Ashburton Volunteer Fire Brigade… and its Wow Factors

The headline for last Saturday’s events will read “Ashburton Volunteer Fire Brigade reaches its 150 Years”.

But the occasion for the Mid/South Canterbury brigade was much, much, more. I was in town for the celebrations and found they were a mix of looking back to its founding in 1874, pride in its continuing community service and its ready acceptance of progress and change it brings.

First, the history bit, which now enables all of us to appreciate the brigade’s progress during its 150 years. This began with an enlightened move in the late 1970s when the Brigade decided it would set up a museum in which to house its past. It opened in 1979 at Tinwald… its doors taken from the old fire station and cleverly incorporated in the façade of the new premises. Over the years the museum building has expanded, the recent extension, just completed, gives a total of 660 square metres.

The exhibits in the museum are the perfect storyteller: they reveal the progress of a volunteer fire brigade over 150 years. The objective of graphically displaying its history from day one begins with the absolute basics (1874) like buckets, a cross-cut saw, fire hooks and a few ladders. But it’s the advent of appliances when the story really unfolds. It begins with the horse-drawn pump (1876), and the steamer (1889), followed by each and every appliance that has served in the town. Where the exact appliance wasn’t available, replicas have been created by local talented engineers and workers whom for example, built from scratch a reproduction of the rare 1882 Shand Mason curricle horse-drawn pump (ex Western  Brigade) and re-created the 1920s Dodge appliance (ex Allenton Brigade) inherited by Ashburton upon amalgamation. These 2 additions to the museum were unveiled at the weekend, completing the line-up of fire engines over the ages.

Curricle pump, similar to the old Western Brigade’s Shand Mason: Heathman

Rare sight: curricle pump built from the ground up

The “business end”: the pump faithfully re-created

The museum has had the luxury of the Ashburton Brigade apparently never throwing away anything connected with its operations. It was almost as if appliances, equipment and uniforms were stored, awaiting the museum’s founding – then “recycled” into the displays. Add to this the benefit of hoarders, collectors and donors who have provided further items and funding… and the depiction of the story of the brigade comes alive in the exhibits. There’s a re-creation of the old controlroom, the display of uniform and breathing gear, waterway equipment and radio gear.

Ashburton has an additional “watch” to other brigades – the “Grey Watch”:  these are members, and former members, of the brigade, who, along with others, bring their talents and skills to create, maintain and display the exhibits at the museum. So, on Saturday’s Open Day, part of the 150^th activities, the hand pumper was squirting water while Bruce Hill, a qualified steam engineer, fired up the steam pumper and showed it can still throw a powerful jet, despite its 135 years!

Bruce Hill shovels in the coal to fire up the steamer

Progress of firefighting in those times, from back-breaking manual work to powerful steam-pump, was evident for all to see.

The steam pump of 1889 still “showing good water” in 2024

There’s a collaboration going on here to make all this happen. First, there’s an essential relationship between the brigade and the museum and then the “Grey Watch” with all the talent and expertise it affords, to which must be added a wider circle of supporters who created, funded and helped build the museum. And then the acquisition and presentation of the artifacts to tell a story. It all adds up to a wow factor, an achievement which the brigade has, uniquely, pulled off: to tell its own history.

And you don’t have to go far to get stories of more recent events: 3 current members have served more than 50 years and an impressive 21 have attained more than 25 years’ service. This is a remarkable record of “stickability”, when so many members offer to serve their community year after year. Loyalty and devotion are words that come to mind, as the members live and breath the brigade’s motto “ever ready, ever willing, striving with a will to save’.

Two of these long-serving members featured in an announcement, fittingly made during the 150^th weekend. As if to assure harmonious ongoing relationships between the Brigade and the Museum it was revealed that Station Officer (OS) Graeme Baker (56 years’ service) had been made Patron of the Museum while present Chief Fire Officer, Alan Burgess, MNZM, (54 years’ service) was appointed Director. The future is taken care of.

Ashburton’s fire brigade is one of the biggest in New Zealand operating as a combined resource with both urban and rural capabilities and with the addition of Operational Support to its ranks. The team maintains a tough training regime and serves the community answering some 400 call-outs annually. And not just to fires like their forebears: these days responses to rescues, medical calls and natural disasters are included.  The brigade has also contributed to the wider scene – 3 of its members have been President of the nationwide United Fire Brigades’ Association which the brigade joined back in 1881. As was correctly said at the 150^th Dinner, this is a brigade that punches well above its weight.

From all accounts (and these are ably documented in a 150^th publication “Striving With a Will to Save”, compiled by Peter McQuarters) it’s always been a gutsy volunteer brigade with inspired – and inspiring – leadership, like the present Chief Fire Officer, Alan Burgess. He leads a team determined to effectively serve its community and, with the icing on the top, has this brilliant museum collection showing its life and times since it was founded in 1874.

I don’t think I heard the expression in Ashburton during the weekend’s celebrations… so here goes, Happy Birthday!  Happy 150^th !

RCC 28.11.2024