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The first meeting of the newly formed Brigade was held on the 28th August 1946 and the Neerim & District Rural Fire Brigade was formed comprising the areas of, Neerim, Neerim East, Neerim North, Nayook and Neerim Junction, with the headquarters at Neerim Junction. It would seem that the name of the Brigade was subject to some confusion, on the registration certificate and the minutes from the first meeting it was referred to as the Neerim Rural Fire Brigade. But after 1953 was recorded as Neerim & District on all C.F.A. documents.
On 10th September 1946 at a meeting held at Jindivick, the Tarago Valley Rural Fire Brigade was formed, and applied for registration with the C.F.A. The Brigade took in the Jindivick, Crossover, Rokeby and Neerim South area's with the Brigade's headquarters at Neerim South.
The equipment belonging to the Jindivick-Neerim-Noojee Rural Fire Brigade was distributed between the new Brigades, apart from major equipment, and the active members where transferred to the new Brigades.
During Tarago Valley's first meeting it was also moved that the Brigade solicit a fee of 10/- per year from property owners, to help finance the Brigade. These fee's where able to be paid to Mr Stoll and Mr Pretty at Jindivick, The Bank and Police Station at Neerim South.
In December 1947 equipment, under the Tarago Valley Brigade, consisting of knapsacks and other hand tools were stored at Jindivick for use in firefighting. Arrangements were made to place the equipment at Cash's Garage, Jindivick for a small yearly rental. Later during the year the Brigade looked into the possibility of building a shed of its own for storage of equipment at Jindivick but this never eventuated. also at the same time the C.F.A. was requested by the Tarago Valley Brigade to re-paint the Brigades Ex-Army 1939 Ford Fire truck red. It wasn't until February 1956 that the Truck was eventually painted by the Brigade members at a working bee.
The first visit to a local school took place in November 1948, with a talk to children before recess about fire prevention. This has continued through the years and the Brigade activities now include, staff training, "Project Fireguard", and fire evacuation drills.
In 1956 enquires were made about obtaining an electric siren to be used to warn members to report to the Fire Station. A temporary electric siren was fitted but this later was found to be inefficient and dangerous and in October 1956 the Brigade purchased a bell.
Both Neerim & District, and Tarago Valley R.F.B.'s continued until the late 1950's but the Neerim & District Brigade was less active and in 1959 was de-registered and membership and equipment was transferred to the Tarago Valley Brigade. The Brigade looked at a name change to "Neerim District Rural Fire Brigade" but Tarago Valley remained until the 1980, when it was changed to the Neerim South Rural Fire Brigade.
Meetings were held at different venues around the Brigade area, until the current Station was built in 1990. These early meetings were held mainly at the various Public Halls at Neerim Junction, Neerim East, Jindivick and Neerim South.
In the early 1950's the Tarago Valley Brigade was quickly able to establish itself, building up its membership, equipment, and increasing the Brigade area, as well as the construction of a Station.
During the late 1950's the Brigade continued to build up the equipment for the Brigade vehicle but found this difficult due to a lack of Brigade funds and limited equipment available from the C.F.A. at the time. The Brigade entered in its first Rural "Demo" in 1959.
The 1960's brought new technology to the Region and the Brigade as HF and VHF radios found their way into service with the CFA. Brigade members also continued to compete in Fire Brigade Rural "Demo's".
The early 1970's saw the completion of effective radio communication equipment in place with the brigade, and the brigade turned its attention to training on a Group level and equipment to supplement items found on the Tanker.
Equipment procurement continued through the 1980's with the purchase of other equipment including the Brigades first support vehicle to supplement the Brigades Tanker and to cover the firefighting needs of the Brigade's area if the Tanker was required to support another Brigade.
Training during the late 1970's, 80's, and 90's has changed dramatically. This includes the frequency of training as well as the variety undertaken by Brigade members. Fire prevention and community awareness has also improved vastly during this time, with the Brigades involvement in Regional "Fire Prevention Competition's", and the Shire's "Municipal Fire Prevention Committee". This has led to the Brigade's contributing to the "Municipal Fire Prevention Plan" and a Brigade "Fire Prevention Plan" being produced and implemented.
The Brigade has also increased its involvement in public education with the introduction of "Project Fireguard" and "Brigades in Schools" in the local schools, to supplement the existing school visits, as well as staff training and advice to organisations in the community. The 1990's has also seen the introduction more effective protective clothing and equipment and the continued improvement of Station facilities for training and social functions.
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