By JESSE GRAHAM
YEARS of waiting has paid off for the Toolangi Fire Brigade, which began the next chapter of its history by opening a brand new fire station.
More than 200 community members, politicians and firefighters attended the official opening on Saturday 16 November at its brand-new location on 1683 Kinglake-Healesville Road, Toolangi.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services Kim Wells unveiled a plaque for the $618,000 station, which he said was a far-cry from the brigade’s 1950s set up, where the fire truck was stored in a sawmill.
Toolangi Fire Brigade Captain Ben Rose said he was excited about the event and the new station, for which the brigade had campaigned almost five years.
“We were on the station replacement program pretty much straight after the 2009 fires, but we were unable to find an appropriate site,” Captain Rose said.
“That took almost two years. But once we found the right site, the process was very quick.”
The new station cost $618,000 to build, with the Toolangi Fire Brigade footing over $35,000 of the bill and the Victorian Government paying the rest.
Captain Rose said the standout features of the new station was the ability to house all the brigade’s trucks, turn-out pegs for all of the members’ gear and a heated training room.
“In the cool climate of Toolangi in winter, rather than huddle around a gas heater, we can now sit in warmth and do some really good training,” he said.
“It’s nice to know that it has finally opened and it’s being publicly commissioned,” he said.
Captain Rose said that, before the new station was built, the brigade’s slip-on vehicle had to be stored at a member’s house, due to a lack of space.
Mr Wells said the lack of space for the brigade’s new medium-sized tanker was the impetus for change and the relocation to a new station.
“The old station just didn’t have room for the new tanker,” he said.
“The new facility can accommodate three appliances and has ample room to conduct training activities – it will improve both the safety and service of the Toolangi Fire Brigade.”
CFA board member Paul Denham spoke at the opening and said that the new station was an investment in resilience.
Guests included Chief Officer Euan Ferguson, captains from brigades around the Yarra Valley and two members of the Cambridge Fire Brigade from Tasmania.
The Cambridge Fire Brigade members Geoff Kent and Chris Ryan spoke briefly at the presentation event and presented Cpt Rose with framed photos, in recognition of Toolangi’s effort in the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.
Mr Kent and Mr Ryan were both part of the Tasmanian strike team that assisted Victoria during the 2009 bushfires.
Capt Rose gave Mr Kent and Mr Ryan bottles of specially-made Toolangi Fire Brigade wine and books.
The two Tasmanian firefighters also received Campaign Fire badges from the Toolangi Fire Brigade for their contribution to the 2009 bushfires.
Toolangi’s Junior Fire Brigade Brigade ran a demonstration for Mr Ferguson and guests at the event and service awards were handed out to the brigade’s long-term members.
Service Award recipients were: Dawn Hartog – five years, Robert Van De Ven – 10 years, David Ford – 15 years, Eric Watts – 15 years, David Overton – 15 years, Mick Van De Ven – 20 years,
Jacobus Walhout – 30 years, Bruce McClements – 50 years (Honourary Life Member).
