By Paul Dunlop
UPPER Beaconsfield CFA members laughingly describe themselves as the ‘geriatric brigade’ but they are deadly serious when it comes to protecting their community from fire.
That’s why there’s no joking about the need for new volunteers.
Like many other local fire brigades, the Upper Beaconsfield unit needs an injection of youth to ensure the dedication shown by the current crop of members is continued into the future.
Captain Graeme MacGowan said the brigade needed people aged in their 20s and 30s, particularly young people at home or available for call outs during the day.
“A lot of our members are over 50 years old; a lot are 60,” he said.
“We always get the job done but we could certainly use some help.”
Men and women are welcome to join.
Nancy Boura has been a CFA member for more than 25 years and was on the auxiliary before that. She said it was an experience that had been both challenging and rewarding.
“I wanted to get to know people and do something useful,” she said.
At the time, few brigades had female members. Nancy was initially a radio operator but when only two members turned out for one callout, she decided to join the front line.
Wendy Thomson came on board in 1981, just a couple of years before the Ash Wednesday bushfires devastated Upper Beaconsfield – and much of Victoria.
That terrible time still looms large in the memory of Wendy and her fellow firefighters, and illustrates just how important the CFA is to its community.
Wendy describes Ash Wednesday as easily her worst experience but most of her memories of two decades as a firefighter are happy.
“I really enjoy belonging to the brigade; you’re like a big family and everybody is there for everyone else,” she said.
Nancy also said it had been a fantastic experience and praised the team spirit at Upper Beaconsfield as second to none.
“We have a lot of fun; it’s all very good,” she said.
CFA members get called to house fires and car crashes but also help their community in many other ways.
Rescuing a lost pet is just as much a part of the experience and the training can be useful in all other aspects of life.
Upper Beaconsfield CFA recently conducted a leaflet drop encouraging people to join the brigade.
An information session will be held at the station on Thursday, 13 October starting at 7.30 pm.
To find out more about volunteering for Upper Beaconsfield fire brigade, contact brigade administration support officer Elissa Bourne on 0419 879 216.