IN January of 1947, a fire started at the Tourello Railway Station and moved south, burning the landscape through Ascot, all the way to the edge of Miners Rest.<\/p>\n
The next month, community members banded together to prevent a similar emergency from happening again, forming the Ascot and District Rural Fire Brigade.<\/p>\n
Members applied to the Country Fire Authority for their first proper tanker in 1948, but didn\u2019t receive one until 1961.<\/p>\n
For the first 14 years of Ascot RFB, volunteers had attended fires with a little truck that had a water tank on the back.<\/p>\n
The Ascot station on the corner of Ballarat-Maryborough and Ascot Hall roads was built four years later, before a new facility was established in 2010, next door to the Ascot Hall.<\/p>\n
Twelve years later, the one-tanker Brigade is marking their 75th anniversary. Attending about 20 fires a year, they have over 40 volunteers, many of which are young, active residents from local farming families.<\/p>\n
Firefighter, member of 44 years, and former captain Ian Terrill said it\u2019s always been a small, tight-knit community group.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe people that live in the area are the Brigade members, they know each other day-to-day, and it\u2019s like a family, really,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe all get on very well, and it\u2019s very encouraging having lots of young people involved.\u201d<\/p>\n
At a recent anniversary celebration, Mr Terrill unveiled a new donated honour board for distinguished service awardees, and many volunteers within the Brigade received individual honours.<\/p>\n
Brigade life memberships were presented to Kieran Moore, Colin Loader, and Howard Sobey, while nearly 30 members were recognised for their service, from five to 65 years.<\/p>\n
Mr Terrill also became the second person in the group\u2019s history to receive a National Service Medal for his commitment to volunteer firefighting.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s served in various roles including captain, secretary, lieutenant, CFA junior leader, Ballarat group communications officer, and third deputy group officer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel very privileged. It was quite an honour to receive the medal in front of my family and people who have been mentors for me over the years as well,\u201d Mr Terrill said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat keeps volunteers volunteering? Gratitude. When helping people over the years, you always got a sense of gratitude from them.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will go to fires wherever we\u2019re needed. The feeling of being able to assist people keeps you going.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
IN January of 1947, a fire started at the Tourello Railway Station and moved south, burning the landscape through Ascot, all the way to the edge of Miners Rest. The next month, community members banded together to prevent a similar emergency from happening again, forming the Ascot and District Rural Fire Brigade. Members applied to […]<\/p>\n