The book traces back through the years of each brigade, to life before the group was formed and the story after it was formed 50 years ago.
The history book has been four and a half years in the making, after the group successfully obtained a grant to commission local historian and author, Betty Huf.
Ms Huf and Deputy Group Officer Hartley Nagorcka have been visiting the group’s brigades to delve into their pasts.
“I’ve enjoyed going around and meeting a lot of people I didn’t know and collecting the history,” Mr Nagorcka said.
“Part of the application process for the grant was also to showcase the role of the volunteer – we need encouragement, we need to show what we’re about if we want to encourage other volunteers. We’re trying to expand our membership and encourage the younger people to join.”
As a brigade stalwart himself, Mr Nagorcka said his personal interest in history led to his involvement in the book.
Not wanting to give anything in the book away, he said a key part of the group’s history was the 1939 and 1944 fires in the Hamilton area that prompted new brigades to form and others to strengthen.
The history of communications within the group was something Mr Nagorcka said was particularly interesting.
“The early challenge of communications was getting radios. A few operators came from the war I imagine and brought their own radios. The Dundas group was fairly progressive with radios and led other groups in the area,” Mr Nagorcka said.
The book also includes photographs of how the various brigades have changed over time.
Since its formation, the Dundas group has reduced from 23 to 18 brigades after some amalgamated.
The Dundas group is made up of 18 brigades formed between 1934 and 2010 – Ardachy (1949), Bainbridge (1944), Bochara (1944), Branxholme (2010), Bulart (1935), Cavendish (1934), Grange (1945), Hamilton (1991), Hensley Park (1946), Karabeal (1936), Mirranatwa (1941), Mooralla (1945), North Hamilton (1944), Strathkellar (1935), Tarrington (1934), Victoria Valley (1942), Warrayure-Moutajup (1944) and Yulecart (1934).
The book will be launched on 5 July, 2012 by CFA Chief Officer Euan Ferguson at 2pm at the Hamilton Performing Arts Centre.
There will also be a display of old firefighting equipment at the launch put together by one of the members with old CFA posters and other historical items.
For more information please contact Dundas Group Secretary Rayleigh Vandermost on 0409 711 421 or email rayleigh.vandermost@members.cfa.vic.gov.au
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