|
|
HISTORY OF THE DAYBORO & DISTRICT
RURAL FIRE BRIGADE
|
The Dayboro Bush Fire Brigade was implemented after a circular was distributed to dairy farmers via milk tanker drivers. A meeting was convened 5th July 1970.
WN Rowe was elected Chairman, a position Bill held until 14th September 2002.
LK Stubbings was elected Secretary, position held until 1st October 1980.
GS Bell elected Chairman 14th September 2002. Glenn still holds this position in 2009.
TA Weston elected as Secretary/Treasurer on the 1st October 1980. Alwyn is the current Secretary. MK Weston elected Treasurer 10th September 2003 and currently holds this position.
Fire Wardens were elected at the convened meeting held on 5th July 1970.
| Laceys Creek | | GJ Costelloe 5th July 1970 - 20th October 1980
JG Stubbings 20th October 1980 - 12th November 2003
RJ Baker 11th February 2004 - current Fire Warden 2009 |
|
Mt Pleasant | | JA Kuhn - 5th July 1970 - 14th February 2002
SJ Chambers - 14th September 2002 - current Fire Warden 2009 |
|
Dayboro area | | WN Rowe - 5th July 1970 - 11th October 2006
Bill received on Australia Day Award for his services
GC Fuller - 11th October 2006 - current Fire Warden 2009 |
The aim of the Bush Fire Brigade in 1970 was to protect life and property and conserve grass and fodder for cattle in dry periods.
The Brigade was a class 1 Brigade, that is Volunteers using their own equipment to extinguish a fire.
Equipment used in the 1970's consisted of knapsacks, chip hoes, rakes, wet bags and bushes to beat out the flames. Milk cans were used to carry water to fill the knapsacks.
From the 1980's until 2000 farm machinery further developed and members used their 4WD tractors equipped with front blades and 400 - 600 litre spray tanks. This equipment is excellent for
fire suppression and is still called on in our district today.
As farms became unviable the land has been divided into smaller portions. Many more people enjoy the rural lifestyle. With foresight, the members of the Dayboro & District Rural Fire Brigade
upgraded to a Class 2 Brigade in 2000 enabling them to collect a fire levy to fund the purchase of fire fighting appliances, communication systems and other fire fighting equipment. The levy
was used for the construction of a station.
The Dayboro & District Rural Fire Brigade has 32 trained volunteer fire fighters who can be informed of an incident instantly by paging a SMS to mobile phones.
The Brigade has acquired a slip on unit and 2 medium attack appliances. A station was constructed with three truck bays, administration and training area and incident control room. The new
building was opened in August 2008 and has been designed to service the 207 square kilometres district for future years.
|
|
