Just before cutting the impressive milestone 50th birthday cake depicting a fire truck were, from left, Gary Anglin (Wodonga), Ron Webb (Wangaratta), Yarrawonga’s Colin Cobb (at the cake), Daryl Love (Warrnambool), Rod Roberts (Bendigo) and Rowan Constable (Geelong). Absent from photograph: John Cleesh and Rod Walters.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
Twelve Victorian CFA Fire Officers were promoted to Station Officers in 1973 and Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort was chosen for their 50th reunion last Wednesday evening, August 16.
Flashback to 1973. The above 1938 Dodge was used as the fire truck for the 12 CFA Fire Officers (pictured) at Fiskville Training College: Gary Anglin (seated), Ken Lynch, Ron Webb, Colin Cobb, Rowan Constable, Rod Roberts, Robert Cross, Daryl Love, John Kleesh, Rod Walters, Bob Hayes and Kevin Richards.
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Eight of those retired officers, from throughout Victoria, loved catching up in person with their old firefighter mates.
It was the second time Yarrawonga Mulwala has hosted a reunion and the evening was in good hands with retired station officer and later, regional officer, Yarrawonga’s Colin Cobb as Master of Ceremonies.
Six of the eight surviving retired CFA Station Officers and their wives/partners at the 50th reunion, at the Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
“The 12 officers were promoted to station officer in July 1973, as the result of shorter working hours being introduced, from 72 hours a week to 56 hours a week,” 77-year-old Colin told the Yarrawonga Chronicle.
“After completing the First Officers Course at the CFA Fiskville Training College, these officers were deployed to major cities across Victoria, from Wodonga to Warrnambool and Traralgon to Mildura, and all in between.”
Colin has lived in Yarrawonga for 21 years where, after retirement in 1994, helped out at the Yarrawonga Urban Fire Brigade as a voluntary fire fighter. Colin’s continued devotion to anything related to fire is obvious – despite health issues in recent years.
Beforehand, he became responsible for the combined regions of Springvale and Dandenong and took in the Mornington Peninsula (Region 8) in charge of 70 stations. With numbers of volunteers varying at stations from 40 to 70, it was often about 2800 volunteers under Colin’s overall control as Regional Officer (a title which has more senior title these days such as Chief Superintendent and Commander).
“I loved every minute of it, not knowing what was going to happen,” Colin commented about his career. “There was great camaraderie.”
When asked about some memorable incidents, Colin mentioned a nasty fire in Bendigo in about 1970 at a plumbing supplies factory where he and a colleague, about to enter upstairs with a two and ½ inch hose witnessed the upstairs floor collapse, were blown across the street and suffered gravel burns including to their faces.
In an early morning Boronia Road in Wantirna, on the way to what turned out be a false alarm, the fire truck with Colin and a colleague on board overturned with consequential injuries to all involved.
The commitment towards the safekeeping of communities was foremost of the minds of officers and volunteers.
All those present at the 50th year reunion never sought awards during their decades of wonderful service but are proud of their national medals for outstanding long service. In 2014, experienced instructor Colin also received a National Emergency Medal in relation to the 2009 Black Saturday fires.
“The group has met each year since 1973 to celebrate and share their careers and family happenings,” Colin said. Sadly, Robert Cross, Bob Hayes, Ken Lynch and Kevin Richards have passed away.
A Friday Nine Hole golfer at Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort, he praised the golf club resort venue for the half-century reunion.
“The golf club resort is a magnificent venue. It was great seeing everyone for this milestone 50th year occasion. We’re family,” he concluded.
