June 2010 . . In Memory of William (Bill) Niel ROWE
(16 June 1926 – 5 May 2010)
On the morning of Wednesday, 5 May, the Dayboro community lost a truly unique gentleman in the form of William (Bill) Rowe.
Bill was a member of numerous committees and served as either Chairman, Secretary and/or Treasurer of most of them at one stage or another during his lifetime. He was the ‘father of the fire brigade’ in the Dayboro district, and it is from this perspective that I write.
I succeeded Bill as Chairman of Dayboro and District Rural Fire Brigade back in September of 2002. It was most definitely an honour and a privilege to try to fill Bill’s boots when he stepped down.
Back in 1957, after a devastating fire tore through the district, Bill Rowe and a group of like-minded farmers established the Dayboro Bushfire Brigade – Bill was a foundation member of the organization and was elected to the Treasurer’s position. Interest in the brigade waned over the next few years and it was wound up – all funds were donated to the local Ambulance.
However, in 1960, it was decided that there was a genuine need for farmers to band together in bushfire season to fight fires on each other’s properties, when and where required. The bushfire brigade was re-established as Dayboro and District Rural Fire Brigade and Bill was elected to the Chairman’s position. He was also nominated and elected to the Fire Warden’s position for the Dayboro district, which included Dayboro, Armstrong Creek, Rush Creek, King Scrub and parts of Samsonvale.
‘Permits To Light A Fire’ were obtained from Bill and his advice was sought regarding the best times to light their fires. He was also contacted by the locals if they saw or smelled smoke. He was also notified of bush and structural fires and, on numerous occasions, Bill would organise his men, their farm machinery, trucks and knapsacks and off they would go to confront the advancing flames, sometimes staying away for days at a time. They knew they could rely on their womenfolk and their kids to keep the farms running in their absence. It was all in a day’s work to Bill and his men – nothing to blow your trumpet over. To save their time, the farmers combined their fire brigade meetings with those of the dairymen’s association. Bill’s team fought some extremely large fires over the years – some they lost, but mostly, they won and all with their own farm machinery. The grasses in their paddocks were their livelihood and they had to protect them at all costs.
To the best of my knowledge, Bill was never challenged for the Chairman’s position, but decided to stand-down at the AGM in September 2002 – after an amazing 42 years at the helm. He retained the Fire Warden’s role but, due to ill health, decided to stand-down from this position as well at the end of October 2006. He maintained a very strong attachment to our brigade, and his advice on fire-related subjects was eagerly sought on many occasions.
When Bill retired from the Brigade, we had to insert an article in this very newspaper to dissuade some locals from contacting Bill for fire-related advice and the reporting of fires – just to give him some peace and quiet.
I personally had a great deal of admiration and respect for this man and for the length of time he has devoted to our community. You don’t come across blokes like Bill Rowe too often in a lifetime. His family, his community and his country were things that mattered most. He was a family man, a Returned Serviceman (Navy), he was involved in landcare management, the dairymen’s association and the rural fire brigade – how he found time to run his farm is beyond me.
In 2006, Bill was nominated for, and was awarded, the National Medal (including the first, second and third clasps). In 2007, he was nominated for, and was awarded, a Department of Emergency Services Australia Day Achievement Award (Medallion). In 2008, he was nominated for, and was awarded, a Department of Emergency Services Diligent and Ethical Service Medal (including the first, second and third clasps). Each of the above medals was thoroughly deserved.
Bill’s days of working hard have come to an end and he deserves his rest. It was a privilege and a pleasure to know him. Our community will always be indebted to him and he will never be forgotten. May he rest in peace. Our deepest sympathies go to Bill’s wife, Jean, and their family.
Glenn Bell,
Chairman
Dayboro and District Rural Fire Brigade.
I succeeded Bill as Chairman of Dayboro and District Rural Fire Brigade back in September of 2002. It was most definitely an honour and a privilege to try to fill Bill’s boots when he stepped down.
Back in 1957, after a devastating fire tore through the district, Bill Rowe and a group of like-minded farmers established the Dayboro Bushfire Brigade – Bill was a foundation member of the organization and was elected to the Treasurer’s position. Interest in the brigade waned over the next few years and it was wound up – all funds were donated to the local Ambulance.
However, in 1960, it was decided that there was a genuine need for farmers to band together in bushfire season to fight fires on each other’s properties, when and where required. The bushfire brigade was re-established as Dayboro and District Rural Fire Brigade and Bill was elected to the Chairman’s position. He was also nominated and elected to the Fire Warden’s position for the Dayboro district, which included Dayboro, Armstrong Creek, Rush Creek, King Scrub and parts of Samsonvale.
‘Permits To Light A Fire’ were obtained from Bill and his advice was sought regarding the best times to light their fires. He was also contacted by the locals if they saw or smelled smoke. He was also notified of bush and structural fires and, on numerous occasions, Bill would organise his men, their farm machinery, trucks and knapsacks and off they would go to confront the advancing flames, sometimes staying away for days at a time. They knew they could rely on their womenfolk and their kids to keep the farms running in their absence. It was all in a day’s work to Bill and his men – nothing to blow your trumpet over. To save their time, the farmers combined their fire brigade meetings with those of the dairymen’s association. Bill’s team fought some extremely large fires over the years – some they lost, but mostly, they won and all with their own farm machinery. The grasses in their paddocks were their livelihood and they had to protect them at all costs.
To the best of my knowledge, Bill was never challenged for the Chairman’s position, but decided to stand-down at the AGM in September 2002 – after an amazing 42 years at the helm. He retained the Fire Warden’s role but, due to ill health, decided to stand-down from this position as well at the end of October 2006. He maintained a very strong attachment to our brigade, and his advice on fire-related subjects was eagerly sought on many occasions.
When Bill retired from the Brigade, we had to insert an article in this very newspaper to dissuade some locals from contacting Bill for fire-related advice and the reporting of fires – just to give him some peace and quiet.
I personally had a great deal of admiration and respect for this man and for the length of time he has devoted to our community. You don’t come across blokes like Bill Rowe too often in a lifetime. His family, his community and his country were things that mattered most. He was a family man, a Returned Serviceman (Navy), he was involved in landcare management, the dairymen’s association and the rural fire brigade – how he found time to run his farm is beyond me.
In 2006, Bill was nominated for, and was awarded, the National Medal (including the first, second and third clasps). In 2007, he was nominated for, and was awarded, a Department of Emergency Services Australia Day Achievement Award (Medallion). In 2008, he was nominated for, and was awarded, a Department of Emergency Services Diligent and Ethical Service Medal (including the first, second and third clasps). Each of the above medals was thoroughly deserved.
Bill’s days of working hard have come to an end and he deserves his rest. It was a privilege and a pleasure to know him. Our community will always be indebted to him and he will never be forgotten. May he rest in peace. Our deepest sympathies go to Bill’s wife, Jean, and their family.
Glenn Bell,
Chairman
Dayboro and District Rural Fire Brigade.
(Thank you Glenn Bell. Glenn has covered just one aspect of Bill Rowe’s contribution to our community, and it certainly was a major contribution.
Bill received special recognition for his many contributions to our community with the award for Resident of the Year on Dayboro Day 2001. He will indeed be sadly missed . . . . and not forgotten.
Editor.)
