February 12th, 1998: A well attended Public meeting was held to form a volunteer fire brigade for Maiden Gully and the first Brigade meeting was held on April 1st, 1998. Subsequently, the Maiden Gully Fire Brigade was officially registered as CFA Brigade No 02763 on April 28th, 1998. Brigade meetings were held in the Maiden Gully Community Centre and the Brigade’s first fire appliance (an International 3.2 Tanker) was housed in a private carport off Schumakers Lane.
September 1998: City of Greater Bendigo grants a 50 year lease on vacant land behind the Maiden Gully Community Centre at a peppercorn rental. Brigade members with assistance from local contractors, clear, fence and begin landscaping of the area.
September 12th, 1999: Official opening of a 9m by 6m colorbond shed at the rear of the Fire Station property. This building to eventually become the workshop for the fire station complex houses the Brigade’s replacement tanker. An Isuzu 2.2D was officially handed over on the same day.
June 2000: Tone overlay pagers introduced replacing telephones and listening sets providing for the first time a reliable response system.
October 2000: Twin Fire Service agreement established with the Pewaukee Fire Department in Wisconsin, USA. In the same month, a grassfire trailer was commissioned.
January 2002: Construction begins on Maiden Gully’s first fire station. Government (CFA) contribution of $180,000. Brigade and community contribution of $50,000.
April 27th, 2002: Maiden Gully Fire Station is officially opened by the Honourable Bob Cameron, Minister for Local Government and Workcover. The Brigade occupied the station the week before.
March 16th, 2003: Official handover of our second fire vehicle – a Toyota Land Cruiser Slip-On Unit. Funding for this Brigade owned unit came from the Community Safety Emergency Support Fund ($26,000) and the Brigade’s own fundraising ($34,000).
2004: The brigade wins the Region 2 Community Safety & Fire Prevention Award, Website launched, chainsaw purchased and construction of Pump Pit to enhance training.
2005: The brigade wins the CFA’s Initiative Award for the first time. The Toyota Slip-On Unit is updated with a new cab/chassis.
2006: Further concreting of training area (25m3). Begins a major commitment to the NE fires with Slip-On working for 6 weeks.
2007: New driveway on north side of station constructed and new native garden planted.
2008: Completion of concreting of training area (30m3 of concrete). The brigade celebrates its 10th anniversary with visit from Chief Officer. The brigade also begins housing the Region Spare Pumper. Site works begin for extensions to the fire station. This is a brigade managed and funded project.
2009: Tragic February 7th Fires with 5 homes lost in Maiden Gully, with brigade members committed to a number of major fires locally and elsewhere in the State. The brigade again wins the CFA’s Initiative Award. Extensions are completed giving an extra vehicle bay, turnout and drying rooms and drive-through facilities. This is opened by Chief Officer Russell Rees on November 29th. Two extra sets of Breathing Apparatus purchased.
2010: Despatch Computer commissioned. District Light Pumper is available to Brigade 95% of the year.
2011: Captain Andrew Howlett retires after 13 years of Brigade leadership and hands over to Captain David Mustey. CFA allocates a new Hino Light Pumper to Maiden Gully. Brigade receives funding from the Victorian Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP) for an Ultralight tanker to be built on a Mitsubishi Canter cab-chassis. Once delivered it will replace the Toyota Slip-On.
