The Morrisons fire brigade started in 1951, after a fire went through the district destroying property and stock. It is one of hundreds of Country Fire Authority volunteer groups across the state and is typical of the many CFAs within the Moorabool Shire.

The Victorian CFA has some sixty thousand members in towns and villages. These small CFA communities take on the big mission of keeping our property, possessions and us all, safe. The CFA 8 km south of Elaine, Morrisons, on Pocket Book Map C F5, has about 55 members. Like Morrisons and many other localities, the CFA is the centre of the central hamlet.

Only a few of the 55 members are shown on the front cover photo. They are very modest about their activities and did not even wish to be named. Colin Cook, the secretary-treasurer, arranged the photo. Nigel Parkinson is the Captain; John Zaina is an active committee member who supplied the history of the brigade. Nigel wanted to include a private water tanker as he said “these blokes put out lots of small fires before we even hear about them.” So, if someone is a bit late with your delivery of home-tank water, he might have been saving your neighbours cattle pen.

This CFA, while formed in 1951, didn't get an official fire-truck until the mid 1970's; relying on farmers tractors, utes with tanks and private water carriers up till then. The shed was built in 1981. With no shop, no post office, no imposing government monolith or edifice, this shed then became the centre of the Morrisons locality.

Johnny Zaina says: “The fire shed is hub of our little community, home of table tennis comps, has the honour rolls of WW1 and WW2 housed there; the shed has been site of re-unions, birthdays, casserole nights, Christmas parties…the list goes on.” Two of the Morrisons boys have served the CFA for over fifty years, with one of these being a Vietnam Veteran who is fourth generation in the locality. The current captain is fifth generation Morrisons and been with the brigade for 25 years.

As there is only one fire-truck, this brigade does rely heavily on private vehicles. Ten people regularly turn up with their own tanks and pumps on utes, trucks and trailers. This is often an underrated, understated and very valuable resource, but a resource that is very well appreciated by the local community.

While many fire incidents and traffic responses go largely unreported in the main media, the Morrisons brigade was well and truly involved in the big news story fires at Scotsburn.

The members come from a wide variety of walks of life, with many families creating generational traditions. John says these include “farmers, plumbers, electricians, shearers, truck drivers, fence contractors, gardeners, nurses, housewives, househusbands, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, uncles and aunties, grandmas, grandpas ”

The Ballan CFA provided the two action photos: “burning off” which reduces fuel (usually fallen timber or cut timber) in the field, and fire fighting at night.

To join a local CFA see the phone numbers under the “Emergency services” classification of the Bacchus Marsh Pocket Book.

Ian Ireland, owner of the newsagency in Ballan, ph 5368 1115, has a fairly wide management role through Moorabool and has contacts for the smaller brigades. For CFA Morrisons ring John Zaina 0417 382 742. All emergency calls are 000.

Over the 27 years since my wife, Nevenka and I, started Pocket Books, I have had many phone calls from local fire brigades who use our maps and our phone numbers to help in their important work. At some stage, I have driven down nearly every road and street in the shire, to gain accurate information while I have been drawing our maps.

Gerry Clarke, B.PED.