Methven Volunteer Fire Brigade members are preparing to celebrate the brigade’s 100th anniversary on King’s Birthday weekend. Two life members spoke to reporter Dellwyn Moylan.
In 1922 a fire broke out in Methven which saw the destruction of four shops.
The Christchurch Star reported – ‘‘Without firefighting appliances it was hopeless to attempt to save the burning buildings and the bucket brigade which was formed concentrated on stopping the spread of flames.’’
The first fire station was built in 1925.
Today brigade members are looking forward to celebrating 100 years on King’s Birthday weekend.
Big fires attended over the years include the Methven linen factory fire in 1948 that caused 10,000 pounds of damage, the Woodham Grains Store fire in 1969 which caused the $250,000 of damage, and the Brown Pub fire in 2019.
Life members Murray Dickson and Don Breach each had vivid memories from over the years.
Murray said while he wasn’t a member when the grain store fire happened, he was among many who turned up to help the brigade.
The 76-year-old got into the brigade through a friend, former fire chief Selwyn Allred. Today they are both double gold star holders. Murray did 52 years with the brigade before retiring.
One fire Murray remembered was a challenge to fight was at Lowe’s cutting; the wind was against them.
‘‘In fact we probably shouldn’t have been there,’’ he said, but they had to get through a river to fight it.
‘‘We had positioned ourselves a point were we had one chance to attack it and put it out as it came to a point. We were all set up when the fire got there, burnt itself out, and we all went home,’’ he said.
‘‘The brigade came of age when we got a water tanker.’’
The first tanker the brigade bought was from Burkes Catering, where it had been used for carrying beer.
‘‘Unfortunately it arrived empty,’’ Murray said.
Don was working at a Burnetts transport depot, a few doors down from the station, when someone suggested he should join, as he would be close to respond to calls.
The 85-year-old recalls the station moving to the depot when a new station was constructed in 1988.
‘‘It was great, I always got the driver’s seat,’’ Don said. He served for 27 years.
Today the brigade is made up of 26 members.
There are some families who have had fathers and sons in the brigade, such as current chief Brent Anderson, the 11th chief in the brigade’s history.
Anderson follows in the footsteps of his father Dave Anderson who was chief from 1975 to 1996.
The first gold star which recognised 25 years of service was awarded in 1984.
Since then, 19 stars have been presented, testimony to the long service of many members.
There have been some big changes over the 100 years, the biggest to equipment used.
Another was from calls being mainly for vegetation and stubble fires, to calls to accidents and crashes today.
‘‘It basically changed overnight. Our knowledge of first aid had to increase as we needed to be able to look after our own at a call out, as well as support St John if needed,’’ Murray said.
‘‘We learnt first aid so we could keep an eye on our mates. We had some fun at the CPR training, a room full of blokes kissing a plastic doll,’’ Don said.
Next door to the fire station, the brigade has a museum with beautifully restored engines, uniforms through the years and fire memorabilia. The public will be able to view these at a May 31 open day.
Part of the celebration will be a child-sized fire engine, which was built by another life member Andrew Leask.
Leask constructed the working model for the brigade’s 75th anniversary.
Alongside the open day, centennial celebrations will include a social event on the Friday evening and a formal dinner on the Saturday evening.
‘‘It will be great to catch up and reminisce about all we have done and been through,’’ Murray said.
‘‘There are some I haven’t seen for years who will be there to share memories with; and we of course will also recall those who are no longer with us,’’ Don said.
