By Kath Gannaway
Toolangi CFA volunteer Bob Pockett was given special recognition at the Toolangi Fire Brigade Annual Service Awards and Brigade Dinner in October.
Mr Pockett, 95, was presented with a Special 65-Year Life Member Service Medal by Ex-Captain Ben Rose, Captain Dawn Hartog and District 12 operations officer Charlie Cleary.
Mr Pockett joined the CFA as a volunteer with Healesville brigade in 1942, where he served for two years. In 1953 he was a founding member of Toolangi Fire Brigade where he has held a number of official positions over the years, and remains an active supporter.
He was made an Honorary Life Member in 1997.
Captain Hartog said the awards represented just over 274 years of combined service to the Toolangi, Castella and wider Victorian and interstate communities.
Brigade membership, she said, totalled just shy of 800 years of combined service, including those many years of service by Bob Pockett who she thanked for his ongoing support of the brigade.
She said among many things, Mr Pockett’s attention to detail and knowledge of the brigade were a great asset.
“It is due to these solid foundations and the ongoing support and leadership of our captains, brigade management teams, wider membership and their families that the Toolangi Fire Brigade is what it is today, and the success and positive environment we have,” she said.
The brigade is impressive with nearly 80 regular members, 23 junior members, their first female captain appointed this year and a 50/50 balance of men and women on their management team.
Visit mailcommunity.com.au for more pics, and https://www.facebook.com/pg/toolangifirebrigade/posts/ for a full list of award recipients.
