The largest ever firefighting aircraft fleet will be rolled out in Victoria, ahead of growing bushfire warnings.News article 1 page, black text.firefighting, aircraft, bushfires, bushfire management

This model of knapsack sprayer was used for both agricultural and firefighting purposes throughout Australia. The manufacturer, A. Simpson & Son who had a long history as a prominent metals manufacturer in Adelaide, South Australia. Alfred Simpson arrived in South Australia in 1849 and by the mid 1950s had established himself as a tinsmith. His son, also Alfred, joined the business in 1864. By the time of Alfred senior's death in 1891, A. Simpson and Son had the largest metal manufacturing plant in Australia. The business was incorporated in 1910, with Alfred as chairman, and his sons Allen and Frederick as directors. During World War I the company also manufactured munitions as well as ordnance. In the 1920s the company expanded into the production of tools for use in agriculture and in the 1940s they began the manufacture of whitegoods. In 1963 A. Simpson and Son merged with Pope Industries to form Simpson Pope Holdings.This item is representative of agricultural equipment used throughout Australia by a major Australian manufacturer. They were used extensively in the Wodonga district. A Backpack Sprayer unit made from galvanised iron used for agricultural and fire-fighting purposes. It has a nozzle spray attachment and originally had leather straps.On side: SIMPSON PAT. 11?472 23/7/39fire equipment, a. simpson & son, agricultural tools

White CFA (Country Fire Authority) firefighters helmet. White helmets are issued to CFA group Officers and Deputy Group Officers. This style of helmet was used by CFA rural fire brigades from the 1980s to the 1990s. They are known as V-Guard helmets, due to the V shaped moulding on the top From the Chiltern Fire Brigade Historical Collection. This helmet was used by the CFA Pilot Group Officer and Chiltern Chiltern Rural Fire Brigade firefighter during the 1990s White moulded polycarbonate rural firefighting helmet with red reflective stripes. The helmet has a raised moulded V, pointing forward, giving the helmet its name of V-Guard. The brim is of the rural firefighting helmet design which was narrower than the urban firefighting helmet design. The back of the brim is slightly wider than the front. The helmet has a plastic liner. The chin strap is missing. There is a sticker on the front containing the CFA eight pointed star. 1960's white fire fighter's helmet, chiltern valley resident bill hotson fire fighting helmet

Until 1911 Cheltenham had a local Voluntary Fire Brigade. In that year the Metropolitan Fire Brigade was formed and through it a hall was built on the Highway at a cost of £350. Eight years later a brick house costing £1151 was added. There were two full time firemen; several others served part time. In 1960 the fire protection system was re-organised; the building on the Highway was demolished and replaced by the Ambulance Station.Two images on one strip of negative film. The first image is a black and white image of five firefighters pictured inside Cheltenham Fire Station, Nepean Highway. The second image is of the firefighting truck at the station.

Metal firefighting knapsack.Fire fighting equipment

Created by the Creswick Woollen Mills for wildland firefighting. Has CFA logoRed fire blanket containg aramid core with wool stiched to either side. White CFA logo locatted in the centre top of the blanket. Creator's label stiched in white to the bottom right corner of the blanket. Moth damage brings to the surface aramid core in one small section.White CFA logo stuck on front top centre of blanket. Bottom right corner has white sthiched maker's tag.

Fire Fighting Extingusher Tank Old style firefighting extinguisher, for use on very small firesHistoric - Railways Permanent Way and Works - track equipment - Fire Fighting Extingusher TankMetal Fire Fighting Extingusher Tank with rubber hosepuffing billy, fire fighting extingusher tank

Firefighting pump No.2. Wisconsin pump, made in Australia under licence by Ronadlson Bros and Tippett Ltd. Petrol motor.Fire fighting equipment

