Wednesday, 15 February, 2023
Pakenham
/PakenhamBerwickGazette
pakenham.starcommunity.com.au
@PakenhamGazette
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SPECIAL EDITION ASH WEDNESDAY 40 YEARS ON
A father’s sacrifice
Brian Minett with his father’s spare firefighting helmet. 315275
The official handover of the truck, with John Minett (right) receiving the keys from Regional Officer Ian Symons.
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Brian Minett was just five years old when his father John perished fighting the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires in Upper Beaconsfield. John was the captain of the Narre Warren Fire Brigade, which received a brand-new fire truck only two days earlier. The official handover of the keys was captured by Gazette proprietor Ian Thomas with 21 brigade members standing proudly next to the shiny new vehicle. Two days later, on Ash Wednesday, six of those souls died trying to shelter from a firestorm under that new truck. Brian courageously shared his father’s story at the state-wide commemoration of the Ash Wednesday 40th anniversary. He was inspired by his father’s sacrifice to join the CFA - first with the Narre Warren North Brigade, the last station his father left before heading to the Upper Beaconsfield fires, and he now serves with Yarram Fire Brigade. STORY PAGE 7
Picture: GARY SISSONS