PROUDLY serving the community since 1942, the Darlington Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade recently celebrated its 80-year milestone with a gala dinner and awards presentation held at the Darlington Estate Winery.

Having to delay the function for more than a year due to Covid-19, current and past brigade members, dignitaries and guests gathered to acknowledge and celebrate the brigade’s place in the Darlington, and broader communities.

Many of the brigade’s dedicated volunteers received long service awards, national medals, and life memberships, with some members being recognised for up to 45 years of service.

Since humble beginnings as a group of local property owners, through multiple disbandings and re-formations between the 1940s and 1970s, up to its current registration since 1974, Darlington has had a local, volunteer wildfire firefighting capability.

From hessian sacks and knapsack sprayers with 44-gallon drums on trailers, to basic fire fighting vehicles and finally finding a permanent home at the old Darlington Pony Club shed in 1981, the volunteer firefighters have been there to help protect the community.

The Darlington brigade was instrumental in the creation of radio equipped forward control vehicles (FCVs) and led the way to forming the air operations group for aerial firefighting.

Now with modern firefighting appliances, first class crew training and development, and an expanded six bay station, the strong volunteer membership is standing by 24 hours a day, seven days a week, leading the way into future community fire protection.

The detailed history of the brigade can be found in the full colour, 82-page book “History of DVBFB 1942-2020”, compiled by Cliff Burns and published by the brigade and the Darlington History Group.

The book is a collection of documents, photos, drawings, stories, and a historical timeline of the brigade’s significant events, milestones, and activities. Copies of the book can be purchased from the brigade.