By Ed Merrison
FIREFIGHTING, fun and friendship go hand in hand for a group of Healesville neighbours.
Ron Brough’s home at the base of Mt Riddell has become the headquarters of the self-styled Mt Riddell Hotel Rural Fire Brigade.
At one end of the base is a fire bell, at the other a fully functional and beautifully decked out private pub.
It is here that the friends gather to discuss tactics for staying fire safe among the hotel paraphernalia and bushy beer garden.
Ron and his friend Steve Matthews founded the brigade after putting out a fire on the property.
The fire highlighted the dangers of living on the edge of the bush.
Since everyone in the street was in the same boat, it made sense to row together towards safer shores.
To begin with, it was a case of weekly chats over a couple of beers at Ron’s place but the brigade has always had a serious streak.
“It was half mucking around at the start but it’s got more serious as it’s gone along,” says Steve, who has brought his CFA and DSE experience to the cause.
Ron, who said Steve had taught the rest of the crew a great deal, agreed.
“We have a bit of fun but we’re aware of the dangers this time of year,” he said.
“Where we’re living it’s only common sense to be prepared.”
The brigade, which comprises about 12 households, has its own water tanks, sprinkler units, dry firefighting gear, communication equipment and fire trailer with a pump and hose reel.
“We’ve all paid for our own set-up but at the end of the day we’re there for each other,” Ron said.
For Steve this communal approach is about self-preservation and not being too heavily reliant on overstretched volunteers.
“When you live where we live you’ve got to be conscious of the danger and you’ve got to take responsibility for yourself,” he said.
“You can’t expect other people to look after you.”
Responsibility is easier to swallow when washed down with a cold ale in the company of friends.
And Ron reckons there is no better watering hole than the Mt Riddell Hotel, which has the added advantage of being within walking distance for all its locals.
In fact, looking after the brigade’s HQ is a major motivating factor for getting fire ready.
“If a fire happened to go through here, there’s no way we could replace it,” Ron said.
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