R.A.A.F Base Edinburgh 25th Anniversary of the Fire Service
The 25th Anniversary Shield was designed and constructed by Bob Prosser
see ‘history’ for a clear view of the shield
Edinburgh 25th Anniversary of R.A.A.F Fire Service
Back Row: Owen Gibson, Ken Harkness, Bob Prosser, Phil Blakeman, M. Smedley, Bob Keane,
Mick Klien-Essink, Peter Telley, Dave Fox, Reg Brady
Middle Row: John Lyons, Jim Smith, Digger Martin, Andy Sharrad, Gary Helman, Peter Hancock, Mark Davis, J. Thompson, A. Cameron, R. Wojciechowski, Brett Franklin, Mick Curthoys, M. Adams, T. Coventry
Front Row: B. Gordon, Trevor Lawler, Keith Cavill, G. Mitchell, Sqnldr Thomas, Cess Levein, Terry McKell, Peter Harding, Ken Smith, Col Lehmann
50th ANNIVERSARY REUNION, IPSWICH 2006.
Names of those who registered as of 11 September 2006.
Name Accompanying Person
Mr Swede Anderssen
Mr Jim Ashdown Mrs Merilee Ashdown
Mr Greg Bland Mrs Nola Bland
Mr Douglas Bower Mrs Barbara Bower
Mr Cecil Boyter
Mr Alan Brazil Ms Angela Eldridge
Mr Craig Brazil
Mr Andy Brelsford
Mr Desmond Brittaim Mrs Annette Brittaim
Mr Keran Carsburg
Mr Vic Carter
Mr Kevin Casey
Mr Ian Castles Mrs Ursula Castles
Mr Brian Chase Mrs Ann Chase
Mr Danny Clark Mrs Susan Clark
Mr Ross Colbey Mrs Judy Colbey
Mr Richard Cooper Mrs Yvonne Cooper
Mr Russell Coyles
Ms Lindsay Crouch
Mr Kevin Cummins Mrs Priscilla Cummins
Mr Ernie Dare
Mr Max Davey Mrs Margaret Davey
Mr Geoff Dawes Mrs Liz Dawes
Mr Robert Dickson Mrs Robyn Dickson
Mr John Elliot
Mr Peter Elliott
Mr Darren Evans
Mr John Fawke
Mr Garry Finney
Mr Grahame Fowler
Mr Ian Gill Mrs Patricia Gill
Mr Barry Godfrey Mrs Glenda Godfrey
Mr Brian Griffiths
Mr Mike Hanrahan
Mr Peter Harding Mrs Beverley Harding
Mr Ron Haslet
Mr Malcolm Hayes
Mr Peter Head
Mr Paul Healy
Mr Lawrie Heath
Mr David Hines
Mr John Horsburgh
Mr Allen Igglesden Mrs Patricia Igglesden
Mr Bob Jones
Mr Colin Kraft
Mr Dick Kuhlmorgen
Mr Geoffrey Luke Mrs Maureen Luke
Mr Des MacDonald
Mr Robert Mantei Mrs Diane Mantei
Mr Malcolm Marsland-Kelsey
Mr Peter McGraw
Mr Vic McKean Mrs Wendy McKean
Mr Robert McMaster Mrs Gail McMaster
Mr Charles McPhail
Mr Pat Mildren Mrs Trish Mildren
Mr Ted Mildren
Mr Douglas Mills Mrs Christine Mills
Mr Scotty Mineall
Mr Michael Moore Mrs Linda Moore
Mr Steve Mountain
Mr Max Munro Mrs Karen Munro
Mr Thomas Nelson
Mr Ian Palmer Mrs Roslyn Palmer
Mr David Pentland
Mr Robert Pointon
Mr Les Porter
Mr Gordon Potter
Mr Robert Prosser Mrs Ronda Prosser
Mr Graham Quinn
Mr Ronald Rafferty
Mr Brian Reason Mrs Carmel Reason
Mr Reg Reilly Mrs Pamela Reilly
Mr Frank Reynolds Mrs Jill Reynolds
Mr Paul Ryan
Mr Raymond Sapwell Mrs Marie Sapwell
Mr Lindsay Shaw
Mr Russell Shearing-Jones
Mr Kevin Sloane Mrs Fiona Sloane
Mr Norm Taylor
Mr John Trott
Mr Greg Voss
Mr Wayne West
Mr Arthur White Mrs Alice White
Mr Edward Wilson
Mr Cameron Wright
Mr Raymond Young
RAAF FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE
50TH ANNIVERSARY REUNION
1956 - 2006
A reunion commemorating the 50th anniversary of the RAAF Fire and Rescue Service was held in Ipswich, Queensland on the 13th, 14th &15th October 2006.
