From the earliest days of settlement in the shire, residents demonstrated their willingness to band together in times of crisis and need. "Bushfires were always a terrifying prospect and since its establishment in 1935, the local fire brigade (later the Country Fire Authority) fought hard to protect the people, homes and animals of the shire. In 1966, the Mount Cottrell Fire Brigades Group was formed as a way of consolidating the smaller groups around Melton, Rockbank, Toolern Vale, Sydenham, Truganina and Werribee. Its headquarters were established at the home of Ernest ‘Bon’ and Edna Barrie in Ferris Road, Melton. Captain Bon Barrie was a member of the Melton Fire Brigade and elected group and communications officer of the new Mount Cottrell Brigades Group.22 Wendy Barrie, daughter of Edna and Bon, remembers the fire truck parked at their house and her mother operating the fire brigade’s radio. Growing up in the fire station headquarters, Wendy and her siblings learned how to use the radio too, in case of emergencies".Rural Fire Brigade's Group List of Authorised Officers including the captains and lieutenantsemergency services

This fire station was closed and a new one opened on Maroondah Highway on the site of the old miner's cottage near the corner of the Highway and Mt Dandenong Road.Five coloured photographs of the Ringwood fire station at 255 Maroondah Highway and of the fireman's house when it was sold. It later became 'The Fire Station Restaurant.'

This fire station was closed and a new one opened on Maroondah Highway on the site of the old miner's cottage near the corner of the Highway and Mt Dandenong Road.Five coloured photographs of the Ringwood fire station at 255 Maroondah Highway and of the fireman's house when it was sold. It later became 'The Fire Station Restaurant.'

An A4 sized directory of 119 pages including an index and maps. The volume has black plastic spiral binding and laminate cover.This publication was been prepared to meet the need in the rural community for a "Rural Directory". Its primary purpose was to decrease the time taken by fire brigades and other services responding to emergency calls. It provides maps of the whole region as well as selected towns. It also includes a localities index, map legends and a road index.victorian country fire authority, fire protection regions, cfa region 24

The memorial wall was constructed in 2010 to coincide with brigade's 75th anniversary. The wall represents the brigade members that have passed away while as members in the line of duty has served more than fifteen years of service to the Melton Fire Brigade. This wall is the relocation of the historic time capsule from the old fire station to to its new location in Henry Street.Booklet for the unveiling of Melton Fire Brigade Memorial Wallemergency services

Colour photo in brown, wooden frame 7 cream coloured matt board. Depicting a Centurion tank, bulldozer and 6 soldiers inside Fire Support Base Coral.My Vietnam collection. Fire Support Base Coral, Vietnam 1968 @ Fred Bowden.fire support base - coral

It is not certain who this young fire brigade member is or when the photograph was taken. A photograph of a group of young fire brigade members wearing similar uniforms is Registration no. 98. In this photograph, believed to have been taken around 1880, are Jim Nicol, George Bennett, Bob Cornish and Jim Wishart.Sepia photograph mounted on grey card, studio portrait of young man in fire brigade uniform. Unidentified member of Linton Fire Brigade, possibly Bob Cornish, late 19th centurylinton fire brigade

Black and white photograph of firemen in fire truck outside fire station. (3 copies)Caption below photograph reads, "Ringwood Fire Brigade - Old Station at rear of Old Town Hall in Melbourne Street - 1929" Written on backing sheet, "1. George Burns, 2. Sam Brown, 3. David Anderson, 4. Les Jones (Driver), 5. Clarence Burns, 6. Roy Sedgman, 7. Jack Wilkins. 1912 Hotchkiss".

Fire Brigade Memorabilia Display. There are 8 coloured photos in Album 9B of the display all taken 03.09 2003. On display are photos, trophies, equipment and uniforms of the Fire Brigade Members.Coloured photograph of Fire Brigade memorabilia display showing, Various items in lighted cabinetstawell

Fire Brigade Memorabilia Display. There are 8 coloured photos in Album 9B of the display all taken 03.09 2003. On display are photos, trophies, equipment and uniforms of the Fire Brigade Members.Coloured photograph of Fire Brigade memorabilia display showing, Various communications equipment used.stawell

2nd INF Bde 1927 Fire Discipline AwardGoblet with no handles. and text inscribed as follows@nd INF bde 1927 Fire Discipline A COY 6th BTN5/6 rvr, 5/6 rvr alpha company, fire discipline award, 2nd inf bde 1927 fire discipline award

Fire Brigade Training Track – North Park - 2015Colour Photograph of bitumen track used for fire fighting training. Looking weststawell

