Upper Beaconsfield Fire Brigade celebrate centenary with mural unveiling

Credit: Upper Beaconsfield Fire Brigade

 

Upper Beaconsfield Fire Brigade has been serving their community for 100 years and this weekend they came together to celebrate the milestone.

 

The main event was held on Sunday 26 October with brigade members welcoming the community to their station for a day of festivities.

This included the long-awaited unveiling of the new mural that has been lovingly painted on the side of the station by artist Keira Slootjes.

The brigade has been operating since 1925, when a group of residents formed the initial Beaconsfield Upper Bush Fire Brigade. Local resident Ulick A'Beckett was the first Captain.

At this time there was no specialised firefighting equipment. Brigade members relied on horses to get to the fire and used gum boughs to beat out the flames.

In 1949, the brigade became one of the first to use radio communication to coordinate firefighting activities. While, in the early 1980s they continued to make history when they welcomed women.

Captain of the brigade, Ian Pinney said it was fabulous to be able to celebrate the brigade's history and everything they have achieved in the last 100 years.

“We have a long history, and we have had many milestones, and many challenges,” Ian said.

“It has been great to be able to celebrate everything we have done for the community over that time, and everything they have done for us.”

One such challenge was when the town was completely destroyed by the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires that swept across Victoria.

The Upper Beaconsfield blaze took the lives of 21 people, including 12 firefighters.

“It certainly was a challenging time, but we try and focus on the good where we can, whilst remembering those we lost,” Ian said.

Now the brigade is stronger than ever with 54 members, and 31 of them as operational firefighters. The brigade also has a non-operational auxiliary that turns 50 this year.

Ian said the mural was a celebration of the brigade's entire history, from the first truck, a 1920s T model Ford, all the way through to their most recent one.

“It is honouring our membership past and present, and it is something to be really proud of,” Ian said.

“We are hoping that people will actually come to visit the mural like they visit the silo art in the area, and it can become something really special for the whole town.”

“We would like to thank everyone who helped us put this together, our sponsors, and of course Keira, we are really so grateful.”

Alongside the mural unveiling on Sunday, they hosted their Get Fire Ready event, helping to inform the community about the upcoming season and what they can do to be best prepared.

“With everything that has changed in the past hundred years, we are still here to help the community, that will never change,” Ian said.

 

Submitted by	CFA media