HISTORY
The first two fire fighters, Blair (Tiny) Jackson R.I.P and Ernie Yardley R.I.P. received their training at the Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade and were appointed with the rank of Sergeants in late 1956. The first three Courses run by the newly formed RAAF Fire and Rescue School (located at RAAF Base Pt Cook, Victoria) were run concurrently during 1957. The first course consisted of remusters with the rank of Cpl and the second with the rank of LAC. These members and also the members of the next two courses were able to retain their rank provided they passed the appropriate trade tests. WOFF Brian Griffiths BEM (Ret) and WOFF Ray (Curley) Young from No 1 course and WOFF Charley McPhail from No 2 course were in attendance at the Reunion.
Ray (Curley) Young and Brian Griffiths
The Fire and Rescue School remained at Pt Cook until 1987 when it was moved to RAAF Base Amberley. The student is trained in all aspects of Structural, Bush, Vehicular and Aircraft incidents where fire and or injury may occur. It becomes his responsibility to ensure that fire was controlled and extinguished as quickly as possible and that all occupants are evacuated quickly and efficiently so that injuries are minimised and emergency first aid is given.
The Pt Cook facilities were adequate although primitive by the present standard that exist at this time. The first Fire Vehicles were WW2 Ford and Chev Blitz that were converted to a fire-fighting role. In November of 1958 these were replaced by a Rolls Royce/Thornycroft vehicle which was the first purpose built Aircraft Fire Vehicle to be supplied to the RAAF. In 1975 the Oshkosh P4 replaced this vehicle and the Austral Trident and E-one Titan in turn replaced this in the early 1990’s. These vehicles are still in use at this time. Hot fire training was carried out in pits located on the Base and filled with a mixture of any fuel that became available. This fuel produced extremely toxic clouds of smoke that would drift over Port Phillip Bay. Breathing Apparatus were unheard of and safety equipment was only minimal. Fire Suits were made of Asbestos and whilst they were tremendous in repelling the flame they became extremely hot to wear and one had to be careful that they were not hosed by the hose line crew as they then became a pressure cooker and death would be swift for the wearer. The dangers of asbestos was not known at this time and these suits and Fire Blankets made of the same material were believed to collect airborne “dust” and therefore this dust had to be vigorously shaken out of them on a weekly basis.
Ford & Chev Blitz Fire Vehicles in use up to 1960
The Amberley facility boasts ‘State of the Art’ equipment with hot training aids that can simulate just about every scenario that may be encountered be it structural or aircraft. Pollution is no longer a problem as all fires are gas supplied and this may be shut off immediately should a problem occur. Protective equipment in the form of Breathing apparatus and clothing is right up to date. In the 50 years over 1000 firepersons have received their initial training and many have also received additional training that has enabled them to take up more senior tasks.
Originally RAAF firefighters were stationed at some twenty locations within every State in Australia. At this time RAAF manning is restricted to only four locations, Tindal NT, Amberley Qld and Williamtown and Richmond in NSW. Fire services for the remaining Bases are now covered by either Air Services Australia, (ASA) or Transfield with many of these staff coming from former members of the RAAF. Many have seen active service in Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Timor and the Middle East Area of Operation (MEAO). In all of these assignments they were responsible for providing fire protection for all of the Australian Forces and were frequently called upon to assist with fire fighting and rescue for the local population.
IMPORTANT EVENTS
Several have received Bravery Awards of Medals for their actions, whilst others have received Awards for Conspicuous service. No doubt there are many instances where exceptional brave actions have been unrecognised particularly where assistance has been given to the local civilian authorities in bush, chemical or structural fires both within and outside Australia. Some of the more notable events are as follows.
Three fire fighters including Brian Griffiths. and a transport driver received bravery BEM’s for their part in the evacuation of fuel tankers from the tanker compound at the Richmond Base when a fire occurred in one of the tankers.
In 1963 RAAF Townsville provided a fire vehicle and crew to fight a large fire that lasted for three days in the Bulk Sugar Terminal. The very quick reflex actions by one member, Bob Steer, saved the life of one of his colleagues when he disappeared down a conveyer belt chute. Bob instinctively reached down and managed to grasp the collar of his companion’s overalls and haul him to safety. This chute could not be seen as they were in water and slurry to a depth well above knee hight.
