THE TIDBINBILLA BUSH FIRE BRIGADE

History

The Tidbinbilla Bush Fire Brigade was formed at a meeting held on 25 February 1951 at Mr H Woods' homestead. There were 14 local residents at that meeting and the first action taken was the purchase of a Dangar Gedye & Malloch fire fighting unit, from Gibbs & Co, Queanbeyan, ata cost of 180 pounds and 2 knapsack sprays for 7 pounds 18 shillings 6 pence. To raise the money a levy of 15 shillings per hundred head of sheep was set.

List of subscriptions

Land Holder	property	£-s-d
Sir Keith Murdoch	(Booroomba Station)	50-0-0
T Green	(Rock Valley)	10-0-0
A Reid	(Tidbinbilla)	5-0-0
T Woods	(Gibraltar Creek)	10-0-0
H Noone	(Riverlea)	10-0-0
Driver and Martin	(Gibraltar)	10-0-0
L Dallender	(Rock Valley)	10-0-0
C Woods	(Freshford)	10-0-0
K Gilmore	(Nil Desperandum)	5-0-0
A L Maxwell	(Tidbinbilla Road)	2-10-0
N Reid	(Oakey Creek)	20-0-0
H Woods	(Paddy's River)	10-0-0
Flint Bros.	(Congwarra)	15-0-0
J Reid	(Tidbinbilla)	18-10-0

A selected landholder, beginning with H Woods, took responsibility for the fire fighting unit for 12 months. On 25 November 1953, a transceiver set No. 21 was fitted to Flint Brothers' truck.The equipment for the 1954/55 season consisted of one 2-way radio, 2 knapsack sprays, 1x200 gallon tank and 1 reel.

From the 1955/56 season the main equipment was permanently stationed at Congwarra, with water bags, metal knapsack sprays, beaters, rakes, tanks and hoses supplied to each landholder.

In 1963 big changes took place. The then Fauna Reserve (formerly Rock Valley) was withdrawn from the Tidbinbilla Bush Fire Brigade area, and the Tidbinbilla Tracking Station had become operational.

In 1968 the out-dated radio was replaced by a transistorised model, the metal knapsacks were replaced by lighter polythene units, and members were given McLeod tools and water tanks by the Bush Fire Council. A fire tanker, International K6 5 ton truck was purchased from the Department of the Interior in 1969, and it could carry 800 gallons of water.

In 1979 the Bush Fire Council provided a Toyota 4-wheel drive Light Unit and more fire equipment. For a time the International K6 was kept as a back up vehicle, until it had out worn its usefulnessand was put up for tender. It now resides in a shed at Congwarra awaiting the tender loving care it deserves.

The area covered by the Tidbinbilla Bush Fire Brigade has decreased over the years, with the extension of ACT Forests into the valley, the Fauna Reserve became Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, linked to Namadgi National Park and both Tidbinbilla Tracking Station and Birrigai took over rural land. However, with increased traffic and a wider use of the area by the public, the danger of fires has increased.

There is co-operation with all neighbouring fire fighting services, and volunteers are undergoing training in basic fire safety to prepare for any fire situations. The days of green branches and wet bags may have passed but the local Bush Fire Brigades are still there, on the ground, ready to spring into action at the first sign of smoke, under the general control of the Bush Fire Council of the ACT.

Future

These facts were taken from the Minute Book of the TBF Brigade. From the formation of the Brigade until 1965 the Annual General Meeting was held during the daytime at the Tennis Court, but from then on the meetings were held in various locations, mainly homesteads in the valley, and always at night, to cater for changing lifestyles. While Harold Woods lived at Paddy's River he was a very capable Secretary/Treasurer, and his beautifully hand-written minutes are an example of the old fashioned yet charming style of the day - very formal and correct. The minute book istherefore a valuable record of the fire fighting services in the Tidbinbilla Valley during the last 40 years, and it contains the names of many who have now passed on or moved away.

Monica Flint
5/3/1991