A BRIGADE STALWART has been recognised more than 70 years after he donned his first fire helmet.
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George Ellis Snr is one of the Bendigo Fire Brigade members recently awarded for long service, life membership or National Emergency Medals.
He had seen plenty of change since he joined in 1947.
Back then the brigade was based in the View Street artistic performance space now known as the Old Fire Station and his focus was on blazes within city limits.
“Gas and electricity was not as plentiful as it is now, so a lot of what we were focusing on was wood fires,” Mr Ellis said.
By far the biggest changes for the brigade were the area it covered and the number of jobs it was called to.
That was mostly because of Bendigo’s growth. When Mr Ellis began his time at the brigade the town ended at Neale Street, Flora Hill.
“Drive through Neale Street and look up the hill to where the university is now. You used to see cows grazing in the paddock,” he said.
“Now its house to house almost as far out as Junortoun.”
When Mr Ellis started, competition to get into volunteer fire fighting was fierce, especially in the summertime.
“These days there’s the YMCA, basketball, you name it,” he said.
“Back when I started places where you could get fit were few and far between. That’s probably why the service was fairly popular with the youngsters.”
Fellow brigade member Matthew Flack joined when he was in Year 12 and just received his 25 years service medal.
He said one role he relished was helping five current recruits develop.
“I was one of them 25 years ago so it’s good to see new people coming to join our brigade,” he said.
Fire fighting is something of a family tradition for the Flacks and Matthew followed in the footsteps of his grandmother, parents and uncles.
So the fire service was not just a place to forge social bonds.
“In our brigade there is a rich history of family generations in the ranks through the years,” Mr Flack said.
Others brigade members to be recognised with awards included:
- Brendan Manson, who was awarded his five year certificate.
- Bradley Watt, who was awarded his 15 year medal
- Robert Stayner was awarded a 40 year service medal, brigade life member award and National Emergency Medal for his contributed to the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires
- Noel Wastell was awards his 45 year service medal
- Laurie Anderson was awarded his 55 year medal
- Peter Martin was awarded a National Emergency Medal for his contribution to the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires
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Tom O'Callaghan
I grew up in Bendigo and I want to tell your stories.
I grew up in Bendigo and I want to tell your stories.