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection. A black and white photograph of Contact, Contact, Contacts, late afternoon strength section, TAOR patrol, Long Binh Operation Federal 14th March 1969, 7 Platoon, C Company 4 RAR/NZ (ANZAC) ,back as 7 Platoon area a digger burns the uniforms and packs captured during the firefightphotograph, long binh, operation federal, 7 platoon, c coy, 4rar nz, taor patrol, gibbons collection catalogue, anzac, digger, denis gibbons

Coloured certificate from 1900 Country Fire Brigades Board Castlemaine Demonstration for 1st prize in the discipline event for brigades of 30 men. Certificate has various pictures of fire activities, a horse drawn steam pumper, a mannual pump at a multi story building fire, a multi story building fire with a fireman up a ladder, a number of brigades marching and a bell ringing. There are various pieces of firefighting equipment around the border of the picture. Certificate is signed by the President, Chief officer and Secretary of the CFBBTHE COUNTRY FIRE BRIGADES BOARD, VICTORIA / CASTLEMAINE / DEMONSTRATION / 1900 / Discipline Certificate / FOR BRIGADES OF 30 MEN / FIRST PRIZE / Awarded to / Ballarat Fire Brigade / President / Chief Officer / Secretary

In 1937 Sigmund Pumps company founded by Miroslav Sigmund, in Czechoslovakia; and successfully tendered for a British government contract to make firefighting pumps. In 1938 they moved to Britain soon after Hitler's annexation of Austria. Sigmund Pumps (Great Britain) Ltd was founded at the Team Valley trading estate in Gateshead By 1939, 3000 pumps had been manufactured at the new factory.Sigmund two handle pump with hoseSigmund Pumps (Great Britain)forests commission victoria (fcv), fire pump, bushfire

In 1937 Sigmund Pumps company founded by Miroslav Sigmund, in Czechoslovakia; and successfully tendered for a British government contract to make firefighting pumps. In 1938 they moved to Britain soon after Hitler's annexation of Austria. Sigmund Pumps (Great Britain) Ltd was founded at the Team Valley trading estate in Gateshead By 1939, 3000 pumps had been manufactured at the new factory.Sigmund two handle pump level pumpforests commission victoria (fcv), fire pump, bushfire

Back in the 1980s there was a house fire in Tawonga South. During the firefight water was sourced from a street hydrant via a standpipe, fog nozzles were utilised on all hoses, and subsequently water flow from all nozzles started to reduce to low volumes due to becoming blocked from gravel within the water main.. The whole water supply was turned off at the standpipe.This manifold was invented enabling only one delivery instead of all deliveries. SEC employees, living in Mt Beauty, designed and built the valve. It minimised the impact damage to water mains created by rapid shutoff of nozzles.Steel white water pipe with 8 outlets each with a red handle for turning water on or off and each with an outlet that can be screwed onto a pipe / hose. The base is white with the top narrow and the bottom wide. Embossed 125 / 200 ....,2 (symbol 'and a half')manifold, mt beauty fire brigade, firefighting equipment

.1 25 year bar - white background red lettering .2 30 year bar - navy background silver lettering .3 40 year bar - yellow background silver lettering .4 45 year bar - gold background black lettering .5 Medal attached to red ribbon supported by metal banner. Medal is round, white background with navy in centre. Gold enamel images of hose pump fittings and other firefighting regalia are imposed on the front of the medal. A gold coloured metal insignia is pinned to the red ribbon. A pin on a swivel is attached, this pin is used to attach to clothing. .1 25 YEARS .2 30 YEARS .3 40 YEARS .4 45 YEARS .5 LIFE MEMBER is on top of red ribbon, CLUNES is on bottom of red ribbon/INSCRIPTION on reverse of medal "Presented to J. T. Hardin from Officers & Members Clunes Urban Fire Brigade in appreciation of service 5-9-1986" j t hardin, sevice medals

