Lieutenant Glenn Markison (closer to camera) and past group officer and captain Milton Thompson at Rutherglen Fire Station.
After 56 years the old, unrepairable Godiva Quick Fill pump at Rutherglen Fire Station is to be replaced with a $170,000 Big Fill.
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Twenty grants with a total value of over $700,000 were awarded to volunteer emergency services organisations across northeast Victoria including CFA and VIC SES, as advised by State Labor Member for Northen Victoria Jaclyn Symes on October 25.
The Victorian State Government approved Rutherglen’s application for the Big Fill submitted by the station’s Lieutenant Glenn Marquison on May 1, 2024.
Lieutenant Marquison, and past group officer and captain Milton Thompson expressed their delight at the government’s endorsement.
Fire Brigade members are thrilled to receive the new tanker.
“We’re very happy,” Lieutenant Marquison told The Free Press.
“It is sorely needed and we hope we can receive it as soon as possible.”
The old Godiva Quick Fill provided 56 years of large capacity filling at grass and scrub fires, and support pumping at major structure fires.
The Big Fill will provide a similar filling capacity to the Godiva, some 2,000 l/m. The Big Fill is further operationally justified with the addition of ultra heavy tankers and higher capacity heavy tankers within the group, neighbouring group (Wangaratta North) and across the border in NSW (Howlong RFS).
The nearest quick fill or Big Fill is located in Benalla Group. “The Big Fill would also be viewed as a District 24 asset and would be available for deployment to other areas as the need arise, further for filling our commitment to protect life and property,” Lieutenant Marquison said.
His application included supporting letters from all other eight brigades involving Rutherglen. For example, in his letter, Cornishtown Fire Brigade Captain Brad Schmidt said the mounted option allows for a more flexible operation on the fire ground and a quick turnaround without the use of a cumbersome trailer mounted apparatus that invariably requires the use of a brigade volunteer-owned vehicle.
The primary purpose of a Big Fill appliance is of course to act as a mobile water fill point with very fast pumping capabilities that significantly reduces the turnaround time for replenishing empty tankers.
In being capable of pumping about 2,000 litres per minute, the Big Fill will fill a tanker in just two minutes instead of the previous 10 minutes and that makes a lot of difference on the fire ground.
The Big Fill can quickly draw water from hydrants, mains, water tankers, tanks and in-ground water points such as dams and rivers, and then pump it into fire tankers, water tankers, collar tanks or wherever needed.
In the past 12 months, Rutherglen has recruited five young male and female firefighters giving the brigade a total of 26 active members in its overall 39 members.
Ms Symes praised the work of our volunteers. “Our emergency services volunteers work incredibly hard to keep our communities safe,” she said.
“Congratulations to all the deserving volunteer groups receiving grants. The Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program is an important annual program providing a critical boost to local volunteers, ensuring their equipment and facilities are up to date.”
In other news, Wahgunyah Fire Brigade unit has acquired a dual cab 4.4 tanker, courtesy of neighbour Rutherglen CFA which has acquired a new tanker.
“It’s going to be a fantastic asset to the station and wider community,” Wahgunyah CFA Captain Josh Finnemore said.
“We have a single cab tanker – this one’s a dual cab which will greatly increase communications.”
Mr Finnemore expressed his thanks to cross border Rutherglen CFA and appreciates the good working relationship between the two brigades.
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