Thursday, 5 March 2026

 Vicki WARD (Eltham – Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Natural Disaster Recovery, Minister for Equality) (10:39): Congratulations to Eltham fire brigade on their centenary and a full-hearted thankyou to all volunteers and career firefighters over those 100 years who have worked so hard to support and protect our community. Eltham did not have a local fire brigade in 1926. The Heidelberg and Ivanhoe fire brigades were called when Eltham’s weatherboard corner store caught on fire, but with the building gone in 30 minutes, they were too late. Days after, on 24 February, a meeting was held and the decision made to form a volunteer local brigade. Since then the brigade has had many homes, from equipment originally installed in the first captain’s shed to the brigade’s current location at 909 Main Road, Eltham, which reopened in 2019 following a half-million-dollar facility upgrade from this government. Throughout its history the brigade has responded to many major fire events like the terrible fires of 1965 in Eltham North, which claimed three lives, destroyed 15 homes and burnt 100 hectares, and like the devastating 2009 Black Saturday bushfires that took so many lives and the hurt of which reached so many homes in my own community.

Over this summer they joined numerous strike teams supporting response efforts far and wide. For the brigade’s commitment and service during the 2009 fires, Eltham brigade was awarded Community Group of the Year in Nillumbik’s 2010 Australia Day awards and 17 members received the National Emergency Medal. The Eltham fire brigade has also been a leader in developing breathing apparatus support capability, leading the introduction of an integrated BA filling station and later developing a mobile support capacity. Time and time again, Eltham fire brigade has been there for us, and I thank captain Steve Riley, his leadership team and every current volunteer. Eltham fire brigade, thank you for 100 years of service to our community.