Just as the official opening of the new Gulgong Fire Station was getting under way the call came in – proving that emergencies don’t wait for the right time.
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A number of firefighters swapped their formal attire for their gear, got into the trucks and left the ceremony.
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Commissioner Paul Baxter QSO said to the crowd they’d just witnessed how firefighters are called on at the drop of a hat.
“As you’ve seen today, FRNSW firefighters are highly trained and one of the most professional services in the world, in providing services not just to fire but also motor vehicle crashes and a range of natural disasters,” he said.
The $920,000 new station in Medley Street replaces the old Herbert Street location, which served the people of Gulgong and surrounding communities for more than 80 years.
The new Station No. 312 is designed to meet the changing needs of firefighters.
It includes separate male/female amenities, improved storage capacity for firefighting equipment, and an external yard for undertaking drills.
Station Commander Paul Cavalier said, “I have no doubt that this new station will serve current and future firefighters at Gulgong Fire Station very well for many years to come”.
“We will do whatever it takes to make the station an even bigger asset to the local community and the state of NSW as very proud employees of this organisation.”
Furthermore, the Brigade will soon expand their reach when they add a rehabilitation van that provides re-hydration and rehabilitation services to firefighters working at prolonged and large incidents.
“Our strategic location coupled with our brand new, state-of-the-art fire station, means we can not only continue to offer critical services to our local region,” Cavalier said.
“But shortly with the installation of our rehabilitation van we’ll be able to branch further afield and offer additional services to firefighters hundreds of kilometres from our town.”
An occasion such as these inevitably brings reflection as well and a brief history of firefighting in the town was provided at the ceremony.
The initial fire brigade in Gulgong was established in 1875 during the Gold Rush, at a time when the town had a population of 20,000 people.
Which made it one of the earliest brigades in Australia and NSW.
However, it was dissolved after just five years due to a lack of funding.
Over the decades that followed a number of attempts were made to re-form a brigade, finally succeeding in 1934.
Their first premises was in Herbert Street – believed to be where the Pioneers Museum is now – before moving up the road to the last station in 1935.
Costing £1,000 (around $93,728 in today’s money) the station served the Brigade, Gulgong and surrounding communities well for over 80 years.
As the role of the Brigade continues to evolve into the future the old station was deemed too small and has been retired.
Minister for Emergency Services and Member for Dubbo, Troy Grant, said it’s important to provide firefighters with the best possible equipment and amenities to do their job.
“While we love the history of Gulgong we have to continue to invest in the future and to make sure the fire capability remains the best it can be,” he said.
“We all know that fire stations themselves don’t put out fires, it’s the brave men and women who race out – as we saw – service above self and go and respond.
“But without these kind of facilities they’re not able to do that as efficiently or effectively as they do – the better the equipment, training, resources and infrastructure, the better they’re able to protect life and property.”
Although officially opened this week the Brigade has been operating out of the station for over a month.
“Since moving in on July 6 firefighters in Gulgong have responded to 25 emergency calls, including fuel spillages, rubbish fires, building fires, and calls for assistance from NSW Ambulance,” Cavalier said.
Proof again that emergencies can happen at any time.
