Cohuna Fire Brigade’s 100th anniversary may be one year later, but the brigade is making up for that with two weekends of events to celebrate.
The CFA brigade, located on the Murray River, began 101 years ago and was too busy helping with the flood recovery last year to mark the occasion.
Last weekend an official dinner with a special arson crime detective speaking to the brigade about fire investigation kicked off the centenary celebrations.
This weekend an open day that will include food vans, live road rescue demonstrations and a smoke tent so people can understand what it is like to be in a house full of smoke.
Cohuna Captain Matthew Trigg has been Captain for eight years and says he feels honoured to play that role.
“I am part of a fantastic group including all partners that come together to support the community in their time of need,” Matthew said.
“I joined in 2004 after a car caught fire when my apprentice was welding. I put the fire out and realised I really enjoy high pressure situations. The best thing about CFA is the comradery.”
The Cohuna Fire Brigade became an accredited Road Rescue brigade in 2008 and on average each year will respond to about 40 car crashes. The brigade prides itself on efficiencies and extraction methodologies.
The brigade also has a proud running history which Captain Matthew Trigg says they are bringing back.
“Cohuna was once a very successful running brigade, we are not at that level yet, but we are winning our divisions.” Matthew said.
“It’s bringing joy to some of the older members involved back then.”
Cohuna brigade’s first home near the Union Bank premises was a small weatherboard building that served the brigade for 50 years. In the 1980’s the brigade outgrew the ageing building and moved to a new station where the building stands today.
The Cohuna Fire Brigade Open Day is on this Saturday 4 November from 2 to 4pm. Community members are encouraged to come along and join the festivities.
