CFA volunteers from across the northern suburbs gathered at Kalkallo last weekend to celebrate the local fire brigade’s 50th anniversary.
Land owners keen to protect their properties from grass fires formed the brigade in 1965, but it wasn’t operational until 1966.
Over the past half a century, the brigade’s membership has grown, with volunteers from Craigieburn, Beveridge, Kalkallo and Whittlesea signing up to lend a hand.
Secretary Gary Cockerell said the brigade now has 109 members, including about 20 juniors.
He said residents of new estates in the area, including Mandalay at Beveridge, were helping to boost member numbers.
“People from Mandalay realise they are in a fire-prone area and they want to help out,” he said. “When people hear it’s going to be a bad fire season, it tends to drive memberships.”
CFA chief officer Joe Buffone and Emergency Management Victoria commissioner Craig Lapsley took part in the brigade’s celebrations on May 28, inspecting the brigade, while former captain and long-serving member Ned Pannuzzo gave a speech outlining the brigade’s history.
