As part of its 150th Anniversary, Warrnambool Fire Brigade (WFB) has linked with the Warrnambool Art Gallery (WAG) to open an exhibition based on the Brigade, and also featuring local artwork and photography of fires.
The first of several initiatives of the Brigade in 2013 to celebrate it's 150th birthday, a variety of special artefacts, photos and pieces of operational equipment are on display at the Gallery.
These indclude the Brigade's original fire bell, which it purchased in 1867. It was cast in 1863, the year of the Brigade's commencement. The bell weighs 200 kilograms and greets visitors as they enter the display area. There is also an original 1800s hose reel or cart. This is an original Warrnambool Fire Brigade unit, in good original order. It even has a distinct smell of smoke, mainly as it was recently rescued from a fire adjacent to the historic fire station at Flagstaff Hill, a maritime tourist village in Warrnambool.
Other interesting items include photos, trophies and certificates from competitions in the late 1800s and early 1900's, firefighting equipment and also several artworks and photos from local artists that link to Black Saturday and Ash Wednesday.
The Brigade and local Community Education Co-ordinator Julie Owens have also used the display to support community education in Warrnambool. Warrnambool East Primary School grade 1 and 2 students are visiting the Gallery for a tour of the display and a Firesafe Kids session, conducted by the Warrnambool Fire Station Staff and Julie and her Community Education team.
The exhibition opened on the 5th of February and will continue until March 16th. The Gallery is at the corner of Liebig and Timor Streets in Warrnambool, and is open daily from 10.00am. Their phone number is 5559 4949. The Brigade would encourage people who are coming to Warrnambool for the Junior and Senior State Urban Championships to drop in at the gallery.
More information is avaialable at:
www.thewag.com.au and www.warrnamboolfirebrigade.com.au
Local media also has stories and information at:
http://www.abc.net.au/local/photos/2013/02/04/3682655.htm?site=southwestvic
http://www.warrnamboolextra.com.au/story/1277098/fired-up-about-brigade-history/?cs=1544
Author: David Ferguson