From Fire Sheds to Fire Station
by Barrie. J. Winzar
On November 4th 1903, a "Bush Fire Defence Association" was established in Goornong at a public meeting,
Two years later a fire shed was planned and built by locals in 1906 adjacent to the police station. The shed housed a cart with a 175 gallon tank (700 litres).
In 1917 a Furphy water tank was purchased to replace the cart.
In 1944, stands for two Furphy tanks were erected at the corner or Grant and Langdon streets - the original slip ons. The school bell was rang as a fire alert.
The Country Fire Authority was established in 1944 and local brigades functioned under... In 1947 Captain George Lawrence moved to apply for a truck and equipment. At that time tanks and equipment were disbursed geographically, eg: Lt Jack Clay at Bagshot, Lt C K Hyett at Fosterville.
Permisson was sought from the railways in 1951 to build a fire station across the road from
Ringe's Garage. Construction began in 1952 with all the work done by members, even making every cement brick. Many working bees were necessary!
Not until 1969 was water connected.
At the December meeting in 1978, Captain Gee advised that Goornong was to get a new steel shed fire station and the existing shed would be pulled down! However at the 1979 February meeting, Captain Gee brought to the attention of members the potential growth of Goornong, believing that it warranted the new fire shed be adequate for housing two tankers and perhaps an operations room. The CFA would be so advised! CFA Regional Officer G Summerton attended the next meeting apparently annoyed with the temerity of the Goornong Brigade in not accepting the style of shed allocated. Chairman Reg Westwood enquired as to why the Brigade was not consulted regarding the type of shed. The Regional Officer said that there were plenty of Brigades who would pick up the shed and erect it themselves and then went on to elaborate on what the CFA officers did. Lt Giffney however, pointed out that that was the trouble with the CFA, whereas "the ones who really did the work having no say at all". He went on to point out that the previous shed was built by volunteer labour. The Regional Officer was questioned further on whether he was prepared to try and get a bigger shed. Secretary at the time, Jack Robertson, recorded "R.O. Summerton in a complete change of mind, stated that he was prepared to try". Then B. Giffney moved and Don Symons seconded "that we ask the R. O. to make application for a 30ft x 30ft shed" carried.
However it was not until 1984 that a new shed was built with material supplied by CFA and constructed carried out by members under the leadership of Lt Brian Giffney.
After repeated requests to CFA a toilet building was delivered to the Fire Shed in 2001 and installed by Lt Brian Giffney with the assistance of members.
In 2010, Government funding provided for a Rolling Program Update, in which our Brigade was included.
The Brigade was instrumental in securing the new site, and a welcome change in policy enabled all construction to be carried out by contractors funded and supervised by CFA.
