Honouring the Past, Building the Future: Our Year in Review

As I stepped into the role of Acting Chief Executive Officer at the Museum of Fire in July 2025, I did so with a deep sense of responsibility, pride, and optimism. Having worked closely with our CEO, Belinda McMartin, in my role as Curator of Heritage and Engagement, I was fortunate to already understand the rhythms, challenges, and ambitions of the Museum. Taking on this position during Belinda’s maternity leave has been both a privilege and an opportunity to continue the important work she has led.

This year has been one of momentum. Across the second half of 2025, the Museum of Fire has strengthened its presence within the community, expanded its reach beyond our walls, and continued to evolve as a vibrant, relevant, and welcoming cultural institution.

One of the most visible shifts this year has been our growing involvement in external events. The Museum has proudly participated in a wide range of community celebrations and public programs, many of which we hope will become enduring fixtures in our annual calendar. During National Science Week, we joined universities and STEM organisations at Science in the Scrub in Western Sydney Parklands, engaging young minds through hands-on learning and innovation, an experience that aligned perfectly with our educational mission.

The Museum of Fire stall at Science in the Scrub, 10 August 2025.

Closer to home, we strengthened local connections through participation in the Penrith District and Historical Society Open Day and Campbelltown’s Emergency Ready Day. Our heritage vehicles also took centre stage across NSW, appearing at the Penrith Show, St Marys Spring Festival, the Orange Blossom Festival, and a series of festive parades including Rouse Hill and Canada Bay. These moments brought our collection to life in public spaces, sparking conversations, memories, and curiosity wherever we went.

Canada Bay Santa run, 6 December 2025.

Our long-standing commitments have remained just as strong. The Museum continued its presence at the Sydney Royal Easter Show and the Hawkesbury Show, while once again hosting Fire and Rescue NSW’s flagship Open Day at the Museum. Together, these events have played a meaningful role in welcoming new audiences and reconnecting returning visitors throughout the year.

Beyond public events, a significant part of our work continues through our close relationship with Fire and Rescue NSW. As the official heritage partner to FRNSW, the Museum supports fire stations across the state in celebrating major milestones such as centenaries and significant station redevelopments. This work includes producing tailored history booklets that collate stories, photographs, and canonical lists, as well as framed histories that are proudly displayed within stations.

Acting CEO Ben Dickson presenting the framed history of Bowral to Captain Van Der Meer, 28 November 2025.

In 2025 alone, I had the pleasure of participating in more than 14 fire station events alongside our Heritage team, travelling across a vast 190,000 km² area — from Taree to Cooma, and West Wyalong to Maroubra. Through this work, we shared local firefighting histories with communities across NSW. These occasions are a true highlight of our year, allowing us to take history directly back to the communities it belongs to and to see, first-hand, the impact our work can have beyond the Museum’s walls.

An unexpected highlight came through the power of digital storytelling. In August, the Museum was featured organically by a Sydney-based content creator known as One Sydney Mum. Her visit, shared across Instagram and TikTok, reached tens of thousands of viewers and introduced the Museum to a whole new audience. Visitors told us they had discovered us through the video, a reminder that modern storytelling can have a profound impact on how cultural institutions connect with families and communities today.

This year was also deeply significant from a historical perspective. 2025 marks the 40th anniversary of women officially joining the NSW Fire Brigades, now Fire and Rescue NSW. To commemorate this milestone, the Museum launched Breaking Barriers, Battling Blazes, an exhibition that brought overdue recognition to women’s firefighting history in NSW. From the Armidale Amazons of 1901 to the Women’s Fire Auxiliary of the 1940s, the exhibition highlighted stories that had long been overlooked but never forgotten.

L to R: Todd Carney Mayor of Penrith, CEO Belinda McMartin, Dr Kristine Kulgman, Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Services Charishma Kaliyanda and Commissioner FRNSW Jeremy Fetrell at the exhibition launch for Breaking Barriers, Battling Blazes at the Museum of Fire, 6 March 2025.

In conjunction with the exhibition, the Museum hosted the launch of Trailblazing, a publication documenting the experiences and contributions of women in FRNSW. Authored in part by our CEO Belinda McMartin, and supported by extensive research from our Heritage team, the launch was a powerful and emotional moment. It was made all the more special by the presence of some of the very first women to serve as firefighters in NSW — their stories echoing through the Museum they helped shape.

Throughout this period, I’ve been guided by a strong sense of stewardship and continuity. Stepping into the Acting CEO role has meant carrying forward the values, priorities, and ways of working that already underpin the Museum. My focus has been on maintaining momentum, supporting the team, and ensuring the Museum continues to operate with clarity, care, and purpose during this transition.

Alongside public programming and engagement, important work has continued behind the scenes. Key infrastructure projects have progressed, including significant upgrades to improve safety and the visitor experience. These projects may not always be immediately visible, but they are essential to ensuring the Museum remains a safe, welcoming, and sustainable space for all.

Museum of Fire staff, 2025.

As I look ahead to the remainder of my time as Acting CEO, my focus remains on continuity and growth. By strengthening partnerships, enhancing the visitor experience, modernising our facilities, and expanding our public presence, we continue to secure the future of the Museum of Fire as a vital, independent, and community-focused institution.

This year has been a reminder that museums are not static places — they are living spaces shaped by people, stories, and shared experiences. I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together and grateful to our staff, volunteers, partners, and visitors who continue to support and believe in the Museum of Fire.

-Blog by Acting CEO Ben Dickson