Memories burn bright
Extinguisher donation to fire museum
THE family of the late Terry Devonshire has donated a unique collection of fire extinguishers, tags and signs amassed over a 20-year career to the Toowoomba Fire Brigade Historical Society at the Highfields Pioneer Village.
Mr Devonshire was wellknown and highly regarded in Toowoomba, having established and run Sunstate Fire Protection for two decades.
“His main areas in fire safety were the installing, checking and recharging of the many different types of fire extinguishers necessary to suit the current government fire safety legislation, as well as hose reel fire fighting systems for different styles of buildings,” TFB society president Lester Naumann said.
“One of Terry’s expertise was training sessions for emergency evacuations and extinguisher operations.
“It is also known that competitors faced an uphill battle trying to offer similar attention to detail and person service that Terry offered as normal, which built up a huge customer loyalty.”
Ill health forced Mr Devonshire to close his business in 2012. He died two years later.
He is survived by his wife Cheryl and three daughters Melissa, Joyleen and Rhonda.
Mr Naumann said Mrs Devonshire approached the fire museum about her late husband’s collection which was stored in various locations but has gradually moved to Highfields.
“The TFBHS views the collection as a valuable addition to the museum falling in line with the society's main aim of gathering together as much of Toowoomba’s fire-fighting history as possible and people such as Terry Devonshire and his company Sunstate Fire Protection definitely played a huge part in the fire protection area,” Mr Naumann said.
The collection is on display at Highfields Pioneer Village.