By Jed Lanyon
Members of Warburton CFA celebrated a former captain’s 65th year of service to the brigade on Wednesday 19 May.
Since 1956, Barry Marshall has spent the majority of his years serving the Warburton community and protecting the township from the devastation of bushfire.
He became a First Lieutenant in 1973 and then served as captain for 22 years from 1978, where he was awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal in 2000. Following the Black Saturday Bushfires he earned a National Emergency Service Medal, in one of the many achievements and recognitions in a long career.
When speaking about the major historical bushfires of the region, a recurring theme appears where Mr Marshall refers to Warburton as “lucky” in escaping major destruction, particularly during Black Saturday.
“It was pretty horrendous, that was. We were very, very lucky because it never came over the top of the mountain there. The wind changed and took it back over towards Marysville.
“We had the Ash Wednesday fires here in 1983 and we were pretty lucky because we never lost anyone during fires here. It went right through and we lost a few houses up at Reefton and McMahons Creek. A lot of people got out of there and they hid down in the tunnel at the Upper Yarra Dam to escape the fires there.
“I had never seen anything like it in my whole life. When it took off down near Millgrove and up over Mt Little Joe, you’d reckon there were a couple steam trains coming up the Valley, the roar of it was unbelievable.”
Mr Marshall recalls the days when he first joined the brigade. The uniform at the time was a pair of blue overalls featuring the words ‘Warburton Fire Brigade’ in yellow paint. Since then, he’s been involved in the construction of a new fire station and the current building utilised by the brigade. Inside there features a firetruck with his name painted on its side.
“I was involved in getting that vehicle. So that’s why they’ve put that in there. The brigade’s done that and it was very nice.”
When asked what he’s most proud of throughout his 65 years with the brigade, Mr Marshall said it’s all about family.
“It’s the support that’s given to you by your family. Your wife who stands by you. There’s those nights where the fire siren would go off or the phone would go off and she would jump out of bed and open the garage and the gates for me.”
He still enjoys the camaraderie of the CFA, knowing that he can walk into any brigade across the state and share a mutual respect amongst fellow firefighters. And despite serving 65 years, Mr Marshall still turns out to emergencies.
Warburton CFA captain Hazel Clothier had high praise for Mr Marshall’s career with the brigade.
“I think it’s very humbling for the whole brigade to see such dedication and commitment and it was a delight to be able to share that with him and his family and acknowledge all that he’s given to this community and the continuation of support given to us all,” she said.
She said the experience and knowledge he has is “immeasurable” in helping the brigade.
“He’s always been in Warburton, he knows this township and the land and the fires that have been here before. He knows the way the weather and fire behaves in this valley, while the majority of us at the brigade are probably still newcomers to the area. Being able to have that living history here with us, it’s immeasurable.”
Mr Marshall was recognised by senior CFA officers at the brigade’s AGM meeting on 19 May. But he shared the occasion with several other members receiving acknowledgements. It saw the brigade’s oldest member in Mr Marshall standing alongside their youngest member, who had received a service award at the age of 17.
