Newtown Fire Station forced to remove ‘toxic masculinity’ noticeboard message
Newtown firefighters have been given a slap on the wrist after “pushing their personal and political agendas” with a message on their noticeboard.
Newtown firefighters have been given a slap on the wrist after “pushing their personal and political agendas” with a message on their noticeboard.
Sydney’s most talkative firefighters have been forced to remove “House fires are toxic, our masculinity isn’t” from their popular community noticeboard.
The message comes after Gillette aired a new ad campaign focusing on toxic masculinity in Australia.
MORE NEWS
Rail workers stood down after blind man knocked out
Aspiring actress charged after armed robbery raids
Man charged over six teen stabbings
The videos show reporting on the #MeToo movement, sexism in films and workplaces, and violence between boys with a voiceover asking: “Is this best a man can get?”
One person was curious which side of the argument the firefighters were taking.
“Normally I love your signs, but today not so much,” Danielle Schwerin wrote on Facebook.
“To be clear: Masculinity isn’t toxic. Toxic masculinity is though!”
In the since-deleted post Newtown Fire Station replied: “I’m pretty sure that is what we are saying with this sign and associated FB blurb. Have a good one!
A NSW Fire and Rescue Spokesman told The Daily Telegraph that the firefighters would change the sign and delete their Facebook post.
“The FRNSW Community Boards posted by our firefighters outside local fire stations are generally for Community Messages and Engagement, but not to push personal opinion or social or political agendas,” they said.
“The reasons behind the message you alerted us to at the Newtown Fire Station had good intent, but on its own, on a public noticeboard, is not considered appropriate.”
Cops, judges clash: Law & disorder as courts go soft on youth bail
Senior judges have slammed toughened youth bail laws, but police want them to be even stronger to protect regional towns constantly under siege from under-age crime.
How the government plans to fix Northern Beaches bus crisis
MPs and locals say the Northern Beaches bus system is in ‘crisis’ between growing queues, cancellations and commute blowouts. Plans to get buses back on the road and drivers behind the wheel could be the key to ending the chaos.