COUNTRY Fire Service personnel past and present were honoured on Sunday during the official opening of the South Australian Volunteer Fire Fighter Museum.
The museum – the first of its kind in the state – was officially opened on the 37th anniversary of Ash Wednesday with civic leaders and senior emergency service personnel laying wreaths in memory of those killed in the devastating 1983 bushfires.
Located in Naracoorte, the museum – which is yet to be completed – is home to over 300 photographs, a collection of trucks, Country Fire Service uniforms and memorabilia spanning back to the 1940s.
The museum has taken almost two decades to develop with the committee collecting and organising memorabilia for 19 years.
Museum committee chairperson Rex Hall hailed the opening a success as over 250 people paid their respects to lives lost on Ash Wednesday while exploring the history of volunteer firefighting in South Australia.
Mr Hall said the concept was developed after viewing a firefighting memorabilia display in Ashburton, New Zealand.
“We floated the idea and we looked into developing something similar here in South Australia,” Mr Hall said.
Mr Hall said over the two decades the committee collected valuable historic items and lobbied for government funding to kick-start the project, with the Federal Government committing $320,000 to fund the museum last year.
The committee also held a number of fundraisers to bring the project to fruition.
“Initially we started collecting material and getting the gear together then we drew up the initial plans and specifications, quotes and everything else we needed,” Mr Hall said.
The committee chair said stage two plans were drawn up and ready to go for the museum project, which would add an administration building and information area to the site.
“This will make the buildings more of an information and learning hub rather than just a museum and will be a learning centre for future generations.”
Sunday’s community event attracted a number of Country Fire Service members with many reflecting on their service.
“There was a lot of past and present members and it was an opportunity for them to see people who they may not have seen in years,” he said.
Attending the opening, Member for Barker Tony Pasin acknowledged the service provided by volunteer firefighters.
“It’s been a devastating start to summer. Unprecedented bushfires across the country have, once again, put in the spotlight the importance and value of our volunteer firefighters,” Mr Pasin said.
“There’s never been a better time to pay tribute to our volunteer firefighters and I’m extremely proud that our government has helped to fund the SA volunteer firefighters museum in Naracoorte.
“Our firefighting volunteers make up such an important part of so many regional communities across the country and South Australia has a long and proud history of volunteer firefighting.”
The museum will not open full-time until stage two is complete with those interested in viewing the current display urged to contact the museum to arrange a suitable time.
