A Message from the Captain

The Neerim South Fire Brigade celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 1996.  During my 30 years as Captain and 46 years with the Brigade, we have been fortunate to have the support of some very dedicated members that have been willing to give freely of their time to provide the community with a wonderful service. The Brigade has also been blessed with continued support from the community and the CFA to provide that service.  I have seen many changes during my time, and I'm sure the Brigade and it's members will continue to meet the challenges of the future.

Brigade Members

Membership numbers of the Brigade has changed over the last fifty years. Until recently the Brigade would register members of the community that were likely to attend fires, so that they would be covered by the Authorities insurance in the case they were injured. The insurance cover now extends to members of the public that are not registered with a Brigade, and are classified as casual firefighters.

The introduction of Brigade membership fee's in 1956, was at the time the main source of revenue for the Brigade, so in some cases members of the community remained on the Brigade books as a means of contributing much needed funds to the Brigade.

As is sometimes still the case today, some members may still make themselves available if called upon, after they may have moved from the local area, or have become in-active with the Brigade, and they have remained registered members for quite some time afterwards.

Before the Jindivick-Neerim-Noojee Rural Fire Brigade was de-registered The Brigade had 204 Registered members. In 1946 the Neerim & District Brigade membership started with 131 members, and the Tarago Valley Brigade membership commenced with 114. Membership numbers have varied over the years from 79 in 1954, 120 in 1958, 220 in 1969, 100 in 1974, to the average membership in recent years of around 35 members. The numbers have at times not been a true guide to the commitment of all it's members, the biannual meeting held 30th September 1969 only attracted 5 of the 220 members, and had to be postponed till 17th November 1969 when 15 members where able to attend, and the Office bearers for the next two years were elected.

Membership has had sudden fluctuations in numbers, either decreasing or increasing. This has been due to the occasional deletion of non-active members, and has at times resulted in a large reduction in member numbers.

In 1954 then the water tunnel project to divert water from the Tarago to the Bunyip River was underway, 79 workers from that project were registered with the Brigade, with most leaving the Brigade in 1958 when a total of 89 members were de-registered.

1958 was the first time the membership was reviewed, leaving 120 members registered with the Brigade. This has occurred a number of times, when periodically the Brigade has reviewed membership making large adjustments. In recent times this is now done on a more regular basis, as people leave the district or become in-active..

As a result of the merger of the Neerim & District Brigade into the Tarago Valley Brigade in 1959, 32 members of that Brigade were re-registered with Tarago Valley, there are no records, but the remanding in-active members would have been de-registered or joined other Brigades at that time.

Over the last fifty years there have been a number of members that have made significant contributions to the Brigade, by their exemplary service, length of service, or the positions held as an Officer of the Brigade.

To date eighty nine members that have had more than twenty years of service with the brigade, of these seven have been presented the National Medal.

Members of the Brigade from the Kunhell and Parker families, represent five and four generations of involvement in the Brigade.

Samuel McCullough Snr, born in 1873, was a member of the Jindivick-Neerim-Noojee and Neerim & District Brigade's. His son, Sam McCullough, born in 1904, was present at the Neerim & District Brigade's first meeting in 1946, and was the Brigade's first Apps Officer. Sam's niece is Barbara Bills. Barbara has been a member of the Brigade since 1974. Her son in law Geoff Cumming, daughter, Dawn and son in law Trevor Kunhell, as well as their two sons Justin and Craig, are members of the Brigade, and her son Lindsay was a member whilst living in the area.

Samuel McCullough Snr was Trevor Parker's great grandfather, his father in law Charles McGillvary was also a long serving member of the Brigade, Trevor's wife Beryl has been a member of the Brigade since 1980, their son's Gavin, Kelvin, and son in law Bob Raymount are members also.

The Cook family have been represented buy three generations, Walter Cook his son, Bob and grandchildren Ray and Greg.

Two members of the Brigade have gone onto full time careers with Fire Services. Steve Anderson who left the Brigade in 1990 and is now with the Northern Territory Fire Service, and Gavin Parker who is still a Volunteer member of the Brigade, started full time employment with the Country Fire Authority in 1995.

John Delzoppo was a member of the Brigade from 1958 to 1982 and latter went on to be State Member for Narracan and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in Victoria.