General News
11 September, 2023
Fireys celebrate with a grand station opening
Residents were given a rare glimpse inside a fire station during the opening of the new Warracknabeal and Dimboola fire stations at the weekend. Officially opened on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, the Warracknabeal and Dimboola fire stations...
Residents were given a rare glimpse inside a fire station during the opening of the new Warracknabeal and Dimboola fire stations at the weekend.
Officially opened on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, the Warracknabeal and Dimboola fire stations have been many years in the making, coming to fruition following the 2020 announcement of a $2.2 million grant for Warracknabeal and $2 million for Dimboola.
About 100 people gathered at the new Warracknabeal station in Jamouneau Street for the opening, which included displays of old and new fire trucks, the SES, police and the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and community group involvement including a Rotary barbecue and drinks stall hosted by Warracknabeal Guides.
Members marked the occasion by marching from the old station in Devereux Street to the new location, standing to attention as Country Fire Authority assistant chief fire officer Mark Dean welcomed the community to the celebration.
"It's great to see the rich community involvement here today," Mr Dean said.
CFA board member Beth Davidson, a fourth-generation CFA member, said while it was wonderful to have such a "fabulous facility", the day was about also celebrating the brigade members and their families.
"It doesn't matter how good the station is, if no one is using it it's just a pile of bricks and mortar," Mrs Davidson said.
"It's you, the members who bring your skills, experience and time to your community," she said.
"Thank you also to your families, who often experience interrupted meals and the like as you rush off to emergencies."
These sentiments were echoed by CFA deputy chief officer Brett Boatman, who commented on the fantastic culture of the Warracknabeal brigade and how "most important to the CFA is the work you do in the community".
"The celebration was our way of giving a huge thank you to the community," Warracknabeal Fire Brigade captain Cameron Whelan said.
"Without (the community) supporting us by having us service fire extinguishers, we would not have the size or quality of the facility we do.
"It's another major asset for the town."
Following the destruction of his store by fire in 1889, Robert Smith gifted the brigade the land on which the first fire station stood in Scott Street, with a second site opening in 1900 as a result of the brigade expanding.
A third building opened in 1948 and a fourth in 1983 at the then-huge cost of $180,000, before the new station was constructed.
"Engineers discovered some structural issues at the old station in 2013-14, leading to the building of the new facility, which has many improvements that will increase the brigade's operational capacity," Mr Whelan said.
"One of the major changes is having an area in which members can change, away from the smoke of the engines in the engine bay.
"This will greatly reduce the risk of illness."
A number of firefighters, auxiliary and junior members were presented with service awards on the day, including Angus Byron and Matt Liston - five years; Jason Wright - 10 years; Geoff Ward - 20 years; and Ken Peters and Craig Byron - 25 years.
With 110 years of combined membership of the CFA, Robert Sharp, Ron Zanker and Colin Newell were presented with honorary life memberships of the Warracknabeal Fire Brigade for 45, 50 and 55 years of service, respectively.
Following the formal part of the proceedings, Mr Dean and Mrs Davidson were escorted by Mr Whelan to inspect the members and learn some of the brigade's history.
Auxiliary life member Gwen Steinmeyer, who has been a stalwart of the Warracknabeal brigade for 60-plus years, said that while the station was "a while coming, it was worth the wait".
"I joined the auxiliary when I married my later-husband, Bill," Mrs Steinmeyer said.
"He was heavily involved in the brigade so I was thrown into it as well.
"There have been a lot of changes over the years but many happy times also, including catering for weddings and to raise money for the brigade, as well as going away to the big demos."
Along with several other families with multi-generational involvement in the brigade, Mrs Steinmeyer also has a son, a grandson and a great-grandson in the CFA.
Auxiliary president Melanie Bentley said it was "a proud moment" seeing the junior members marching and representing the brigade at the opening - a sentiment that was echoed by members Kynan Jonasson, 19, and Declan Whelan, 18, who described the opening as "really good".
Long-serving member and ex-captain Ray Duffield said the new station would be "so much better and more convenient" for members after spending 40 years in the former faciltity.