AWARDS PRESENTATION & COMMUNITY DAYTHURSDAY 18TH DECEMBER 2014

ORDER OF PROCEEDINGS

Welcome

Service Awards Presentation

Thank You

BBQ

ORDER OF PROCEEDINGS

Welcome

Service Awards Presentation

Thank You

BBQ

Since taking on the role of Operations Manager for what was then Region 18, I was made acutely aware of our connection to the land and our community. Nowhere was that made more evident to me than on my first visit to Meringur. The district was in the grip of severe drought, signs of stress were evident everywhere and we were putting a significant amount of our energy into supporting our brigades and our people.

I knew that we were a resilient lot but move 7 years on I think that not only are we resilient we’re a proud lot as well. Nowhere was that more evident than Meringur. I have always believed that CFA is in the business of community. My role in that is to try to make it as easy as possible for our volunteers to do what they do, by building capability. It’s more than trucks and training courses. It’s about things that make a difference and I think we’ve done that in Meringur.

Tonight the brigade is coming together to celebrate. Celebrate harvest’s end, celebrate Christmas, or those who have supported the community through their service to the Meringur Fire Brigade and CFA. Or, it might be just to have a chat over a beer. It doesn’t matter why, what matters is that you are.

We all contribute so much to community in so many different ways much of it unrecognised, but not tonight. Tonight we are recognising a significant amount of service to the community. As much as these are individual awards, I’d ask that you think of them as family awards. Why? Because behind every responder there is a network of support and to them I say thank-you.

Now that I have moved on and am looking towards a new horizon I just want to say this. “Have a great night Meringur. You deserve it.

Bill JohnstoneOperations Manager

District 18

2007 - 2014

FOREWORD AWARD RECIPIENTS

5 Year CertificateMichelle Pickering

10 Year MedalMalcolm Lynch – Katherine Pickering – Brian Roads – Debra Rowe

Trudy Ruchel – Donna Turvey

15 Year MedalGlenda Fox – Peter Lambert

20 Year MedalDaniel Fox – Travis Harmer – John Impey – Lindsay Ruchel

25 Year MedalDaryl Goldsmith – Jason Harmer – Rodney Mattschoss

David Pickering – James Pickering – Jack Rowe

30 Year MedalBruce Croft – Graeme Ruchel – Stuart Thomson

35 Year MedalJoe Fox – David Schilling

40 Year MedalGeoff Williams

45 Year MedalDesmond Gray – Geoff Gray – Ronald Hards

50 Year MedalKevin Fox

55 Year MedalBill Duncan – Lindsay Harmer

AWARD RECIPIENTS

Captain – Lindsay Ruchel

1st Lieutenant – Peter Lambert

2nd Lieutenant – Geoff Gray

3rd Lieutenant – Daniel Fox

FEM Officer – David Schilling

Secretary – Michelle Pickering

BRIGADEMANAGEMENT

TEAM

MEMBERS LIST

Bruce Croft

John Croft

Jarrad Dodd

Bill Duncan

Daniel Fox

Glenda Fox

Joe Fox

Kevin Fox

Daryl Goldsmith

Desmond Gray

Geoff Gray

Nicholas Hards

Ronald Hards

Jason Harmer

Lindsay Harmer

Phillip Harmer

Travis Harmer

John Impey

Jack Lambert

MEMBERS LIST

Peter Lambert

Malcolm Lynch

Rodney Mattschoss

Wayne O’Connor

David Pickering

James Pickering

Kathrine Pickering

Michelle Pickering

Brian Roads

Debra Rowe

Jack Rowe

Graeme Ruchel

Kalob Ruchel

Lindsay Ruchel

Trudy Ruchel

David Schilling

Stuart Thomson

Donna Turvey

Geoff Williams

“The Meringur Rural Fire Brigade was formed at a public meeting held in the Hall on Thursday, 4th April, 1946, with Chas Mangan being Secretary. The Brigade’s certificate of registration (No. 112) was dated on 1st October, 1946. As far as records can tell, Percy Weinert became the Brigade’s first Captain, using his own truck and controlling the Meringur fires, with Rueben Croft taking charge of the fires at the Morkalla end. The Brigade’s first registered fire fighter was A.G. Williams who was registered on 1st October, 1946, and was followed 6 months later by 3rd Lieutenant R. Gray, Bob Matthews, Alec Matthews, Bill Matthews, Mort Mattschoss and D. Budich. Most men became registered in 1955, with Jack Wilkinson being Captain. The Brigade’s first registered woman was Edna Pepper, who signed up in December, 1968.

Fires in the early days were mostly beaten out with fire fighting sticks, which were later upgraded to knapsacks. Application was made in

1951 for a tank and pump, which was used until the first truck, a CFA spare, was delivered on 10th November, 1955. This was replaced on 6th July, 1956 with Meringur’s own tanker, an Austin, registration no. GMF 728. The Brigade offered a sum of 750 pounds to help purchase this. The Austin was housed at Campbell Curtis’ until a shed was built. This truck lasted well until an Inter C1300 was obtained on 17th April, 1978, from Boort.

The first Fire Shed was built in 1957, after a request was made. The original shed was supplied by the CFA and erected by brigade members, on land given over to the brigade by Tel Fox. This was the original site of Millewa Motors. Alteration was made to the shed in 1985, when the front doors were raised to enable it to house the present Hino Tanker. Construction of the present shed began in December, 1990 and was completed shortly afterwards. Local Brigade members then took on the task of building in a communications room, which is still, as time and funds permit, being completed.”

Meringur Fire Brigade History(An excerpt from Captain Mark Matthew’s speech at the Official Opening of

the Meringur Fire Station held on Friday, October 29th, 1993).

MERINGUR PRIMARY SCHOOL HISTORYREFERENCE:

Meringur School Golden Jubilee 1978- Produced for Opening of New School Building

12th September 1927Temporary School opened

1928New School building opened on present site.

Circa 1945Consolidated School- outlying schools closed and pupils & some

buildings were transported to Meringur School. School hadsecondary pupils.

1966Secondary pupils transferred to Werrimull Group School. School became

Meringur Primary School.

1977New building commenced.

Old School buildings except Kurnwill School, removed – many to farms.Students & staff move to temporary accommodation south east of pool.

New Open Plan building built and refurbished Kurnwill Schoolbecame the Art Room.

15th September 1978Building Opened.

December 1997Meringur Primary School Closed and Pupils & Equipment transferred to

Werrimull P-12 School.

Circa 1998Meringur Community Centre Committee in charge of Complex under Mildura Rural City Council. Building still owned by Department Of

Education. Millewa News published from here.Kurnwill School moved to Millewa Pioneer Park, Meringur where it

contains School Items

Circa 2013Education Department desires to sell off buildings & land and firstly

wanted to change the use from recreational to residential. Community opposition saw the CFA express an interest in the buildings & land. So with

a purchase price of $40,000, $20,000 from CFA & $20,000 from Mildura Rural City Council, the complex was to be transferred to CFA. Donation

from MRCC was for continued community use.

2014CFA ownership

Interim Committee of ManagementBuilding of new fire shed commenced (November)

MERINGUR PRIMARY SCHOOL HISTORYCONTINUED..