The Hilldene Fire Brigade was once a part of the Seymour Bushfire Brigade which was established in 1924, and next month, it is celebrating its milestone of 100 years of community service.
Final planning for the special event is in full swing, and Hilldene Fire Brigade lieutenant Jake Williamson is looking forward to it.
“We’ve included our yearly awards night that we normally have,” he said.
“We’ve got some significant awards that people are getting ranging from national medals to CFA life membership to 40 years of service in the CFA.
“We figured that we’ve got two big occasions included into one and hope to get a few different people along.”
Founded in 1924 after World War I, the Seymour Bushfire Brigade was established by farmers in the area to protect their farms and surrounding farms.
“Everything was very basic and homemade, a lot different to what it was back then,” Mr Williamson said.
“One of the local farmers built one of his trucks into the fire truck for the brigade.”
The 100-year celebration will be on Saturday, August 10, at the Seymour RSL Sub-Branch in Station St, Seymour.
Mr Williamson said they were expecting around 60 to 70 people, members and ex-members, to join on the special night.
“There’s been a lot of ex-members throughout the years we’ve had a pretty big reach from,” he said.
“We've got a couple of ex-members that have moved and now live overseas permanently, so it’s been a challenge to reach out.”
Mr Williamson said it was difficult to track some of the past members and try to piece together some of the memories and history of the brigade.
“We’re pretty lucky that we've got some of those founding members of when it was changed to Hilldene Fire Brigade from Seymour Bushfire Brigade,” he said.
“We've got some of the members that helped build an establish our old fire station out on Seymour, Pyalong Rd, some of the first captains from back then that is still in the brigade now.
“These people are key people that was drawn on for the history on the brigade.”
Mr Williamson said it would be great to hear more from past members or anyone with history with the brigade.
“If anyone knows or has any more history on the brigade from what it was back then to what it is today or has any photos or memorabilia or anything that they would be happy for us to look at or even put on display at the station, that would be great,” he said.
“If they have any connection to any of our older members that might not be here any more, then reach out to us, and we can have a chat to see if like they’re willing to come along or even just to come out and have a look to see what it's like these days and how much things have changed over the years.”
Hilldene Fire Brigade’s anniversary and awards presentation will be on Saturday, August 10, from 5pm.
The dress code is dress blues for CFA with ribbons or bars or formal dress with ribbons or bars.
Entry is $85 per person which includes a two-course meal, canapés and a free drink on arrival.
Please send your RSVP to hilldenefirebrigade@gmail.com. RSVP will close on Monday, July 29.