which is awesome.”
Tyabb fire brigade was established in 1944 and operates entirely on a volunteer basis. There are currently about seven women at the brigade with most certified as operational to attend incidents. Non-operational roles include administration, helping with fundraisers, and the day-to-day running of the station.
In announcing Goodchild’s new appointment, the brigade said “leveraging her professional skills and operational knowledge, Alida will be a fantastic addition to our brigade management team”. “The brigade would also like to wish outgoing Lieutenant Jake Sanders all the best on his new adventures in Gippsland. Jake will be continuing his CFA journey with Warragul Fire Brigade.”
During National Volunteer Week, CFA is celebrating and thanking its 52,000 members for their ongoing dedication in protecting Victorian communities. CFA is calling for more volunteers to join as part of its “Give us a Hand” campaign.
If you’re interested in joining CFA or learning more about volunteering, visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au/volunteer. Once you’ve submitted your expression of interest online, your local brigade will contact you regarding the next steps.
First published in the Mornington News – 20 May 2025