Fire Brigade Training Track – North Park - 2015Colour Photograph of bitumen track used for fire fighting training. Looking weststawell

Fire Brigade Training Track – North Park - 2015Colour Photograph of bitumen track used for fire fighting training. Looking weststawell

Fire Brigade Training Track – North Park - 2015Colour Photograph of bitumen track used for fire fighting training. Looking weststawell

Fire Brigade Training Track – North Park - 2015Colour Photograph of bitumen track used for fire fighting training. Looking weststawell

The memorial wall was constructed in 2010 to coincide with brigade's 75th anniversary. The wall represents the brigade members that have passed away while as members in the line of duty has served more than fifteen years of service to the Melton Fire Brigade. This wall is the relocation of the historic time capsule from the old fire station to to its new location in Henry Street. Relatives of Melton Fire brigade members at the unveiling of the memorial wall.emergency services, local identities

Fire Brigade Memorabilia Display. There are 8 coloured photos in Album 9B of the display all taken 03.09 2003. On display are photos, trophies, equipment and uniforms of the Fire Brigade Members.Coloured photograph of Fire Brigade memorabilia display showing, Various displays, inc Uniforms and Photgraphsstawell

Fire Brigade Memorabilia Display. There are 8 coloured photos in Album 9B of the display all taken 03.09 2003. On display are photos, trophies, equipment and uniforms of the Fire Brigade Members.Coloured photograph of Fire Brigade memorabilia display showing, A Model of a Poppet head and Hose nozzles.stawell

In its policy of creating smaller compact groups of fire brigades the Country Fire Authority Regional Officer Harry Rothsay in 1967 requested that the following 6 brigades surrounding Mt Cottrell transfer from their respective groups. Melton and Rockbank from Bacchus Marsh Group, Toolern Vale and Sydenham from Mt Macedon Group and Truganina and Werribee from Little River Group forming a new Group to the be named Mt Cottrell Fire Brigades Group. Group Headquarters was established at the Ferris road residence of Melton Captain E W Bon Barrie, who was elected Group and Communications Officer of Mt Cottrell. E W (Eddie) Gillespie and Keith Watt of the Toolern Vale brigade were appointed Deputy Group Officer and Group Secretary respectively. Documents from the Mount Cottrell Fire Brigade Group emergency services

The Charlton Fire Station was built in 1931.Colour photograph of the Charlton Fire Station. A single storey red brick building with a white frontage. A large entrance and three high high windows down the side. There is a plaque on the LH side of the main entrance that can't be clearly read.. The signage above the main entrance reads C.F.B.B. FIRE STATION 1931 There is a light above this sign. The fire tower is at the rear of the building. There is a low railing fence on the right side.charlton fire station, charlton fire brigade

An Australian Government sponsored detailed description of the Battle of Fire Bases Coral/Balmoral - an important Australian battle in the Vietnam War.A detailed but easy to read recount of a major Australian battle in the Vietnam War. Thin book, very dark in color for front and back covers; front cover shows soldier on watch, back cover shows (in negative) two soldiers jumping into shallow dugout.Vietnam 1968/The Battle of Fire Support Bases Coral/Balmoral.vietnam, vietnam war, battle, coral/balmoral, diamond valley vietnam veterans, fire support base

In the 1950s with the introduction two-way HF and later VHF very high frequency radio sets. Melton Rural Fire Brigade was part of the Bacchus Marsh Group. Radio sets where located in the Melton Fire Truck, and in the house of the Barrie family at Ferris Road. This was an ideal location to observe a 360 degree view in all directions when smoke appeared on the horizon. An antenna was erected beside the house. The set OX 7 was located in the kitchen and monitored 24 hours by the family. When an electrical fire occurred at the junction of the electricity to the house there was time to radio the fire station and summons the men working in the paddocks, thus saving the house from possible destruction. With the introduction of UHF – ultra high frequency Vinten Radios the signal was clearer and static and interference lessened and radio traffic became easier to read, and reduced noise levels in the household. VL3 LY Radio Base became the Group Headquarters was established in 1967. By 1970 the Brigades were: Melton, Rockbank, Sydenham, Toolern Vale, Diggers Rest, Truganina, and Werribee. In 1974 when the family moved to First Avenue, another antenna and a small building were erected adjacent to the residence and used to house the equipment, maps. Radio traffic consisted of regular schedule times and communication with adjoining groups of brigades such as Bacchus Marsh, Mt Macedon and Little River Groups. Many of the brigade and group base radios were situated in private residences and operated primarily by fire fighters wives who held the position of Communications Officer, either registered as a brigade member or informally. Edna was never registered as an operational brigade member but operated informally as an assistant to her husband Bon. She was however a member of the Melton Fire Brigade Ladies Auxiliary from its inception in 1968, a non-operational position. Edna kept up to date with radio procedure following the 1967 handbook; preparing maps, plotting compass points and taking notes on weather forecasts from the SA Border and Western District. Daily notes were taken in anticipation of fire warnings. These log books and daily radio traffic were incidental to the regular radio schedules. Emergency turnouts noted, burning off times and predicted location of smoke. In the summer fire season all TBF (total fire ban days were recorded.) In times of emergency the Barrie family assisted Bon the base radio operator to plot the position and location of fire trucks and to help clarify garbled radio traffic, keep notes and make telephone calls. These log books are held in the EE and EW Family Archive. Items selected by Wendy Barrie for viewing Melton Fire Brigade celebrationsemergency services, local identities

