DDRFB Chairmans Report 2008 Opening

• October 8, 2008
• Local Groups
• Editor

OFFICIAL OPENING

DAYBORO AND DISTRICT RURAL FIRE BRIGADE FIRE STATION

SATURDAY, 23 AUGUST 2008.

Excerpts from Chairman’s report:

Before I deal with some recent history, I would like to take you back to where it all started for our brigade. Although we don’t have any records to substantiate our claim, the Dayboro Bush Fire Brigade (I am lead to believe) was formed by a group of concerned dairy farmers after a massive fire swept through the district in 1957.

Once the fire was extinguished, Mr Herb Myles suggested that a bush fire brigade be established to combat any future outbreaks. And so it happened.  Mr Bill Rowe, a man whom I greatly admire, was elected as the original Treasurer. However, interest in the brigade waned after a few years, and it folded – monies held by the Treasurer were donated to the local Ambulance.

I am reliably informed that, in 1960 (although records show that it was 6 July 1970), the unit was re-formed as a primary-producer (or Class One) outfit and was called the Dayboro Rural Fire Brigade. Brigade meetings were held in conjunction with the local branch of the Queensland Dairy Farmers Organization. Once again, Bill Rowe was at the forefront – he was elected  Chairman (a position he held until 14 September 2002 – an amazing 42 years) and also Fire Warden for most of the district (another position he held until 11 October 2006 – a total of 46 years). Bill, I can assure you that your outstanding contribution to our brigade will never be forgotten, and is highly unlikely to ever be surpassed. Well done, mate.

Other members of our brigade deserve recognition for their outstanding contributions as well and they are:

Geoff Costelloe     Fire Warden for Lacey’s Creek    Jul 1970 to Oct 1980.  (10)

Gordon Stubbings Fire Warden for Lacey’s Creek    Oct 1980 to Nov 2003.(23)

Dick Baker            Fire Warden for Lacey’s Creek    Nov 2003 to present.

Alec Kuhn             Fire Warden for Mount Pleasant  Jul 1970 to Feb 2002.  (32)

Stan Chambers      Fire Warden for Mount Pleasant  Feb 2002 to present.

Bill Rowe              Fire Warden for the rest of Dayboro 1960 to Oct 2006.   (46)

Gary Fuller            Fire Warden for the rest of Dayboro Oct 2006 to present.

Mervyn Kenman   First Officer    

Selwyn Barr          First Officer     

Scott Stewart         First Officer   

Bill Rowe              Chairman                                       1960 to Sep 2002        (42)

Laurie Stubbings   Secretary/Treasurer                       Jul 1970 to Oct 1980.  (10)

Alwyn Weston      Secretary/Treasurer                       Oct 1980 to present.    (28)

Margaret Weston  Treasurer                                        Sep 2001 to present.

The following deduction can be made from that list of ‘time in service’ – when you join Dayboro and District Rural Fire Brigade, never put your hand up at the AGM when we are calling for nominations for positions.  You could find yourself tied down for quite some time – we don’t let go easily.

Returning to recent history.

Right from its inception, our outfit was a Class One (or primary producer) brigade and it made good use of farm machinery, such as bulldozers or tractors with 600-litre water tanks attached to the carry-all.  On 18 September 2000, our membership moved a motion to upgrade to a Class Two brigade.  This enabled us to raise funds via the Rural Fire Levy of $25.00 per rural property, and to purchase our own firefighting equipment.  The then Pine Rivers Shire Council collected the levy on our behalf. It was also decided that we approach the Department of Natural Resources, through the Rural Fire Service, to acquire land on which to build our fire station.  To speed up response times, eight second-hand pagers were purchased and issued to members.  We now receive turn-outs via SMS messages on our personal mobile phones – isn’t technology amazing ?

In late 2001, the brigade decided to purchase our ‘slip-on’ unit, complete with a speed loader – we took delivery of this unit in February 2002.  A ‘slip-on’ unit comprises a 600-litre water tank, connected to a pump driven by a petrol motor,  which is in turn connected to a single hose reel.  The empty unit was slipped off its supporting frame onto the rear of a privately-owned four-wheel-drive ute, driven to the nearest hydrant where it was filled with water, and despatched to the fireground.  Not the greatest weapon, but effective just the same.

Our medium-attack firefighting appliances are owned jointly by the QFRS (80%) and the community (20%).  We pay one fifth of the purchase price of the appliance from the fire levy collected on our behalf, and the QFRS pays the rest. Unit 51, which we took delivery of in May 2003, cost our community $16,000.00 and Unit 52, which we took delivery of in May 2005, cost our community $18,000.00.  At this point in time, our brigade has 35 active firefighters (both men and women) and 20 associate members.  The area our brigade is responsible for covers in excess of 200 square kilometres.

The land on which the station is built was leased from the Department of Natural Resources, through the QFRS, in April 2005.  When the account for the annual lease arrived, Alwyn and I made a successful deputation to the then Minister for Emergency Services, Mr Pat Purcell, to have the QFRS pay the lease payment.  On investigation by the department, it was found that other rural brigades were paying leases for the land on which their fire stations were built as well.  To his credit, Mr Purcell agreed with us and future lease payments for all brigades were paid from the departmental budget.  A big ‘thank you’, Pat.

Numerous problems befell us in our quest to build the station – a huge Telstra cable was located underground across the middle of the block which rendered most of it useless.  It certainly pays to locate Telstra cables before you sign a lease. We then had to have the plans re-drafted to amend the positioning of the building on the site.

The earthworks were completed in March, the concrete slab was poured in April, the building was erected in May and the interior fit-out was completed in June, all in 2007.  When deciding on the construction, size and positioning of our rural fire station, the brigade had the future in mind – not just the present.  Except for the Telstra cable, we could not be happier with the outcome.

We conservatively estimate the value of the station to be in the vicinity of $150,000.00.  We provided $80,000.00 from the fire levies collected by the Council, $50,000.00 came from the Jupiters Casino Community Benefit Fund, $10,000.00 for the then Pine Rivers Shire Council grant and $10,000.00 was provided by the QFRS.  

On behalf of the members, I would like to sincerely thank the following people for their assistance:

Alan and Rosemary Huggins of Moonlight Designs for drafting, and re-drafting, the station plans for us free of charge;

Councillor Bob Millar for all your help with land rezonings, gaining that Council grant, and submitting the amended site plans for the station;

the members of the Jupiters Casino Community Benefit Fund for the allocation of their grant;

Robin Young, the Supervisor of the Dayboro depot of the Moreton Bay Regional Council, and his crew for their invaluable assistance with the asphalt driveway and associated earthworks;

the Womens Auxiliary, Pine Rivers Sub-Branch of the Returned Services League Australia, for their financial assistance which enabled the brigade to purchase portable radios and a GPS; and last, but not least,

Alwyn and Margaret Weston, our Secretary and Treasurer and my ‘partners in crime’, for your drive and enthusiasm which made this task so much more enjoyable and nerve-racking, all at the same time.

To the ladies and gentlemen who are the members of the Dayboro and District Rural Fire Brigade – I am very honoured and proud to be counted among you.  You give your all to our community, and others, for no reward, except for your own personal gratification – this makes you very, very special people in my book.  Where would the world be without volunteers?  Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Cheers and well done.