AWA RD S P RES ENTATION & CO M M UN I T Y D AY
THURSDAY 18 T H DECEMBER 2014
ORDER OF PROCEEDINGS Welcome Service Awards Presentation Thank You BBQ
FOREWORD Since taking on the role of Operations Manager for what was then Region 18, I was made acutely aware of our connection to the land and our community. Nowhere was that made more evident to me than on my first visit to Meringur. The district was in the grip of severe drought, signs of stress were evident everywhere and we were putting a significant amount of our energy into supporting our brigades and our people. I knew that we were a resilient lot but move 7 years on I think that not only are we resilient we’re a proud lot as well. Nowhere was that more evident than Meringur. I have always believed that CFA is in the business of community. My role in that is to try to make it as easy as possible for our volunteers to do what they do, by building capability. It’s more than trucks and training courses. It’s about things that make a difference and I think we’ve done that in Meringur.
Tonight the brigade is coming together to celebrate. Celebrate harvest’s end, celebrate Christmas, or those who have supported the community through their service to the Meringur Fire Brigade and CFA. Or, it might be just to have a chat over a beer. It doesn’t matter why, what matters is that you are. We all contribute so much to community in so many different ways much of it unrecognised, but not tonight. Tonight we are recognising a significant amount of service to the community. As much as these are individual awards, I’d ask that you think of them as family awards. Why? Because behind every responder there is a network of support and to them I say thank-you. Now that I have moved on and am looking towards a new horizon I just want to say this. “Have a great night Meringur. You deserve it.
Bill Johnstone Operations Manager District 18 2007 - 2014
AWARD RECIPIENTS 5 Year Certificate Michelle Pickering
10 Year Medal
Malcolm Lynch – Katherine Pickering – Brian Roads – Debra Rowe Trudy Ruchel – Donna Turvey
15 Year Medal
Glenda Fox – Peter Lambert
20 Year Medal
Daniel Fox – Travis Harmer – John Impey – Lindsay Ruchel
25 Year Medal
Daryl Goldsmith – Jason Harmer – Rodney Mattschoss David Pickering – James Pickering – Jack Rowe
30 Year Medal
Bruce Croft – Graeme Ruchel – Stuart Thomson
35 Year Medal
Joe Fox – David Schilling
40 Year Medal Geoff Williams
45 Year Medal
Desmond Gray – Geoff Gray – Ronald Hards
50 Year Medal Kevin Fox
55 Year Medal
Bill Duncan – Lindsay Harmer
BRIGADE MANAGEMENT TEAM Captain – Lindsay Ruchel 1st Lieutenant – Peter Lambert 2nd Lieutenant – Geoff Gray 3rd Lieutenant – Daniel Fox FEM Officer – David Schilling Secretary – Michelle Pickering
MEMBERS LIST Bruce Croft
Peter Lambert
John Croft
Malcolm Lynch
Jarrad Dodd
Rodney Mattschoss
Bill Duncan
Wayne O’Connor
Daniel Fox
David Pickering
Glenda Fox
James Pickering
Joe Fox
Kathrine Pickering
Kevin Fox
Michelle Pickering
Daryl Goldsmith
Brian Roads
Desmond Gray
Debra Rowe
Geoff Gray
Jack Rowe
Nicholas Hards
Graeme Ruchel
Ronald Hards
Kalob Ruchel
Jason Harmer
Lindsay Ruchel
Lindsay Harmer
Trudy Ruchel
Phillip Harmer
David Schilling
Travis Harmer
Stuart Thomson
John Impey
Donna Turvey
Jack Lambert
Geoff Williams
Meringur Fire Brigade History (An excerpt from Captain Mark Matthew’s speech at the Official Opening of the Meringur Fire Station held on Friday, October 29th, 1993). “The Meringur Rural Fire Brigade was formed at a public meeting held in the Hall on Thursday, 4th April, 1946, with Chas Mangan being Secretary. The Brigade’s certificate of registration (No. 112) was dated on 1st October, 1946. As far as records can tell, Percy Weinert became the Brigade’s first Captain, using his own truck and controlling the Meringur fires, with Rueben Croft taking charge of the fires at the Morkalla end. The Brigade’s first registered fire fighter was A.G. Williams who was registered on 1st October, 1946, and was followed 6 months later by 3rd Lieutenant R. Gray, Bob Matthews, Alec Matthews, Bill Matthews, Mort Mattschoss and D. Budich. Most men became registered in 1955, with Jack Wilkinson being Captain. The Brigade’s first registered woman was Edna Pepper, who signed up in December, 1968. Fires in the early days were mostly beaten out with fire fighting sticks, which were later upgraded to knapsacks. Application was made in
1951 for a tank and pump, which was used until the first truck, a CFA spare, was delivered on 10th November, 1955. This was replaced on 6th July, 1956 with Meringur’s own tanker, an Austin, registration no. GMF 728. The Brigade offered a sum of 750 pounds to help purchase this. The Austin was housed at Campbell Curtis’ until a shed was built. This truck lasted well until an Inter C1300 was obtained on 17th April, 1978, from Boort. The first Fire Shed was built in 1957, after a request was made. The original shed was supplied by the CFA and erected by brigade members, on land given over to the brigade by Tel Fox. This was the original site of Millewa Motors. Alteration was made to the shed in 1985, when the front doors were raised to enable it to house the present Hino Tanker. Construction of the present shed began in December, 1990 and was completed shortly afterwards. Local Brigade members then took on the task of building in a communications room, which is still, as time and funds permit, being completed.”
MERINGUR PRIMARY SCHOOL HISTORY REFERENCE: Meringur School Golden Jubilee 1978- Produced for Opening of New School Building
12th September 1927 Temporary School opened 1928 New School building opened on present site. Circa 1945 Consolidated School- outlying schools closed and pupils & some buildings were transported to Meringur School. School had secondary pupils. 1966 Secondary pupils transferred to Werrimull Group School. School became Meringur Primary School. 1977 New building commenced. Old School buildings except Kurnwill School, removed – many to farms. Students & staff move to temporary accommodation south east of pool. New Open Plan building built and refurbished Kurnwill School became the Art Room. 15th September 1978 Building Opened. December 1997 Meringur Primary School Closed and Pupils & Equipment transferred to Werrimull P-12 School. Circa 1998 Meringur Community Centre Committee in charge of Complex under Mildura Rural City Council. Building still owned by Department Of Education. Millewa News published from here. Kurnwill School moved to Millewa Pioneer Park, Meringur where it contains School Items
MERINGUR PRIMARY SCHOOL HISTORY CONTINUED.. Circa 2013 Education Department desires to sell off buildings & land and firstly wanted to change the use from recreational to residential. Community opposition saw the CFA express an interest in the buildings & land. So with a purchase price of $40,000, $20,000 from CFA & $20,000 from Mildura Rural City Council, the complex was to be transferred to CFA. Donation from MRCC was for continued community use. 2014 CFA ownership Interim Committee of Management Building of new fire shed commenced (November)