Castlemaine Fire Brigade have celebrated its 170th anniversary
It was a fire in a baker’s shop in November 1854 that first spurred on the locals of Castlemaine to form a volunteer fire brigade.
From that public meeting in a town hall 170 years ago, Castlemaine Fire Brigade is now a mainstay of the community, a strong cohort of members who still come together to protect their beloved town and its surrounds.
The Castlemaine Voluntary Fire Brigade was one of the very first volunteer fire brigades established in the state. These days, the brigade has 52 members and attends about 150 callouts per year.
Brigade captain Terry Franklin has been at the helm of the Castlemaine crew for 13 years, and said he is proud of the brigade’s contributions over the years.
“One of the main reasons that the brigade is so important to the community of Castlemaine is that we’re there for people when they need us no matter what,” Terry said.
“Whether it’s a fire at their home, or their cat or bird is stuck up a tree, we’re the people they call and they know us because we’re from the community too.
“We love to be of service not just to Castlemaine, but the surrounding communities as well. It’s something we just do, and we don’t necessarily take time to reflect on it – we're just there for people when they need us because they need us.”
“We’ve always made sure that we’ve created an atmosphere where everyone feels welcome, and that’s the way it should be at a brigade. It’s for everyone and our doors are open, so welcome – come on in.”
Often brigades have a particular fire or incident that defines their history, and for Castlemaine this took place on 17 November 1981 when an intense blaze took hold at the Castlemaine Woollen Mills and required the work of 150 firefighters from 12 local brigades to control it. The fire caused large economic damage to the town, and many reflect on this fire as ‘the big one’.
In more recent times, brigades have formed strike teams travelling across Victoria and interstate, as well as fighting significant fires and attending large-scale incidents closer to home.
As part of their 170-year anniversary celebration held over the weekend, the brigade held an awards dinner on Saturday 16 November, where multiple members were honoured for their service, including ex-Captain William 'Bill' Chapman, who was presented a 70 year CFA Life Membership Medal.
Member Brian Tresidder was also awarded Life Membership with the brigade in recognition of his service, with a number of members also receiving service awards ranging from five to 55 years.
On Sunday 17 November, the brigade opened its doors to the local community for an Open Day to celebrate the milestone, with family activities and safety advice ahead of the fire season.
Looking forward, Terry is hopeful for the next generation and beyond of the brigade.
“I hope we stay strong, and we continue to serve the community as we have done for the past 170 years. We have a lot of new members and I look forward to seeing them continue to keep our service to the community alive and well long into the future.”
Images courtesy Castlemaine Fire Brigade
Castlemaine Voluntary Fire Brigade station at Lyttleton Street (photo approx. 1890)-
Ex-Captain William “Bill” Chapman was presented a 70 year CFA Life Membership Medal
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Member Brian Tresidder was awarded Life Membership from the brigade
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An Austin pumper used by the brigade in previous years
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The brigade taking part in an early street parade (photo approx. 1910)