Firefighting often requires walking through the rough bush with handtools to construct control likens. This carry pack was designed in-house to enable the safe transport of a small chainsaw See FIRE EQUIPMENT NOTE - 35 [ https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CKtcH-3rUlrtbE9dkNP27PYT2-raVVhF/view ] A fibreglass-moulded backpack to enable chainsaw operators to safely carry saws in rough or steep terrain. Weighing just 3 kg the backpack is fitted with a padded shoulder harness, waist strap and includes two 1lt Sig Bottles for storage of a small quantity of fuel and oil. A separate storage compartment is also provided for accessories such as spare chain, sharpener and tool kit. Stihl 034 and 038 size chainsaws will fit into the backpack quite comfortably.Fibreglass carry pack for small chainsawCFLforests commission victoria (fcv), bushfire, hand tools

Among the many pressing priorities for Alf Lawrence, the Forests Commission's new Chief Fire Officer, in rebuilding the firefighting capacity after the catastrophic 1939 bushfires was to invest heavily in modern vehicles and equipment. Powered pumps like the trailer-mounted Coventry Climax (Godiva) gave firefighters a much greater capacity than ever before to put the “wet stuff on the red stuff”. Its four-cylinder, four-stroke, water-cooled, petrol motor produced 38Hp and was connected with either 1½ inch or 2½ inch canvas hose for direct attack, or as a filler pump it could deliver 300 gallons per minute at 120 psi. Some of the first acquisitions included this war surplus veteran shipped over from the London after the blitz bombings of WW2. Fire pump mounted on trailer Two lengths of suction hose, nozzles and some tools.Coventry Climax Serial 3844 FCV No 24fire pump, forests commission victoria (fcv)

Among the many pressing priorities for Alf Lawrence, the Forests Commission's new Chief Fire Officer, in rebuilding the firefighting capacity after the catastrophic 1939 bushfires was to invest heavily in modern vehicles and equipment. Powered pumps like the trailer-mounted Coventry Climax (Godiva) gave firefighters a much greater capacity than ever before to put the “wet stuff on the red stuff”. Its four-cylinder, four-stroke, water-cooled, petrol motor produced 38Hp and was connected with either 1½ inch or 2½ inch canvas hose for direct attack, or as a filler pump it could deliver 300 gallons per minute at 120 psi. Some of the first acquisitions included this war surplus veteran shipped over from the London after the blitz bombings of WW2. Fire pump mounted on trailer Two lengths of suction hose, nozzles and some tools. Modified from original design at Altona to include recoil battery starterCoventry Climax fire pump, forests commission victoria (fcv), bushfire

Conrad Wood (Woody) graduated from the Victorian School of Forestry in 1957, and after postings with the Forests Commission Victoria (FCV) at Swifts Creek and Sirex surveys, he gravitated into the Forest Protection Division in Head Office in the early 1960s. He championed the setting up of proper contractual arrangements for aviation and was involved in implementing the first ongoing, organised contracts for firebombing in eastern Victoria in the 1960s. An early recipient of a prestigious Churchill Fellowship, Woody travelled extensively throughout 1969 in North America and Europe studying aviation in forestry and firefighting. Afterwards he was very active amongst the Churchill alumni. Woody had a passion for innovation and new technology and was instrumental in introducing new aircraft types and new approaches for forest firefighting and forest management. Amongst many other things, he played a major role in organising the trial of a RAAF C130 equipped with MAFFS for firebombing in south-eastern Australia in 1982-84, even piloting the lead plane. His inimitable style was crucial in successfully bringing together the cultures of the myriad organisations involved. Con advocated for the introduction of helicopters. He developed aerial fertilising and seeding techniques for forest management. He even managed to get involved in cloud seeding experiments for forest fire suppression and for improving water yield. Along with aviation, Conrad was passionate about literature, football, politics, food, drink, motorbikes, gardening and Glen Iris, to name a few. He was a committed campaigner on social justice issues and for many years read for vision-impaired people on public radio. He died in 2014. This painting of Woody by notable Australian artist Joyce McGrath OAM (also a Churchill Fellow) was done in the 1980s. Joyce asked Conrad to sit for this portrait which she planned to enter the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize. The portrait hung in Churchill House in Canberra, but when a new building was erected, it was returned to the artist/owner. The painting is now owned by Clare Harwood and is on permanent loan to the Forests Commission Retired Personnel Association (FCRPA) and is displayed at DEECA's Altona Museum.Painting of Conrad Wood by Australian artist Joyce McGrath OAMbushfire, bushfire aviation

