Still fire fight fit

One of the photos shows a younger John holding a photograph of himself with his daughter Jennifer taken during the 1985 State Championship in Bendigo where both competed in the same event. One of the photos shows a younger John holding a photograph of himself with his daughter Jennifer taken during the 1985 State Championship in Bendigo where both competed in the same event.

By Roman Kulkewycz
WHEN John Beavis from the Bunyip Fire Brigade notches up 50 years of service this year as a volunteer firefighter with the CFA, he will have seen many changes over all of those years.
But one thing that remains a constant and has not changed in CFA circles is the lasting friendships that he has formed and the camaraderie enjoyed with Bunyip and other CFA volunteers all over Victoria.
The youthful 74-year-old Mr Beavis first joined the CFA at Dromana back in 1956 and served the community there until 1961.
When an employment promotion with the PMG (now Australia Post) took him to Bunyip in 1961, he joined up with the Bunyip brigade in 1965 where he still remains involved today.
He is married to Iris and the couple have three daughters – Dorothy, Jennifer and Wendy.
Mr Beavis acknowledges the support that Iris has given him during his time involved with the CFA.
“Without Iris’s support and understanding, I would not have been involved in the brigade today,” he said.
Mr Beavis recalled his early brigade days
“When I first joined you attended fires dressed in whatever you were wearing at the time; no protective clothing or helmets.
“Fire trucks have greatly improved due to technology and after Ash Wednesday have become diesel powered.
“Crew protection is much improved today, too.
“In the ’50s we were all issued with dress uniforms consisting of a coat, hat and belt – we had to buy our own trousers. Now everything is supplied.
“We learnt about fire fighting from day one – on the job at fires and incidents and general training was very minimal.
“Today, until you have successfully completed a Minimum Skills Course you can’t go anywhere near a fire or an incident.
“In the early days at Bunyip we put up with some pretty austere conditions at the station which was just really a tin shed that housed the fire trucks.
“I remember as secretary sitting here one night writing the minutes during a meeting when the temperature dropped so low that my hand was numbed from the cold and I couldn’t write any more.”
A question all long serving fire fighters are often asked is about any dangerous situations that they may have been involved in.
Mr Beavis recalled his experiences.
“One instance I vividly recall happened in my early days at Dromana where we often had outbreaks of fire at Arthur’s Seat.
“A back burn went horribly wrong trapping the crew. We were lucky to escape alive! I also remember attending a fuel tanker tipped over with fuel spilling out onto the highway.”
Mr Beavis has also been involved with the competition running side of the brigade and proudly takes a photo off the station wall to show me a picture of himself with his daughter Jennifer taken 25 years ago during the 1985 State Championship at Bendigo competing in a Pumper event for five competitors.
He proudly adds that that it was a first time that a father and daughter competed at this level together.
Mr Beavis has served as secretary and treasurer in the brigade and continues to be involved as an active fire fighter, still turning out to fires and incidents at all hours of the day and night.