Bob Adams has been a member of CFA for almost 80 years, fighting his first fire at just 14 years old.
Story from the Sunbury Leader
But the 92-year-old is unfazed by the milestone, saying it’s all just “part of the job”.
“If you lived in the country, you joined the CFA,” Bob said.
The Newham local was first called to duty during the Black Friday bushfires in 1939 before the CFA was officially established and he was “just a kid”.
“It was a bad fire … the worst,” Adams said. “But you didn’t have time to be scared, you had a job to do,” he said.
Radios, uniforms and protective gear were still three decades away from being introduced. Whatever you were wearing at the time, that’s what you’d be fighting the fire in, Bob said.
By the 1980s, the spud farmer had become a veteran of the local brigade.
When the Ash Wednesday bushfires tore through the Macedon Ranges in 1983, killing 47 Victorians, Bob was on the frontline.
He's still a permanent fixture at Newham Fire Station. With 78 years of service under his belt, he is one of the longest-serving CFA members in history.
He said he never joined the service for the awards or medals – despite receiving two honorary member medals.
“It was to help the community, that’s it,” he said.
See also Kaniva brigade member Jack Mills’ story, who also has a 75-year service medal. http://news.cfa.vic.gov.au/news/kaniva-applauds-75-year-member.html
Photo caption:
Behind Bob left to right are brigade secretary Brian Quinn, long-standing brigade member and firefighter Neil Pomroy, brigade president Barrie Sutton and former brigade captain David Bachelor.
Photos by Valerie Hornbuckle