BRIGADE NEWS
Supporting the frontline Kyneton Auxiliary always gives a helping hand When local firefighters are hard at work protecting lives and property from bushfires there are often long-running and passionate community groups, much like the Kyneton Fire Brigade Auxiliary, working behind the scenes to offer their support in a variety of ways. The nine-member auxiliary supports Kyneton Fire Brigade year-round by fundraising for much-needed equipment and also provides catering during incidents attended by the brigade. Kyneton Fire Brigade Auxiliary Secretary and Treasurer Larina Strauch said throughout the auxiliary’s almost six decades of service it has built its reputation for catering. “Our catering is top-notch and we get involved whenever there’s a staging area in Kyneton, which was the case when we sent a strike team to Mallacoota,” Larina said.
“We are famous for our homemade slices. When the district and local brigade organise meetings the slice is often their first request.” The community group was established in the 1940s and became directly connected with the brigade in 1962 as an auxiliary brigade. “We’ve had some fairly significant incidents in our district over the past 12 months and we’ve been happy to support our crews through it,” Larina said. “During the Black Saturday bushfires our auxiliary was on duty for eight days straight, making lunches and sending them to the field. “It’s important we continue to show our support and provide this service to our firefighters while they do the work of protecting our communities.” Members are always finding time to pitch in year after year. Larina noted that the
Kyneton auxiliary clocked 369 hours of catering during the 2015-16 financial year and their involvement has remained steadysince. “It’s all about getting together and having that camaraderie among the group. We have meaningful interactions with the members of the fire brigade and have for a long time,” she said. “If you live in a smaller community joining a group like the auxiliary is a great way to give back.” STORY MITCHELL GASTIN
Ararat Auxiliary prepares for new facilities Ararat Fire Brigade has been preparing to open the doors of its multi-million-dollar new station (see page 68 for more details) but it’s not just the operational crews who’ve been looking forward to the upgrade. Members of the Ararat Fire Brigade Auxiliary are ready to take advantage of the fully-functional kitchen. It will be a big improvement on the small but tidy space in the old station and will help the 12 current auxiliary members to cater for brigade dinners, fundraising barbecues and district training sessions. The new space was also used to provide lunches for the collectors and brigade members during the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal.
provide coffee after a house fire. Other documents state it was formed in 1919 to help with the annual brigade ball. Regardless of when it started the auxiliary is now looking forward to its next chapter in the new station. STORY MARK BLACKMAN
“The auxiliary has provided much-needed equipment for the brigade and Junior brigade over the years,” Rhonda said. “It’s a fine body of ladies who work tirelessly in the brigade’s best interests.” And that tireless work has been going on for more than 100 years, with local records suggesting the origins of the auxiliary date back to 1878 when the Ararat Urban Fire Brigade Ladies’ Auxiliary helped
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PHOTO: BLAIR DELLEMIJN
Current secretary Rhonda Wall has been involved with the auxiliary for about a decade and said the group generally meets once a month during the summer period, though it hasn’t been doing much lately because of the facilities in the temporary station.
