198810oct07ccm

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Capricorn Coast

COVERING IJVINGSTONE SHIRE

Shavers Beach Shack

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AVIS rent-a-cars ISSUE 269 FRIDAY, October 7, 1988 - THURSDAY, October 13, 1988 PHONE (079) 39 4244

Registered by Austraila'Post — Publication No OAC3843

6400 FREE COPIES WEEKLY

He's taking his 1926 Bean fire engine and brass hat, too!

■ ABOVE: Lex Semple, complete in brass helmet, at the wheel of his fully-restored 1926 Bean fire engine some of the memories he takes into retirement with him after 40 years with the fire brigade.

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C.K. Motors Burnett St, Yeppoon - 39 1410

LEX SEMPLE, the man whose name has become synonymous with Yeppoon Fire Brigade, retires on Sunday ... but he won't be severing his connection with fire-fighting. He will be taking his memories - and his fully-restored 1926 Bean fire engine and original brass helmet - with him to his new home on Rockhampton Road. His retirement plans are sketchy because he had hoped to stay on at Yeppoon until at least February next year when he would have clocked up 40 years, but he has been retired because of problems with his health. His long-term retirement plans include opening a museum of fire-fighting memorabilia he has collected, including a second fire engine but, for a while, he will have to store his equipment at home. "No doubt there will be a few people interested in seeing my collection but I won't be operating on a commercial basis ... I expect word will get around and a few will drop in just to say hello," he said this week. His,collection will also be seen at the fire station during Fire Prevention Week from October 23 and will probably be taken around Coast schools. Leaving the fire brigade will not be easy for Lex Semple. His life has revolved around fire-fighting ever since he became involved in Japan in 1947. He was a Royal Australian Air Force acting corporal in the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces (BCOF) when a big fire changed his life. Helping to fight the blaze, he saw a man about to hose a transformer ... "I ran at him and knocked him flying," Mr Semple said. Some days later he applied for a position with the BCOF fire brigade and nervously went for an interview ... "the Pommie behind the desk was a colonel, I was an acting corporal, and he was the bloke I'd knocked flying. As far as I was concerned the interview was over." But the "Pommie colonel" thanked Lex for what he had done. He said he was an infantryman who knew nothing about firefighting but was in charge of the fire brigade. He reckoned Lex knew what he was doing and gave him a start ... not long after, Lex was training other firemen. • CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Yeppoon

Yeppoon Day Care Centre

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SEAFOOD MAR KE for all ... Local, Fresh & Frozen Seafood and many other lines Open 6 days-a-week 39 4485 SAVEMORE CENTRE

• • • • Member of 'The Local' Liquor Chain

7.30-5pm - $1.50 per hr Casual - $2 per hr Children 2-5 yrs Under 2 yrs Casual Only

Ranger Drive - 39 4599


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