August 23rd, 2023Warragul local captures the brigade’s 140-year history

Retirement for Warragul local, Vaughan Fox, was going to be all about pottering around in his shed, building a wooden boat and learning to weld.

That was four years ago. Vaughan, 73, is now the secretary of CFA’s Warragul Fire Brigade and he has written a book about the brigade’s history to coincide with the 140^th anniversary this month.

When the brigade was discussing the 140^th anniversary a year ago a conversation came up between Captain Tyler Hogan and Vaughn.

“I had written my family history and I showed the Captain and he said you are the man to write the brigade’s history,” Vaughan said.

“You have to know your history. They have to know what it was like, how things evolved – to me it’s important.”

To celebrate the milestone, a dinner and awards ceremony was held on Saturday 12 August at the Warragul Downtowner where several long service awards were handed out. These included two CFA life membership awards to Brian Brewer (45 years service) and Graeme Minns (30 years service) and three National Emergency Medals to Bradley Hogan, Timothy Pritchard and Graeme Minns.

The history of the Warragul Fire Brigade began in 1883 in Queens Street, Warragul. In 1902 the brigade moved to the lower part of Smith Street and then to the top end of Smith Street in 1930.

In 2000 the brigade moved to Gladstone Street, Warragul, which is where they remain today.

Today the brigade boasts 65 members with 43 operational firefighters, four trucks including a Hazmat vehicle. The brigade responds to about 280 calls per year.

Warragul Captain, Tyler Hogan, said the 140^th anniversary was a significant milestone and it was important to collate the brigade’s history.

“The history was all starting to get a bit lost, but this book collates it all and we can keep the information centralised,” Tyler said.

The book outlines, in chronological order, from 1883 to the current day. Vaughan went through the old newspapers to piece together the history.

As for artefacts there is an old bell that the brigade believes dates back to 1893. The bell is now symbolic and hangs in the station. There is also a letter that the Warragul founding Captain wrote to the council in 1883. The Warragul and District Historical Society had a copy and this will now be framed and hung in the station.

To order a copy of the Warragul Fire Brigade book contact the brigade.