Brett Eastwood and Eddie Tichelaar (pictured above) first met in 1983 at Montrose Fire Brigade.
“It’s fair to say, we clicked pretty quickly. We didn’t use the word mentor back then, but we supported each other in learning the ropes.” Eddie explained.
In early 2020 Eddie shared a dream with Brett of finding and restoring an old fire truck, specifically an old Austin with a front-mounted pumper.
“I kid you not, within three weeks Brett tapped me on the shoulder and said ‘I found one. We’re doing it’,” Eddie said.
So began their journey with the 1956 Austin pumper they nicknamed ‘Eastey’.
What started as a passion project about four and a half years ago has become something much bigger than either could have imagined.
After Eastey the Austin’s restoration was completed in November 2021, they soon launched into their next project – a 1976 International Acco 1910A Type 1 pumper, known in CFA circles as the ‘Pink Panther’ due to its distinctive orange-pink, fluorescent paintwork.
With these two restorations under their belts, and a visit to the 2023 State Championships, the pair then noticed something they hadn’t anticipated – the pure joy the restored trucks brought to both CFA members and the general public.
“Seeing the fully restored trucks is giving people the opportunity to remember their past, but it’s also engaging the wider community,” Eddie said
Eastey Fire Trucks, as it’s known, are now a team of six with Trevor Franklin, Greg Chapman, Lex Wade AFSM and Jess Meilak joining Brett and Eddie to bring more than 240 years of CFA service to the cause. This year, Eastey Fire Trucks were invited back to the State Championships to lead the Torchlight Procession. The group has also struck up an informal partnership with the Fire Services Museum of Victoria in East Melbourne.
“A lot of the older members of the Fire Services Museum are not necessarily in a position to go out in the field, so we're doing the external stuff and they're doing the museum stuff; we're now supporting one another,” Eddie explained.
Eastey Fire Trucks currently has another two restoration projects underway: a Hino Type 2 pumper and a 1983 International Acco 610A tanker. At the time of writing, they are both nearing completion. You can follow their progress by visiting facebook.com/easteyfiretrucks.
While Eastey Fire Trucks doesn’t currently have plans to restore more trucks, the team does have a grand idea to keep connecting with the CFA family.
“Because of what this has done for so many people – the excitement, the enthusiasm – the dream we’re now thinking about is doing a state tour.”
As Eddie and Brett reflect on their Eastey Fire Trucks journey so far, they remain committed to honouring CFA history and fostering community in all corners of the state.
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