Tracey Johnston never imagined that crawling through dark tunnels and drop-ping from dizzying heights would lead her to becoming Mallacoota Fire Brigade’s first female captain. 
However, after attending the recent South East Region Women’s Network Challenge Camp, Tracey had a new-found sense of con-fidence, which saw her being elected by her peers to lead the brigade for the next two years. After being supported by the Mallacoota residents for more than 30 years as a small business owner, Tracey thought joining her local brigade in 2018 would be a nice way to give back to her community. While incredibly humble about her involve-ment, during her second year as a volunteer Tracey played an integral part during the 2019-20 bushfire season.

CAPTION: Mallacoota Fire Brigade’s first female captain, Tracey Johnston, shows off her new helmet. During her second year as a volunteer, she played an integral part in the Black Summer Bushfires. INSET: Tracey during the Black Summer Bushfires. (PS)