Wednesday, 26th March 2014
A dedicated team of CFS volunteers have finally secured leasing arrangements with the State Government after almost a decade of negotiations, to establish a fire-fighting museum in the South East.
Volunteer Fire Fighters Museum Chairman Rex Hall AFSM said an agreement was reached recently to lease a parcel of government land in Naracoorte for a nominal fee.
“The agreement with the State Government was reached last month paving the way for the museum to be built on land in Smith Street at Naracoorte, which is subject to the creation of the allotment,” Mr Hall said.
“This essentially ends almost a decade-long bid by volunteers to acquire a suitable site to house and display a constantly growing range of heritage items”.
The Volunteer Fire Fighters Museum has accrued various items of memorabilia, fire fighting equipment and several historic fire trucks with some restored by volunteers, which are being temporarily housed in sheds and shipping containers at the Naracoorte showgrounds.
“The museum has in its collection 20 former fire trucks, uniforms, protective equipment, training aids, maps, photos, and general memorabilia, some dating back almost a century,” Mr Hall said.
“CFS has a long and proud history and it is therefore appropriate that we present items that reflect this history as a dedication to our volunteers and in a way that shares it with the people of South Australia and the museum will do that,” he said.
Mr Hall said that he is now hoping that the first stage of the museum will be completed within the next 18 months.
“This museum will collect, conserve and display CFS heritage,” he said.
“It will also be educational for school children, nostalgic for country people and informative for everybody with an interest in our State and the history of the CFS.”
Mr Hall said that the Museum Committee was grateful of the State Government’s support in addition to its corporate sponsors, CFS management, and CFS volunteers whose efforts have led to an exciting milestone to establish a new museum.
with 1943 Ford Blitz fire appliance. Photo by Peter Grieve.
For media enquiries contact SA Volunteer Fire Fighters Museum chairman Rex Hall on (08) 8762 1424