On 22 June 2013, Corporal Cameron Baird was a 2nd Commando Regiment Special Forces soldier when he led his platoon into a known Taliban stronghold to back-up another Australian unit under heavy fire. In the prolonged firefight, Cameron was mortally wounded. In 2014, Cameron's bravery and courage under fire saw him posthumously awarded the 100th Victoria Cross, our highest award possible for bravery in the presence of the enemy. Cameron Baird died how he lived - at the front, giving it his all, without any indecision. He will forever be remembered by his mates and the soldiers he served with in the 2nd Commando Regiment. THE COMMANDO reveals Cameron's life, from young boy and aspiring AFL player, who only missed out on being drafted because of injury, to exemplary soldier and leader. Cameron's story and that of 4RAR and 2nd Commando personifies the courage and character of the men and women who go to war and will show us the good man we have lost. australian special forces, commandos, afghanistan, 2nd commando regiment

A description of efforts to fight the bushfires in Gippsland in 2003, including maps and illustrations. This volume was published as a tribute to the work of staff and volunteers who put themselves at risk to protect local communities. It shows the impact on those communities in Victoria and the support they gave to those involved in fighting largest bushfires in Victoria for 60 years. The Alpine bushfires started on 8th January 2003, a day of Total Fire Ban. Lightning ignited 87 fires in the North-East and East Gippsland regions. Eight of these fires were unable to be contained; they joined together to form the largest fire in Victoria since the Black Friday fires in 1939. The majority of the area burnt in Victoria was public land, 1.19 million hectares of parks and forests, including 60 per cent of the Alpine National Park and 81 per cent of the Mt Buffalo National Park. Firefighting efforts were made difficult in hard-to-access, remote forest terrain. Approximately 90,000 hectares of private land was burnt.This book is significant because it documents the 2003 Victorian Bushfires and serves as a tribute to the CFA staff and volunteers who fought them.This publication of 119 pages features text, colour images, maps and detailed information related to the 2003 bushfires in Victoria.At bottom of front cover:- CFA Victoria Logo Victorian Government Logovictorian fires 2003, cfa (vic)

The spraying units were manufactured in Australia by REGA Products. Ltd. in 1926. They established themselves as leaders in the production of agricultural and horticultural spraying machines, including smaller knapsacks. Knapsacks were quickly adapted to a range of applications and were widely used by the C.F.A (Country Fire Authority). They were also widely used for defence during World War II. REGA was later purchased by the Garrard family and still operate as part of Garrads Pty Ltd. This sprayer was one of the units used by the C.F. A. in Wodonga. The Country FIre Authority was established in 1945 following a Royal Commission into the 1939 Black Friday fires which recommended a single firefighting authority for country Victoria, bringing together the Bush Fire Brigades, Country Fire Brigades and Forest Commission. The first fire brigade, the Wodonga Urban Fire Brigade was formed in 1891 and registered in May 1893. Since that time its volunteers have provided ongoing support to the Wodonga and District communities through events such as urban fires, bushfires and other emergency situations. This item is representative of the Wodonga Country Fire Authority and its many volunteers.A knapsack sprayer designed to be used for spraying insects. The unit includes brass fittings, leather straps and a spray arm and nozzle attached. It was also adapted to be widely used by firefighters.On front: REGA / C.F.A. Around lid: REGA SPRAYERSrega sprayers, cfa region 24, cfa volunteers, cfa wodonga, wodonga urban fire brigade, fire fighting equipment

