Coral is queen of airwaves

By Kath Gannaway
WARREN and Coral Borgas’s daughter was born the same year Coral took on the role of communications officer at Warburton Fire Brigade.
For a new mum, it was a demanding job – the only consolation being the radio was strategically located in the pantry of the Borgas home.
“We got her and the radio at the same time,” recalled Mrs Borgas who was one of a number of special guests at the Warburton Fire Brigade’s 95th anniversary dinner on Saturday night, and one of eight members to receive service medals or certificates.
CFA Region 13 Operations Manager Graeme Armstrong presented Mrs Borgas with her 40-year badge in recognition of outstanding service as communications officer between 1958 and 1989.
A highlight of her service, for which she was awarded the British Empire Medal, was her 48-hour straight effort on the radio during the 1962 fires.
“It wasn’t so unusual to have women radio operators,” said Mrs Borgas whose husband was captain of the Warburton Rural Fire Brigade for many years until the town’s two brigades – rural and urban – amalgamated in 1984.
“The men would go away firefighting and the women stayed at home and manned the radio,” she said.
A booklet was printed to mark the 95 years of brigade service.
Captain Tony Van Meurs paid tribute to members who have passed on – Mac Sparke, Ron Inverarity, Len Lay and Alec Larkins, who went on to become Chief Officer of the CFA, and to Barry Marshall, a brigade stalwart of 54 years, including 22 as captain.
“To the many others not mentioned by name, including our wives and families, your efforts are appreciated and without you the brigade would not be in the position it is today,” he said.
A photo board and albums tracked the brigade’s history from its registration on 1 January 1915, and the first fire station underneath the band rotunda in the main street to the building of two subsequent fire stations in 1932 and 1982.
Newspaper articles and photos showed Warburton brigade members on the firefront of Victoria’s major fires from 1926, 1932, 1939 Black Friday, 1962, 1983 Ash Wednesday and last year’s Black Saturday fires.
In 1991, a fire on Mt Little Joe was the biggest fire in the town since Ash Wednesday.
Right through until the late 1960s, brigade members also made their mark in highly competitive fire brigade competitions. Don Carey, Ray Dafter and Barry Marshall caught up to reminisce about their success at the Bendigo competition in 1961 when, along with Graham Sparke, Brian Clinch and Colin Davis, they won first place in the Six Man Hose Practice for C Class Brigades in a record time of 28 minutes and 47 seconds – whipping an impressive 1.52 off the previous record.
Also receiving awards were Raymond Lynch (35-year badge), Richard Leith (30-year badge), Greg Head (20-year badge), Keith Walrond (10-year medal) and Kim Swinson and David Swinson (five year certificate).