Fire Brigade Memorabilia Display. There are 8 coloured photos in Album 9B of the display all taken 03.09 2003. On display are photos, trophies, equipment and uniforms of the Fire Brigade Members.Coloured photograph of Fire Brigade memorabilia display showing, Various items on table inc. Photos and Trophies.stawell

Fire Brigade Memorabilia Display. There are 8 coloured photos in Album 9B of the display all taken 03.09 2003. On display are photos, trophies, equipment and uniforms of the Fire Brigade Members.Coloured photograph of Fire Brigade memorabilia display showing, Various items in a cabinet inc. Photos and Trophiesstawell

Bushfire Prevention Week was initiated by the Forests Commission in 1930. Victoria’s State Governor, Lord Somers, the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Sir Harold Luxton and the newly appointed Minister for Forests, William Beckett launched the innovative campaign with great flourish to 250 invited guests at Melbourne’s opulent Town Hall on Monday 13 January 1930. Special church sermons had been held previously on Sunday. The packed program of gala events included lavish luncheon talks at city clubs, scholarly lectures broadcast on the wireless, together with daily articles in the Melbourne and country press about the pressing need for fire prevention. The slogan for the ground-breaking campaign was… Prevent Bush Fires – It Pays… The Shell Petrol Company of Australia supplied 15000 windshield stickers, the British Australasian Tobacco Company donated a large supply of stamp stickers, while many other companies drew attention to the campaign in their newspaper advertisements. The Victorian Railways and many city firms displayed special fire posters, while Bryant and May posted messages on their limited-edition matchbox covers which are now highly prized by phillumenists (i.e. matchbox collectors). The Postmaster General's Department franked postage stamps and letters with special bushfire slogans. While plainclothes police were secretly deployed to the bush to arrest potential arsonists. Canvas and enamel fire prevention signs were erected on most roads leading to forest areas. Letters to the Editor later appeared in many city and country newspapers extolling the virtues of Bushfire Prevention Week and urging for its continuation as an annual event. Although a new idea for Australia, the Canadian Forest Service had been running a similar program for a few years. The Forests Commission in its 1929-30 Annual Report, under the title of "Propaganda", noted with some glee… "One of the most gratifying features of the ''Week" was its low cost to the Government, the major part of the publicity material being donated by private firms." And so for the next 50 years until the 1980s, Bushfire Prevention Week continued unabated with the Forests Commission producing a series of coloured “Magic Lantern” slides which were manufactured by Alex Gunn and Sons in Collins Street Melbourne for screening at Val Morgan cinemas. The slides famously introduced the menacing character, Willy Wildfire, warning motorists to be careful with matches. Now known as Fire Action Week, it remains a key event in the annual calendar for both DEECA and the CFA and is still going strong... These canvas fire awareness signs were used right throughout the period of the Forests Commission until the mid 1980sBushfire awareness signProtect your forests from firebushfire, forests commission victoria (fcv), forest signs

Formation of the Mt Cottrell Fire Brigades Group In its policy of creating smaller compact groups of fire brigades the Country Fire Authority Regional Officer Harry Rothsay in 1967 requested that the following 6 brigades surrounding Mt Cottrell transfer from their respective groups. Melton and Rockbank from Bacchus Marsh Group, Toolern Vale and Sydenham from Mt Macedon Group and Truganina and Werribee from Little River Group forming a new Group to the be named Mt Cottrell Fire Brigades Group. Group Headquarters was established at the Ferris road residence of Melton Captain E W Bon Barrie, who was elected Group and Communications Officer of Mt Cottrell. E W (Eddie) Gillespie and Keith Watt of the Toolern Vale brigade were appointed Deputy Group Officer and Group Secretary respectivelyRegion 14 Rural Fire Brigades Association First Annual Demonstration programmeemergency services