The rescue of a native bird by the Kyneton Fire Brigade and Wildlife Victoria last week highlights the damage that litter – including discarding fishing line – can cause if left in the environment.

Last Wednesday 26 March, the Kyneton Fire Brigade was called to assist Wildlife Victoria with a bird rescue after the native currawong became entangled in fishing line that was stuck in a tree.

Crews responded at about 1pm to reports of the unfortunate bird stuck in the fishing line that was entangled in the tree along the Campaspe River in Kyneton.  

Wildlife Victoria attempted to free the currawong, which was suspended over the river, tangled in the fishing line. However, despite getting in the water they were unable to free the bird.  

When they were unable to make the rescue, they contacted Kyneton Fire Brigade who arrived promptly and ready to help.  

Crews used their rescue equipment to get the bird out of the tree and it was then able to be disentangled from the fishing line.  

The bird had a damaged beak and a swollen wing but was expected to make a full recovery.  

A spokesperson for the brigade said CFA volunteers are always ready to answer the call for help wherever it might come from. 

“We’re incredibly proud of our volunteers, who never hesitate to step up, no matter who needs help,” they said.  

Story based on a CFA report. Images: CFA

The Kyneton Fire Brigade has celebrated its long 140-year history with members and dignitaries attending a commemorative dinner and awards presentation event.

The brigade marked the important milestone alongside Chief Officer Jason Heffernan and Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas MP on Saturday 27 July, at a dinner that featured significant service awards.

Macedon Ranges Shire Deputy Mayor Janet Pearce proposed a toast to CFA and the brigade, commending and thanking the members for being ordinary people doing extraordinary things for the community.

Kyneton Captain Greg McIntyre said the brigade has been operating continuously since 1884 – when it had 30 members and was located at the former bluestone police stables.

“Eventually, it was moved to a timber building next door to the current fire station,” Greg said.

In 1998, the brigade moved into its current location in town, maintaining a strong presence in the community.

“The brigade has always been a very active brigade in the community and in CFA competitions as well as operations,” Greg said.

“We have about 70 members at the moment and over half of them are active firefighters. We also have close to 30 per cent female firefighters.

“We provide urban support to brigades in the group and beyond; we respond to the recently closed Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre, which used to have lots of alarms.

“And we do a lot of the usual incidents such as structure fires, car fires and motor vehicle accidents.”

Receiving around 170 callouts every year, the brigade has a 2007 Hino 3.4C tanker, a 1998 Type 3 Isuzu pumper and a field command vehicle, alongside a hazmat trailer servicing the wider Macedon Ranges area.

“I remember our pumper when I first joined was a Mazda, it was a very small vehicle and not very powerful, so the one we have now is a big improvement on that.” 

Greg said the brigade is proud of its heritage.

“We certainly had a lot of people involved, before my time, in the Ash Wednesday bushfires and we were heavily involved in Black Saturday as well as Black Summer,” he said.

“We’ve had many members participate in those and they’ve contributed a lot to the culture and learning at the brigade.

“We have quite a heritage program in the brigade with trophies and other memorabilia and we try and encourage members to be good representatives of the brigade and of CFA as they serve in the community.”

For Greg, not only does his passion lie in mentoring up-and-coming firefighters but helping community members during a traumatic time.

“Sometimes it’s hard if we get called at Christmas dinner time but then I think well, actually this is the worst day of somebody else’s life so I haven’t got anything to complain about,” he said.

“I think the brigade is very well respected in our community. We’re included in a number of community activities.

“I’m very proud when I see members committing, putting in the effort to train, and then being able to apply that when the situation requires it.

“To see the members working with one another, even though we’re immensely different people, and we come from different backgrounds, we’re all there to carry out the functions of the brigade and help save lives and property.”

A plaque commemorating an extension finished in 2016 – now officially named The RG & RB Walker Extension – was handed over to members at the event.

The extension is named after members Ronda Beckley Walker OAM and ex-Captain Roger Gordon Walker AFSM.

“I felt honoured to participate with our Chief Officer in the official naming of this facility and the presentation of the commemorative plaque to honour two members who have contributed so much to the culture and development of the brigade for many years,” Greg said.

“This commemorative plaque will serve as a reminder to future brigade members of the heritage of service on which we build.”