Captain Thomas Harry was enthusiastic about both the warm welcome from the community and the brigade’s future. “It was a fantastic night,” he said. “We laid out about 80 chairs and there must have been about 110 people there. We invited the captains of all the neighbouring brigades and they all attended.
“Some of the members’ wives did the catering and it got them all involved in the brigade. Now my wife Liz is going to join and my son is joining the Juniors where they meet up with Rochester.”
It’s a new lease of life for the 81-year-old fire brigade. Membership currently stands at 50 with 26 operational members. “But now, with the new station, we’re getting a lot of younger ones,” said Thomas. “They’re coming in with ideas. I think the new place shows them that we’re moving ahead. That’s working out really well for us.”
So well, in fact, that the brigade is planning a Come-and-Join Day within the next month. “We’ve identified 10 people we think are keen,” continued Thomas. “They can join on the day and we’ll show them around the station and the trucks. We’ll probably have a soft drink and watch the footy in the meeting room.
“It’s a great facility for that. We can be cool or warm and the meeting room is open for any community group. Fire Ready Rural Women are meeting here on 4 May.
“It’s also an asset for other brigades close by in our [Northern Campaspe] group. We’re already doing more training here with wildfire and driver training coming up. We’re also going to have a social night once a month. We’ve had a barbecue donated so we’ll get a lot of use out of that.”
Loddon Mallee Regional Director Pat O’Brien was at the opening ceremony to hand out the following service medals. Congratulations to all brigade members and thank you for your service.
Service awards presented on the night by Loddon Mallee Regional Director Pat O’Brien
5 year
Graeme Collins
10 year
Patrick Rochford
15 year
Joan Harry
20 year
Thomas Harry
Mark Holt
25 year
Darryl Collins
Russell Mitchell
30year
Ian Chappel
Peter Collins
John Douglas
Lindsay Mitchell
Trevor Mitchell
35 year
Ronald Mitchell
Ian Rankin
Kenneth Fiedler
50 year
Giles Cary
Gordon McKay
Kelvin Mitchell
Fenton Phillips
Joe Chappel
55 year
Phillip Collins
Robert Field
Thomas Honey
Neil Mitchell
William Mitchell
James Rooke
Absent members yet to receive their service awards
5 year
Shelley Horder
Robyn Phillips
10 year
Ross Cary
Andrew Chappel
Marita Chappel
David Robinson
15 year
Gregory Trethowan
20 year
Russell Hocking
25 year
Robert Bacon
Paul Slatter
30 year
Ronald Chappel
Peter Jensen
Lindsay Mitchell
35 year
Graham Chappel
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