As Warrnambool’s new fire station was officially unveiled on Sunday there was no one looking on more keenly than life member Lance Baillie.
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When Mr Baillie says he grew up within the brigade it isn’t an exaggeration and the new Mortlake Road site is the fourth station he has worked from over his more than 60 years of involvement.
“I was registered as a member in 1956 but I tell people I’ve been a fireman for 77 years simply because I lived in the fire station in 1942 to 1952,” he said.
“My father was the station keeper, the fire station we lived in was the one of the highway near McDonald’s and there was a flat provided and the station keeper or some family had to be there to answer calls 24/7.”
Although operational since April, Sunday’s opening was a chance for about 80 members and guests to get a closer look at the $6.7 million Mortlake Road station and also collect the keys on a new $360,000 medium tanker funded through an emergency services grant program and brigade fund-raising.
Mr Baillie was impressed with what he saw and did not buy into the dispute between the CFA and the United Firefighters Union.
“All the hassles at the moment with unions – we’re taking it in our stride, this station is an integrated station and there’s no doubt that we’ve got some staff members who are union-minded but they don’t try to push their ideas onto you. They’re entitled to their view and we’re entitled to ours,” he said.
“I’m proud of the way we’ve been integrated with these other people… we’re all a team.”
Warrnambool Fire Brigade officer in charge Paul Marshall said the opening marked another chapter in the brigade’s history.
“Warrnambool brigade has a proud history of providing a fire service to its community and beyond for more than 150 years,” he said.
“The new station not only meets our current requirements but also offers the flexibility to expand as the need arises into the future.”
Acting assistant chief officer south-west Rohan Luke described the new two-storey station, which includes a four-bay motor room, eight bedrooms and additional shedding, as state-of-the-art.
“This facility is really the showcase of the CFA. This is the latest state-of-the-art building that will hopefully take us into the future in how we can deliver services to the community,” he said.
“Warrnambool is one of the fastest growing regions in the south-west and a station like this is befitting to that growth and to that change.”
Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney officially opened the station.
“It’s a fantastic location and does mark the growth that Warrnambool is going through and I think a perfect location,” she said.
“It is a stunning facility that does meet the needs of staff and volunteers and other administrative people.”