It is 50 years since Bairnsdale Fire Brigade’s competition team was at its prime during the 1970s.
The brigade won the “A” class aggregate at the Victorian State Championships in 1972 and 1974 and had many other notable performances during that decade.
At the 1971 state championships Trevor Thompson and Barry Miller won the two-man marshall setting a new state record for the event. The brigade also gained third placing in the ladder eights that year.
At the 1972 state championships the brigade won both the ladder eights and the straight eights in record times and Trevor finished third in the one-man marshall.
1973 saw the team of David Martin, John Delany, Barry Miller and John Summers win the prestigious champion fours event at the state championships and the brigade also finished third in the Y eights and the ladder eights.
At the 1974 state championships the brigade won the Y eights and straight eights and finished second in the ladder eights.
1977 saw the brigade win the five-man motor event at the state championships and finish second in the ladder eights. Trevor Thompson and David Martin were also second in the two-man marshall.
At the 1979 state championships the brigade once again won the ladder eights.
In addition to the competitors named above Noel Allen, Pat Feehan, Geoff Giles, Roy Handley, Geoff Hopkins, Dennis McNamara, Allan Morrison, Carl Peers, Wayne Royal and Paul Stray were members of teams that won events at state championships during that decade.
Bill Royal, himself a state ladder champion during his running days, was coach of the team until the mid 70s after which Trevor Thompson took over the coaching duties.
The brigade is holding a 50-year reunion of the running team this Sunday, March 10 at the new Bairnsdale Fire Station.
