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

Invitations to the official opening of the fire station and a letter to the community about the brigade emergency services

Edna Barrie was a member of the Melton Fire Brigade Ladies Auxiliary from its inception in 1968, a non-operational positionEdna Barrie's copy of Melton Fire Brigade Ladies Aux Constitution and list of membersemergency services, local identities

C.E Barrie was the Urban brigade's first captain. November 19, 1975, Page 2 OBITUARY Ex-Captain C E BARRIE Over 50 firemen attended the funeral of Ex- Captain Edgar Barrie of Melton Fire Brigade who died at the age of 62 on Thursday 16th October, 1975. Edgar was a volunteer fireman for 33 years, all of this service with the Melton Rural and Urban Fire Brigades. He joined the rural brigade in February 1942 was Secretary 1942 until 1965 when he became Captain as position he held until 1973. He was the urban brigade’s first Captain when it was formed in 1970 and held this position until 1971. The fire service runs in the Barrie family, brother Bon was Captain of the rural brigade from 1953 to 1965 relinquishing the position to become Group Officer of the Mt Cottrell Group, a position he still holds. Another brother Tom has been a member since 1941, nephew Peter has been a member since 1962 and Edgar’s son Vivian has been a member since 1971. Firemen, led by Snr. A/C/O Max Taylor, A/C/O Harry Rothsay, R/O Arthur Haynes and retired R/O Jim Dinsdale formed a guard of honour at the church and cemetery. A/C/O Rothsay read the Fireman’s Funeral Ritual at the graveside. Edgar who was a farmer, leaves a wife and four children. Sympathy is extended to them in their loss. Six members from the Melton Urban Brigade including Captain C.E Barrie, Secretary Dale Blampied, Lieutenant Steve Hirt, Apparatus Officer Graham Quick and Foreman Barry Sherwell.local identities, emergency services

Erected 1974, dismantled 2000s. The Headquarters was operated from the family home at Ferris road at its inception, and in 1974 to the Barrie home at First Avenue Melton South. A storage office and Radio Tower was erected in the yard. A connection phone line was linked to the home of Wayne and Lynn Sullivan who lived at the rear in Kurrajong Cr later became LY remote. Wayne later became Communications Officer and the Headquarters moved location to the Melton Fire Station. The Mount Cotterill Group encompassed the Rural Fire Brigades of Melton, Rockbank, Sydenham, Toolern Vale, Truganina, and Werribee and later Diggers Rest. In the stage of transition from H.F.( High Frequency) to Very High Frequency some radio sets were non CFA Tankers when the group was established. Antenna was at 19 First Avenue, Melton.emergency services

Taken at EWS Ferris Road. The fire brigade was formed in 1970, Edgar Barrie was the Urban brigade's first Captain from 1970 to 1973. Peter Barrie joined in 1962. Barry Sherwell was foreman in 1971. Barry Sherwell, Edgar Barrie and Peter Barrie, Melton Urban fire brigade members.local identities, emergency services

Melton Urban Fire Brigade started in 1935. 1942, it had been registered with the BUSH FIRE BRIGADE COMMITTEE and a Certificate of Registration No 425 was issued. The Officers were as follows:- 1st Lieutenant E.W. Barrie 2nd Lieutenant T.L. Barrie 3rd Lieutenant Tom Knox In 1945 the C.F.A. became the controlling authority. Prior to this date D24 was the Nerve Centre of the Fire Fighting System with representatives of Country Fire Brigades, Forests Commission and D24. This information was in a typed document prepared by Edna Barrie 1975 Captains (approx dates) Constable ROY CORBETT BON BARRIE EDGAR BARRIE URBAN EDGAR BARRIE STEVE HIRT Captains who followed Roy Corbett List of known Captains 1935 – 1975 Jack Wallace Roy Corbett Bon Barrie Edgar Barrie Steve Hirt Members of Melton Urban Fire Brigadeemergency services, local identities

Members at Melton Fire Station, corner of McKenzie and Alexandra Street.emergency services, local identities

Handwritten notes from Edna Barrie: 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. Steve Hirst and Harry Rothsay at Melton Fire Stationlocal identities, emergency services

Edna Barrie was a member of the Melton Fire Brigade Ladies Auxiliary from its inception in 1968, a non-operational position.The Ladies Auxiliary members at Melton Fire Stationlocal identities, emergency services

Bunnings and Melton Fresh replaced Magnet Store in Bakery Square.Members of the Melton Fire Brigade at the opening of the 'Magnet Store' in Bakery Squarelocal identities, emergency services, local significant events

Ladies Auxilairy members organised fundraisers and in 1977, there was a ball organised in 1977. The theme was mock debutante. Fire brigade members at their Mock Debutante ball. The members are doing the deb dance. local identities, emergency services