Bushfire perimeter rather than bushfire area is the main control problem for firefighters on the ground. A conundrum rapidly compounded by spot fires. A small 5 ha fire can be nearly 1 km around the perimeter. That's a long way to build a control line by hand in rough bush. Dry firefighting techniques by hand were mostly confined to “knocking down” or “beating out” the flames, as well as "digging out". Digging or raking a “mineral earth” trail down to bare dirt proved most effective in forest fuels which, unlike grass, tend to retain heat and smoulder. Early tools were whatever happened to be close at hand. They were simple and primitive and included shovels, slashers, axes, hoes, beaters and rakes. A cut branch to beat the flames was often the only thing available. Farming and logging tools, developed over centuries of manual labour, and readily available at local hardware stores came into use, but little thought was given to size, weight, and balance. For years foresters experimented with combination tools. In about 1952 fire beaters and other implements were being replaced with Rakuts.Fire tool used before the introduction of RakehoesRakut - Fire Rake and cutting toolGreen and red coloured handle and 020 marking indicated which FCV District the tool belonged tobushfire

The Hamilton-Smith collection was donated by the children of Grace Mary Hamilton-Smith nee Ellwood (1911-2004) and John Hamilton-Smith (1909-1984) who settled in Wodonga in the 1940s. The Ellwood family had lived in north-east Victoria since the late 1800s. Grace’s mother, Rosina Ellwood nee Smale, was the first teacher at Baranduda in 1888, and a foundation member of the C.W.A. Rosina and her husband Mark retired to Wodonga in 1934. Grace and John married at St. David’s Church, Albury in 1941. John was a grazier, and actively involved in Agricultural Societies. The collection contains significant items which reflect the local history of Wodonga, including handmade needlework, books, photographs, a wedding dress, maps, and material relating to the world wars. This Air Raid Precautions booklet was one of thousands distributed to households across Australia during WW2. They provided instructions on what to do during an air raid and were based on emergency response protocols established in Britain. Other measures adopted by State Governments during this period included the installation of air raid sirens and bomb shelters, and the training of volunteers in firefighting and first aid. This item has well documented provenance and a known owner. It forms part of a significant and representative historical collection which reflects the local history of Wodonga. It contributes to our understanding of life in Australia during WW2. A small booklet containing illustrations and text instructing people what to do during an air raid. Front cover in pen: "Donated: Merrilyn/Hamilton-Smith"ww2, world war two, world war, war, 1940s, air raid, defence, bomb

Nathan Mullins deployed to Afghanistan as a Special Forces Commando. Spearheading Australia's Special Operations troops, he and other Australians like him sought the Taliban in the valleys and hills of Uruzgan through Afghanistan's harsh winter while at the same time attempting to bring a human face to the villagers caught in the middle of the fighting. They lived with the daily threat of roadside bombs, ambush and firefights, where survival meant learning to read the signs to determine friend from foe. And they did what they could to relieve the awful effects of war on the men, women and children of the civilian population caught in the crossfire. But these were not your regular soldiers. Sure, they had trained for years for the role but these were citizen soldiers, reservists who had put aside their usual jobs as salesmen, farmers, scientists, lawyers and students to fight Australia's 'war on terror'. Keep Your Head Down is a brutally honest, first-hand account that takes you into the centre of the action and asks some tough questions. What is Australia doing in Afghanistan? What would winning that war look like? What makes a man leave his family to go to war when he doesn't have to? Can there be such a thing as a just war? Nathan Mullins isn't a typical Special Forces soldier. In his day job he is the International Program Manager for Australian Aid International, a humanitarian organisation that responds to disasters and emergencies around the globe.soft cover bookaustralian special forces, australian commando, afghanistan

