Shoreham reflect on 75 years as a brigade

Captain Tony Wain accepting his National Medal with CFA Board Member Peter Shaw

 

Shoreham Fire Brigade members gathered for a momentous awards dinner to reflect on their 75 years of service and acknowledge the efforts their members have contributed to the community.

 

CFA Board Member Peter Shaw joined the celebrations on Thursday 12 September, presenting CFA service nedals up to 40 years, while Deputy Chief Officer Trevor Owen had the honour of awarding the National Medals and Clasps to a deserving cohort.

Tony Wain, a Shoreham Fire Brigade member 22 for years and Captain for seven, said it was a special event that signified where the close-knit brigade have come from, where they are now and where they want to go.

“It's important to maintain a brigade that's going to be viable into the future and we're in a fortunate position at the moment where we've recently put through around 11 recruits over the last few years, and they're the cornerstone of that,” Tony said.

“Each year we have a community barbecue at Christmas with 300 locals, but this is the first time we have celebrated a milestone in this way and combined it with significant awards.”

To open the night, President and Secretary Sue Wilding took the room on a trip down memory lane, recounting key moments for the brigade and relishing in the many great modern changes.

“75 years ago, community members jumped on the truck with little water and whatever you could hold in your hand, like knapsacks and eucalyptus branches to beat the flames out,” Sue said.  

“When a fire burned out of control it was the responsibility of the local telephone exchange at the post office to ring around and tell farmers where they were needed.

“Up until formation in 1949, there was no coordinated effort in fighting fires. Every able-bodied person in the district turned up to do their bit.”

CFA presented the brigade with a 500-gallon pumper trailer in 1963 before the community raised funds to purchase and fit out an Austin cab chassis tanker in 1966. Equipment was housed at the Wright’s sawmill until a station was built by members and local trades in 1970.

An extension was required in 1974, adding a meeting room, kitchen and toilets and later modified in 1991 to accommodate the Hino tanker. A brand new Shoreham Fire Station was officially opened in 2014, which now sits adjacent to the original site, home to 25 members.

“The training and communication improvements that have been implemented over the years has had a huge impact on the way we operate as a brigade,” Sue said.

“For the families waiting at home, we are incredibly grateful for the enhancements that have helped our firefighters do their job in the most effective, safe and efficient manner to ensure they come home safely.”

Tony said the camaraderie between the local brigades and the time they spend on strike teams sparks the most joy amongst members and recalls the February 2019 Punty Lane fire as one of the biggest the brigade has confronted and one that continues to be the subject of many educational discussions.

“It was a grass and scrub fire on a hot, 36-degree day with wind gusts of up to 43km/hr – a typical fire danger day,” Tony said.

“The fire started in pine needles below old pine trees and took off into Blue Gum plantation. We had more than 60 vehicles on scene over the first two days alongside water bombers.

“The fire had the potential to spread significantly further but with the prompt action by all the brigades involved we were able to control it and black out over the course of four exhausting days.”

 

Submitted by	CFA media