Bruce Anderson has been part of Elmore CFA for 60 years, including as secretary. Photos: Jordan Townrow.
In receiving his 60-year life membership, long-time Elmore CFA volunteer Bruce Anderson had a look back at the organisation’s past.
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The brigade joined the CFA, originally split into two, in 1911, with the bush brigade led by Captain Bremner and secretary Mr Rogers.
The original building was located diagonally across from where Elmore Bakery sits today, now a park and seating area.
In the early ’70s, around the same time Mr Anderson became secretary, the station relocated.
“Roughly 1971 or 72, the old station was sold to a farmer at Goornong,” Mr Anderson said.
“The new station was opened in 1972 next to the (memorial) hall ... and they’re looking at doing renovations on that.”
Captain Bremner, a blacksmith, donated the first bell to the original station.
While Mr Anderson is not certain he crafted it himself, it was still a special piece of the structure.
“Even though he was a blacksmith and probably quite clever, I dare say a bell would be a pretty interesting thing to do,” he said.
“But, supposedly, he donated all the steel and actually made the tower for the bell to go on.”
Given the brigade was split into bush and urban divisions, the bell served a critical purpose for volunteers.
The rings of the bell indicated what type of fire they were to face.
“People could tell by the way the bell rang as to whether the fire was in town or out of town,” Mr Anderson said.
The 1966 CFA State Championship-winning hose and ladder fives crew: Ron Trewick, Ross Turner, Daryl Dobell, Alan Shack and Bruce Anderson.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Along with Mr Bremner and Mr Rogers, Mr Anderson’s grandfather was an original member of the Elmore CFA.
His crew headed to Ballarat in 1912 for the CFA statewide championships.
“The Elmore brigade won an event for the four-man hose and reel,” Mr Anderson said.
“They were called demonstrations, then later became known as a championship.
“So they won an event at basically the first demo that they went to.”
Following in his grandfather’s footsteps, Mr Anderson also got involved in the competitions during his time in the brigade.
A cherry on top of his family’s legacy, the 1966 crew also took out the top prize.
“The brigade went to Warrnambool, and I was a member of the team,” Mr Anderson said.
“That was a slightly different event, it was called the hose and ladder fives.”
While recent Elmore brigades have not competed at state championships, Mr Anderson looks back at his involvement fondly.
He would love to see a return to competition.
“Unfortunately, Elmore no longer has the numbers to compete; it would be great because I think it’s a way of encouraging juniors,” Mr Anderson said.
“If you can take juniors to two or three demonstrations and compete against other brigades, and they win a trophy, or they have a good day, it’s a way of getting them thinking, ‘this brigade works pretty good’.
“Then you get them as an active member to go on the fire truck in future years.”
Elmore Progress Association Museum has a section dedicated to its CFA history.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
In the early 2000s, the urban and bush brigades merged into one unit, with Mr Anderson remaining as secretary for a few years.
He and the other museum volunteers are passionate about conserving the history of the brigade and the region as a whole.
“It’s important to us that we keep this history alive in the district,” he said.
Elmore Progress Association Museum has a range of displays sharing the history of the district, and is open Mondays, Wednesdays in the summer, Saturdays and Fridays from 10am to noon.
Openings for groups or special visitors outside these hours can also be organised by contactingelmorepa@bigpond.com
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