Snapshot of the past

A photograph of the old Drouin Fire Station near Memorial Park in 2004.

The tanker in the photograph can hold water supply whilst the pumper can be utilised in urban areas with reticulated water supply.

This week’s snapshot of the past follows a c.1940 image of a Drouin fire crew from last week.

Drouin CFA had only four captains in its history, up to 2021. They are Wally Gerrard 1937 to 1960; Ern Caddy 1960 to 1981; Peter Smethurst 1981 to 1984; and John Atkins 1984 to 2021. The new captain is Mark Fox.

The old fire station near Memorial Park in Drouin was renovated and improved over time to incorporate a kitchen, meeting room and small radio room. The timber floor was replaced with concrete when the floorboards were eaten out by termites. Rats were an ongoing problem due to the station’s location alongside the railway line.

Big changes were made at the brigade after the 1984 bushfires when minimum skills for all brigades were brought in to force. This meant better training, meetings once a week, inter-brigade training, better equipment and procedures.

The move to the new fire station in Sinclair Street in 2005 allowed the brigade to further improve their equipment and facilities.

It is home to Drouin’s three firefighting vehicles - Drouin pumper, Drouin tanker and Drouin car.

The brigade is currently made up of 36 operational firefighters, brigade members and junior members participating in different roles.

John Atkins, who joined the brigade in 1962, was the captain until 2021. He shares his story on website storiesofdrouin.com.au

Photograph and information courtesy of the Drouin History Group.