By EMMA SUN
MONTROSE Fire Brigade is celebrating 75 years of serving the community this year.
The brigade’s extensive history stems as far back as the early 20th century, when it was noted a bush fire brigade of 50 volunteers were training in Montrose in November 1927.
Then on 9 November 1938, the Montrose Bush Fire Brigade was registered as a Class F Brigade in the Central Region, starting with 38 members, who each paid one pound membership. They used a gong to assemble the brigade and a church bell for raising the general alarm.
Captain Alf Milne led the crew through the 1939 fires, which saw a death toll of 71 and wiped some sawmilling towns off the map.
In 1943 the brigade purchased its first major piece of firefighting equipment, a Furphy, which was an agricultural water tanker mounted on skids so it could be carried away on any available vehicle.
The brigade’s new fire station was opened on 21 February 1946 and George Richards took the helm as captain.
Ted Adams, Jim Milbourne and Jack Earney followed on as captains, taking the brigade through tremulous times including the 1962 fires that spread through the hills. The aftermath of the fire saw 140 new members join the brigade and more than 1000 pounds donated for future equipment.
Mick Ryan received the baton as the next captain in 1989, leading the brigade through technological change where computers and modern electronic devices became commonplace.
“The Government provided stuff including radios and that sort of thing started to all come together,” he said.
“We found ways to incorporate them into the business of running a fire brigade and that sort of technology was really good in training and providing lesson plans.”
Mr Ryan said the growth of the town saw an increase in industrial fires, which were prominent during his time.
“At one stage, we went through several years of major factory industrial type of fires,” he said.
Rob Earney followed on as captain in 1995, during a time where management practices changed dramatically.
“Although the brigade was a community-based organisation that’s volunteer run, it became more of a business,” he said.
“The community changed to more of an urbanised community and our image as a volunteer fire brigade sort of got lost along the way. “So we had to start marketing ourselves, improving our image, getting out to the community to be seen as a worthwhile and credible organisation.”
Significant events included the 1997 fires in the Dandenongs, and a fire to a nightclub in Kilsyth that left a damage bill of $7 million.
Current captain Stuart McCall took on the leading role in 2003, facing several significant fires outside of the Montrose area.
“We haven’t had any fires in the Dandenongs, but we’ve been supporting fire areas such as in Gippsland, the 2009-10 fires,” he said.
“We had significant involvement in initial day response, including the fire in Ferntree Gully, and also Kinglake and Healesville.”
While the brigade has seen both tough and glorious times, Mr Earney said the anniversary was a good chance to thank those who normally wouldn’t get much recognition.
“Through the achievements of the brigade, there are the unsung heroes, the people behind the people, the wives and the sons and daughters, and even for the likes of myself, the employee,” he said.
“These people all support you behind the scene by picking up the pieces when you’re not there, whether it be my wife taking the kids to an event, while I’m at a meeting or my employee picking up the slack when I’m at a fire.”