After the crash and death in the late 1950 period of one of the Nations leading Motor Racing Drivers, Lex Davidson, it was established that his life might have been saved had there been a Fire and Rescue team in attendance. As a result of this Paul Nash, a RAAF Fire-fighters located at Pt Cook at the time, set up a voluntary response fire and rescue team comprising both RAAF Fire-fighters and other interested members from various musterings that became the standard for all Motor Racing within Australia. This was to be the forerunner for the Rescue response teams seen at all Motor Racing events throughout the world today.
R.I.P.
Four members have paid the ultimate price where they have lost their lives whilst attending accidents.
LAC Marcus Winston Hall, Pearce WA, 23 April 1969.
Mark was the Rescue firefighter member of the crew of the Early Rescue Vehicle that was responding to a non-fatal crashed Vampire aircraft. The vehicle left the road went through a fence, hit a large rock and rolled end to end. Mark was thrown from the back of the vehicle.
AC Hubert Howell, Laverton Vic, 28 March 1970
Hubert lost his life in a Water Tanker rollover when it was responding to an alarm on the Base. The call out later proved to be a false alarm.
LAC Alfred Ian Markwell, Amberley Qld, 11 May1973
Ian was a member of the fire crew attending a motor vehicle accident on the Warwick highway. Two vehicles had responded and Ian was crushed between the two when a semi trailer collided with one of the vehicles.
LAC John Fredrick Jarrett, Fairbairn ACT, 28 December 1974
John was driving a Water Tanker with the siren sounding and flashing lights activated to attend a fire that had been reported at a defence location outside the Fairbairn Base.
In attempting to overtake a vehicle he lost control and the vehicle rolled. It was later established that this call out was a hoax.
REUNION
The Reunion commenced on Friday 13th October with registration and a meet and greet which special guests, the Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Ipswich Paul and Janet Pisasale, attended. The Mayor was presented with a plaque as a token of the group’s appreciation for a donation from the Ipswich City Council towards the running of the event. The Mayor presented the group with a certificate of appreciation to the RAAF Fire Service. The Fire Training Flight will hold this.
On Saturday morning, 14th October, the Instructors of the Fire Training Flight conducted a demonstration that highlighted the vast improvements made in equipment and training facilities since the introduction of the Mustering. The Reunion Dinner followed this where the largest number of participants attended and all revelled in the chance of renewing old acquaintances during the evening.
Pat Mildren and Curley Young being shown the latest equipment by Sgt Rod Gilbert
On Sunday morning a very enjoyable morning tea was held in the Amberley Sergeants Mess Beer Garden followed by a Memorial service at the cenotaph located at the front gate. A plaque dedicated to all fire fighters and listing the names of the four deceased members was unveiled by WOFF Brian Griffiths BEM (Ret) and consecrated by Chaplain SQDLD Bob Heathwood. This ceremony was also attended by four of the five sisters and their families of the late LAC Ian Markwell who is remembered on the plaque. All attempts to locate the relatives of the other three deceased members to invite them to this function were in vain.
The Reunion concluded with a farewell Bar B Que.
ATTENDANCE
Retired members from every State and Territory in Australia as well as one former member, Ted Wilson, who is now a fire fighter in Canada, returned for the Reunion. Another former member, Geoff King, was only able to attend the Friday function as he is now a Qantas Captain and was rostered to fly out on an international flight to Los Angles on the Saturday. Several serving members from the various Bases were able to attend. It was decided that a reunion should be held at least every five years and the possibility of forming an association be investigated.
SPECIAL THANKS
The reunion group would like to make a special thanks to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the grant received under the, “Saluting Their Service Commemorations Grants” scheme. This was greatly appreciated and helped offset the considerable cost that all who attended had to meet.
Reunion Convenor
Pat Mildren
Geoff King, Peter McGraw, Ernie W. Dare and Ted Mildren
From the pensive look on E.W’s face he’s seen somebody approaching with a collection plate - or bloody worse - it’s his SHOUT... Bloody hell, it’s good to see that I’m not the only ex-firie that’s spent some time in the long paddock. Cheer up, Pete! Chas/Mar 2009.
Dave Hines, Gary Finney and Ted Mildren
Geoff King and Graham ‘Chook’ Fowler
Note: Geoff is probably one of our greatest ex-firie acheivers, as a qualified Qantas 747 - 400’s pilot (Captain). He was a RAAF Fireman for six years during the 70’s. WELL DONE, Geoff...
Trish and Pat Mildren - the two ‘Pats’