Lyn Blampied and Partner 'Miss' Allister Newlands being presented to Shire President Jeff and Mrs Rita Robinson by G.O Bon Barrie and Ednalocal identities, emergency services

Left to Right: Allister and Sonia Newlands, Graeme Wood, Ian Hurley, Bev Gillespie, Rob Radford, Graeme Gilland and Peter Barrielocal identities, emergency services

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

Ernest W (Bon) Barrie, 1909 – 1985 Melton Fire Brigade (and predecessor Bush Fire Brigade) Apparatus Officer, 1945 - 1953 Captain, 1951 - 1965 Mt Cotterill Fire Brigades’ Group Elected Group Officer, on the formation of the Group, 1967. As Group Communications Officer he operated the VL3 LY base radio station from home on a 24 hour basis for fire brigades of Melton, Rockbank, Sydenham, Diggers Rest, Toolern Vale, Truganina and Werribee. With his brother Edgar, he built the first Melton Fire Truck. It was housed on the family property until a fire station was constructed in the Melton township. Recipient of the Queens Medal, 1979 Recognised for 44 years of service on the Melton Fire Brigade Memorial Wall Plaque, dedicated May 2013 Mt Cotterell Fire Brigades G H Q and aerial was erected at No 17 - 19 First Avenue in 1974 at the home of Edna and Bon Barrie. Previously the Mt Cotterell Group VL3LY communication headquarters occupied their h ome in Ferris road at its inception in 1967. The First Avenue headquarters and map room, with radio equipment was also housed at the residence. It was operated with an additional cable connection to Fireman Wayne Sullivan (Deputy C/O) who resided at the rear in Kurrajong Cr.Section of the Melton Fire Brigade Memorial wall with brigade members who have passed away while as members. emergency services, local identities

Unveiling of the Melton Fire Brigade memorial wall eventemergency services, local significant events

Councillor Jack Wallace of Rockbank, served 5 terms as President and was in the council for 46 years. Alex Knight and Jack Wallace at the opening of Melton private hospitallocal identities, local significant events, emergency services, council

Cooper served as Captain of the Bacchus Marsh Country Fire Authority. Dates unknownPortrait photo of Captain Jack Cooperlocal identities, emergency services

The Court House and Police Station would have be built between 1892-1900. The Constables in 1900 was McGuire, later Wade, Riely and McKenzie after that Robert Wilson and Seinfort were here, they were a bit later on. Information from reel to reel tape recording of Tom Collins in Melton 1969. Front and side views of the Court House, located near the corner of High street and Palmerston Street, Melton. emergency services, local architecture

View of High Street with the Police Station [House] and Court House in the background. Small house in McKenzie street on right in the distance. Land vacant prior to construction of Supermarket. Small house at the rear of Police Station. emergency services, local architecture

Bon Barrie, Graeme Cooper, N. Gillespie, Peter Barrie, Ken Robinson, Ray Allen, Tom Barrie, John Roaers and Graeme Gilliland, members of the Mt Cottrell Fire Brigades Group In the background of the photo is the pavilion during construction, Melton Recreation Park on Reserve Road.Melton South Trailer tank, pump and Syd Coopers Car at the Shire centenarycouncil, local significant events, emergency services

Region 14 Mount Cotterill Fire Brigades Group. In the back row is Bon Barrie, Keith Gillespie, Ross Backhouse, Peter Barrie, Edgar Barrie, Rob Radford, David Rintoul, Jim Patterson. Front Row: Les Gillespie, Graeme Gilliland, Ray Allen, Vic Allen and Steve Hirt.Melton CFA group wearing the new maroon and white practice gearemergency services, local identities

State and Regional demonstrations in Sunburyemergency services, local identities

Wal Lidgette, Bon Barrie, Harry Rothsay and Col Busse at the exercise in Seymouremergency services, local identities

As Group Communications Officer he operated the VL3 LY base radio station from home on a 24 hour basis for fire brigades of Melton, Rockbank, Sydenham, Diggers Rest, Toolern Vale, Truganina and Werribee. With his brother Edgar, he built the first Melton Fire Truck. It was housed on the family property until a fire station was constructed in the Melton township. Bon at his house on Ferris Road, Meltonlocal identities, emergency services

Col and Helen Busse were in the same fire brigade group with Bon and Edna Barrie.Presentation in front of t Len and Rebe Peters woolshedemergency services, local identities

Presentation at Melton Fire Brigade's pre-season dinner local identities, emergency services

Edgar Barrie, Captain of newly formed Urban Fire BrigadeIn CFA / Melton Urban Fire Brigade uniform. local identities, emergency services