The Volunteer Wildfire Services continues to honour their female heroes this Women’s Month and the next woman feature here is Nikki Greenberg.
Western Cape, South Africa (26 August 2020) – The Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS) is honouring all the female heroes on their team this month for Women’s Month. Each day they bestow the honour to one of their Female Firefighters and this time the honour goes to Nikki Greenberg.
Nikki is a sports court contractor. She specialises in the construction of sports courts, including the supply and installation of different types of sports surfaces.
Nikki joined the team after witnessing the hard work put in by every volunteer during fire season. It was 2015, during the massive fires that swept across the Western Cape.
“During the March 2015 fires, I watched the VWS members work selflessly day and night for days on end to save the vegetation, the animals, our homes and city infrastructure. While I was able to purchase eye drops and Energade for the overworked volunteers I felt could make a far greater contribution by donating my time. I joined that year!”
Nikki is a volunteer firefighter and driver for VWS. The team asked how she has coped in a male-dominated industry and what message she would share for other women wanting to become volunteer firefighters.
“I can’t say I can remember an incident whereby I have been stereotyped or judged for being a female. Perhaps my background in construction has better equipped me to operate in a male dominant environment. Fire, however, is a gender equaliser. When we fight fires gender falls away – we operate as a team, for safety and for efficiency. If any one member (male/female) acted differently it could place their own or a fellow team member’s life at risk. A lot of what we do is stamina based – being headstrong. Sometimes women can be stronger mentally! With regards to physical strength. I have to admit that if a task involves the carrying of a particularly heavy object I am more than happy to allow a willing male to take over”
“Being a member of the VWS is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. The unit is filled with incredible people – they’re a bunch selfless individuals who come to together to give back to their communities in a very unique way. You have the opportunity to learn, train, develop, make new friends, try new roles, all of which will benefit you in your personal capacity both in and outside the organization. It is a challenge that comes with huge rewards! Until you’ve tried it you can’t say CAN’T!”
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