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

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 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, public services

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

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

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

Participated in the Formation of Mt Cottrell Fire Brigades Group in 1967Article featuring Stephen John Hirt, Captain of CFA Melton Urban and Rural Fire Brigades.local identities, emergency services

The magazine covers details of the 2006-07 bushfires in Victoria. On page 31 Region 24 list includes towns in the Kiewa Valley. The Kiewa Valley is under constant threat of bush fires during summer. Local fire brigades assist in the protection of residents.The Kiewa Valley was affected by the 2006-07 bushfires. Residents are encouraged to have a fire plan, to be knowledgeable about bush fires and to be ready to leave their homes when under threat. The local towns each have a fire brigade which includes volunteers. On page 18, 'The Yellow Line" - Photo of Kiewa Valley (Mt Beauty and Tawonga) Crews.Glossy coloured photograph of firemen on the front cover and raging fire on the back cover. 31 pages2006 - 2007 bushfires, kiewa valley fire crews

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

The photograph was taken in 1955 or 1956 at a fire brigades demonstration or competition. The inscription on the back of the photograph says the team "won both times".Black and white copy of original photograph showing members of the Willowvale Fire Brigade.On back: "1955 or 1956 / won both times".willowvale fire brigade, mannibadar

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

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, photos, equipment, uniforms and trophies used by Brigade members over the years. stawell

Part of a collection from Mrs Jessie Smith. The Isle of Wight Hotel was destroyed by fire 1926. At the time it was one of two Hotels on the Island.After the fire at Isle of Wight Hotel, 1926, showing chimneys standing and debris in foreground.local history, photographs, isle of wight hotel, cowes, phillip island, sepia photograph, building fire, the esplanade cowes, jessie smith collection, stan mcfee

1952 Austin, Series 11, front mounted Fire PumperRegistration XF 472, CFA logo on cabin doors, "Austin" badge on front of bonnet.front, 1952, fire, truck, pump, austin, country, authority, cfa, mounted

Buninyong Fire Brigade in uniform shown in front of new Headquarters possibly shown at an opening ceremony c1899. The original Merryweather can be seen at the right of the photograph.Possibly shows the opening of the new Headquarters with the members of the brigade in uniformBlack and white photograph of Old Buninyong Fire Brigade in uniform in front of Headquarters c1899 fire brigade, fire station, merryweather

Two photos of Stawell Fire Brigade Pump Presentation 1931 in front of Town Hall. "Delivery of First Pumper, 21st January 1931. Left to right C. Newton; R. Chapman, Captain; H. Metcalf: D. Brown; P. Fenwich; H. Dunn: Front Row; C. Brown, Mayor; H. Chapman, Foreman; J. Trengrove, Engineer CFBB; Chief Officer Chellow CFBB; W.G. Sharpley, Town Clerk; P. Ledger; H. Dunn; J. Martin" 1931 Aussie Gardiner Motor Pump. Names were copied from Brigade History "Ready to Save" by S. Bennett. 1998.Two black and white photos. One of a large group of people around a fire engine with people in uniform surrounding the fire engine. The second photos is a close up of the fire engine and the people on board.