Highton fire brigade reaches major milestone

FOR 80 years the Highton Country Fire Authority (CFA) brigade has been serving the local community and surrounds, and this month will celebrate the milestone.

The brigade kicks off its birthday celebrations with a family fun day at the Highton Reserve on October 6 with plenty of food, fun and displays.

Highton CFA captain Christopher Munford said the event is open for everybody to see what the brigade does.

“It’s for the community to come down and engage with our members and other emergency services that are participating as well,” he said.

The brigade will also celebrate with a closed awards night later in the month where members will be acknowledged for their efforts and presented with awards from the CFA and government.

Formed in 1944, the brigade transitioned from a rural to an urban brigade as Highton continued to grow.

“The population growth around Highton has changed a lot over that time and the service needs of the community and our response to different types of jobs [have as well],” Mr Munford said.

Member numbers have remained fairly consistent throughout the years, although the equipment has changed.

“The state-of-the-art appliances that we have now and the equipment that we wear has come a long way,” Mr Munford said.

In 2018 the brigade welcomed Ali Jordan as first lieutenant. She was its first female lieutenant and in 2020 made history again as the first female captain.

“Across the CFA more broadly in members and membership types, more female members are involved, people from different backgrounds are involved and we’re quite a young brigade at the moment compared to some,” Mr Munford said.

All brigade members are volunteers with jobs outside the CFA.

Growing up in Highton, Mr Munford has been a member for eight years and joined to be part of something bigger than himself.

“I saw it as a way to give back to the community, something different, something exciting and through that I’ve met a bunch of great people and learned a lot of great skills that are interchangeable throughout work life and the CFA,” he said.

The CFA recruits year-round. For information, head to cfa.vic.gov.au