Fire brigade marks 130th anniversary

Young and old gathered at the Geraldton Fire and Rescue Service Station on Sunday to celebrate the 130th anniversary of Geraldton No. 1 Brigade, WA’s oldest volunteer fire brigade.

Current volunteer captain Damian Wilson said it was great to see so many former volunteers come together.

“It’s good to see. It’s been a while, so they’re all catching up,” he said.

“Very few have been to the new station, so it’s eye-opening for them to see where they’ve come from.”

The No. 1 Brigade formed in 1886 and originally used hand-drawn carts full of water, a far cry from the motorised fire trucks operated by volunteers today.

The brigade has 25 active members, including eight women, and many are under the age of 30.

Mr Wilson said the average age of volunteers had dropped over the years, with many joining the team as juniors.

Mr Wilson’s daughter, 11-year-old Zoe, is one of nine juniors on the running team, where they learn basic fire safety skills and how to use the equipment, as well as competing in the State Junior Championships, where their skills, speed and agility are put to the test.

“It’s good to see young people wanting to get involved,” he said.

“You don’t have to be sporty to do it. It’s all about the smoothness.”

While freshly cooked hot dogs and burgers were being served outside, inside, those who attended looked at old photos, naming familiar faces and reminiscing.

Norma Golding, wife of the late William John Golding, brought along her husband’s medals in a beautifully mounted picture frame.

William Golding was a volunteer with the No. 1 Brigade from 1952 to 2007, and received the Australian Fire Service Medal in 1987 for his service to the community in hazardous circumstances.

Mr and Mrs Golding married in 1955 and Mrs Golding said her husband devoted a lot of his time to helping the community.

“He loved the volunteer fire brigade, it was a big part of his life,” she said.

Geraldton Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service is one of 92 brigades in Western Australia, which provide firefighting and prevention services throughout the State.