Maryborough Fire Brigade History

CRAIG WINTER

ON HIS father’s retirement as Deputy Chief in 1969, a young lad who had been born and bred at the Maryborough Fire Station moved out with his family, but has never forgotten the links he shares with one of Australia’s pioneering Brigades.

Trevor McTernan’s father Allen was a firefighter for over 45 years and witnessed incredible changes in both equipment and techniques in fighting fires, from horse drawn appliances to the state of the art equipment of the time.

When the McTernans left, Mr Brian Walters was appointed as Deputy Chief and subsequently his family has also maintained a connection with the Brigade.

Trevor remembers his life at the station with joy.

“I remember as a child that when the engine turned out to a fire I could be often seen in ‘hot pursuit’ on my bicycle following the fire engine down the street.” he said.

While he adds that the business of firefighting and fire prevention is very serious, there are also many light-hearted sides.

"I remember the firement doing some hose drills on Sunday and me pouring buckets of water on them from the upstairs balcony. I was rewarded by being sprayed by the fire hose...my father was not home at the time.”

Trevor originally wrote the history of the Maryborough Fire Brigade in 1976 as part of a project he was working on for Scouting.

“I then re-wrote the history in 1984 to mark the Centenary of the Maryborough Fire Brigade Board.” he said.

Timed along with news of the station’s refurbishment and expansion, he is now seeking stories and photos to be included in an updated and far more thorough documentation of the local service’s histry.

“This third writing will be more comprehensive and provide detailed information for the researcher as well as personal stories for local families.

“I intend to cover the period from the 1863 to1883 and outline the many attempts and events that led to the initial formation.

“The second part will cover the period until 25 June 1990 when the Fire Brigade Board was abolished, and the Brigade was absorbed into the newly created Queensland Fire Services. It is Trevor's intention that this work will fill the gaps for this period in the brigade history and to form the foundation for anyone else who wishes to write the history from that point.

Trevor said “Prior to 1990 each regional Fire Brigade in Queensland (except Childers which was managed by its members) was under the administration of its local Board. This Board comprised representation from State and Local Government, Insurance Companies and the Chief Officer. The Williams family were stalwarts of this Board and three generations served as Secretary.

“The Maryborough Brigade has enjoyed a well-deserved reputation for its efficiency and progressiveness throughout its history.

“This reputation is a result of an outstanding Board which ensured the effective management and financial control of the Brigade, a long list of chief officers who were both highly professional and forward looking to ensure the equipment and training was first rate and to the officers and men who went to work every day ready to put “ wet stuff on the red stuff” and serve the citizens of Maryborough. I am very proud of my connection with the Brigade and it is a privilege to write it's history.

Trevor McTernan pictured with his father’s helmet and firefighting equipment. Photo supplied

The Hecker & Co fire of 1956. Photo supplied.

The Brigade is a family affair for many Maryborough families, the Hinchen family, the Walters family, the Thomas Family, the Ruhle Family, The Dawson family, the Gick family, and the Whiltshire family to mention but a few.

“Every family where a member has “turned out” to a fire is part of this proud history and this should be recognised. Therefore, the purpose of this book is many fold. To record the development of the brigade and outline some of the major fires. To be part of the recorded history of Maryborough and be a reference for others to research. “Lastly, and possibly most importantly to be a pictorial history so family members can regognize their own forebears and to have their family contribution acknowledged as part the Brigade’s history.” he added.

The citizens of Maryborough had tried to establish a fire brigade from the early 1860’s and despite many serious and promising efforts, no brigade was formed.

This was despite several relatively serious fires in that time including a few hotels being burnt down.

The Gasworks fire of 1960. Photo supplied.

The most serious fire occured on the morning of February 3rd 1876 when 12 businesses in the CBD were destroyed. The damage cost was estimated to be not less than 20,000 pounds with less than half the premises covered by insurance.

As was reported in the Chronicle: ...it seemed that the whole of Maryborough was in flames. The utter helplessness of the bystanders owing to the absence of any organised means for either extinguishing or confining the flames was very striking. Surely Maryborough will not require any further ‘Viand yet more grievous warnings to cause the citizens to at once provide the machinery, moral and material, for the coping of such calamities. Let the Corporation (City Council) at once vote the nucleus of a fund for providing at least two effective fire engines...” From that shakey beginning, the Brigade was eventually formed and flourished and has established an enviable number of firsts.

When the fire station was built in 1888 (to the rear of the City Hall in Adelaide Street), it was the first brick and stone fire station north of Sydney, the first steam fire engine was called “Progress” and was the first to cost more than five hundred pounds, it was the first regional fire brigade in Queensland to have two-way radio and first to use “normal air´ breathing apparatus to mention but a few.

See The Sun’s next edition for more on Trevor McTernan’s history of the Maryborough Brigade.

If you have stories, photos or documents to support his work, you can contact Trevor by emailing him at maryboroughfirebrigadehistory@gmail.com