THE Merrijig Rural Fire Brigade is gearing up for its 100-year anniversary later this year on Saturday, November 8. A century of dedicated volunteers protecting the local community will be honored at the brigade's Open Day. There will be a display of vintage and modern fire tankers, and firefighting equipment spanning the century. The highlight of the event will likely be the arrival of a 1947 Austin Tanker on loan from the Fire Services Museum of Victoria. The museum tanker offers a rare glimpse into the firefighting heritage of yesteryear. This remarkable piece of history is set to make its way to Merrijig thanks to the generous sponsorship of Merrijig local, Adele McCormack. Adele has generously covered the transport costs to bring this unique vehicle to the celebrations for all to see and enjoy. "I'm so happy to sponsor this tanker, I love vintage vehicles so it suits my passion for them," Adele said. "My late husband Cyril McCormack was a volunteer at the Merrijig CFA. "This transport sponsorship is a lovely way of honouring his hard work and something that was important to him and his whole family. "Cyril’s eldest brother, Peter McCormack and Peter's wife Judy, were also heavily involved with the Merrijig CFA. "It might have been before women were accepted, but Judy McCormack was on the two-way radio when the brigade was out on a call and directing firefighting operations using the information she was given. "I remember, Judy used to scan the horizon for smoke on High Fire Risk days, ready to call out the volunteers at the first sign of smoke. "I’ll bet there’s lots of women who worked in the CFA unrecognised in those days. "I believe that we have had at least eight McCormack family members volunteering with the Merrijig brigade, over a number of generations." Attendees at Merrijig CFA's free open day will have the chance to see firsthand how firefighting technology has progressed. Equipment from the early days of the modern vehicles that protects the region today. The display will include operational CFA tankers from different brigades and eras, allowing visitors to appreciate the advancements that have shaped firefighting over the past century. Other highlights will include live fire burns on the burn table, the Mansfield SES, a host of free activities for the children, including badge making, fire uniform dress ups, photos with the Mansfield Group Vintage Tanker, and fire tanker models to make, and a lucky dip; to name a few. It promises to be a big day in Merrijig, so mark it in the calendars now. The Open Day will celebrate the rich history of the Merrijig Brigade and acknowledge a century of dedicated volunteers. Stay tuned for more details, the full program of events and special activities will be shared through Merrijig CFA's social media channels.