Bushfire perimeter rather than bushfire area is the main control problem for firefighters on the ground. A conundrum rapidly compounded by spot fires. A small 5 ha fire can be nearly 1 km around the perimeter. That's a long way to build a control line by hand in rough bush. Dry firefighting techniques by hand were mostly confined to “knocking down” or “beating out” the flames, as well as "digging out". Digging or raking a “mineral earth” trail down to bare dirt proved most effective in forest fuels which, unlike grass, tend to retain heat and smoulder. Early tools were whatever happened to be close at hand. They were simple and primitive and included shovels, slashers, axes, hoes, beaters and rakes. A cut branch to beat the flames was often the only thing available. Farming and logging tools, developed over centuries of manual labour, and readily available at local hardware stores came into use, but little thought was given to size, weight, and balance. This leather beater was based on a century-old stockman's design which used green cow hide leather lashed to a broom handle. It's recommend that users lift no more than above knee height to conserve energy and let the beater to the work. For years foresters experimented with combination tools. In about 1952 fire beaters and other implements were being replaced with Rakuts and later RakehoesEarly firefighting toolBushfire beater - Leather with wooden handlebushfire, forests commission victoria (fcv)

Brian Walpole, the author, was a Australian Commando and special operations operative behind enemy lines in New Guinea and Borneo during WW2. Brian was a commando with the Australian 2/3 Independent Company. He went to New Guinea in January 1943 and remained until the fall of the Japanese base at Salamaua in September. He fought on the Bobdubi Ridge. His commanding officer was the well-regarded George Warfe, whose portrait was sketched by war artist Ivor Hele. Brian blazed a trail through the New Guinea jungle which appears on some maps as Walpole’s Track, discovering and naming the ambush site Goodview Junction. Soon afterwards (July 1943) Goodview Junction was the scene of a key campaign victory which contributed to George Warfe being awarded the Military Cross.Brian’s Special Operations training mostly took place at Careening Bay (Western Australia) and Fraser Island (Queensland). He arrived in Borneo at the time of the 9th Division’s landing at Labuan Island, and took part in two SRD operations – Colt and Semut 3. After the surrender, Walpole's work continued as many of the Japanese did not recognise the surrender and continued to fight on. Brian relates how on the 14th of September 1945 while still an operative in SRD he was able to save POWs from certain death and after a firefight arrested 10 Japanese soldiers at Simanggang Borneo. He was alone and had been assisted in the battle by 20 headhunters from the jungles along the Rejang River. One of the people saved was a young nurse in her 20s, Lena Ricketts. ww2, australian special operations, australian commando, new guinea, borneo, world war ii

Ash Wednesday Veteran This Bedford M Series tanker spent its working days at the Forests Commission depot at Gembrook, and among its many forays, fought the deadly Ash Wednesday bushfires at nearby Upper Beaconsfield and Cockatoo on 16 February 1983. Earlier in 1975, the M Series tankers underwent a design change at the Altona North workshops, replacing the cylindrical water tank with a “V” bottom 4090 litre water tank that sat low between the chassis rails to reduce its centre of gravity. Aluminium heat shields were also added to protect the pump operators on the back. While generally considered "bulletproof" the petrol fuel lines on this particular model were very prone to vaporise in the heat causing the motor to stall, often at the most dangerous moment.... in this case frightening the hell out of its driver, affable knockabout bloke, and firefighting legend Lex Wade. Some jokingly said this design quirk was an inbuilt safety feature to stop crews getting too close to the fire in the first place. The Gembrook tanker was later sent into the workshop and all its brake and fuel lines fitted with heat resistant lagging. Fortunately, this remarkable bushfire survivor was rescued from the scrap heap by Lex and fire equipment wizard Barry Marsden upon its retirement from a loyal and lengthy service. After a lick of fresh paint and most of its battle scars "buffed out", this time-honoured veteran now takes pride of place at the Altona North workshop.Bedford M series fire tankerMZF 347fire pump, fire tanker, forests commission victoria (fcv)