August 1971
Letter from Norm Bent 2 Kyle Avenue, resigning as treasurer. He had been treasurer from September / October 1964.
August 1971 - 1971/1972 Officers
President Mr. R. Jennings
Vice President Mr.C.L. Horwood
Secretary Mr. N. Bent
Treasurer Mr. E. Hallenstein
Captain Mr. D. Symes
Deputy Captains S. Raso, A. Nix, W. Staples, R. Schofield, M. Barnes
Equipment Officer C.L. Horwood
Assistant S. Barnes
Auditor Ray Gray
Liason Officer H. Holland
Personnel Available 58
25th October 1971
Letter from Council to Brigade re Colour coding of Safety Helmets. Prior to this only red and white helmets had been issued. Orange is now added as a basic colour.
“The recommended code is as follows:-
Members White helmet
Deputy Captains White helmet with 1 inch red stripe over crown
Senior Deputy Captains Red helmet with 1 inch white stripe over crown
Captains Red helmet
Deputy Group Captains Orange helmet with 1 inch white stripe over crown
Group Captains Orange helmet with 1 inch white stripe around rim
Fire Control Officers Orange helmet
Brigade Officers are asked to paint in the identification stripes. In this regard the use of reflective materials and tape is not recommended as there is a tendency for these materials to catch falling items which may penetrate the helmet rather than deflect.”
11th October 1971 (Station records)
Meeting of Glenhaven Ladies Auxiliary – it would appear to be their first meeting. This group was an informal group of ladies, mainly brigade members wives. Thirty two ladies names appear on one listing, but there were only about 15 active members. A Christmas Party was held in 1972, despite the fact that it was noted that their had been no fires during the year requiring the ladies assistance.
25th October 1971 – Glenhaven Ladies Auxiliary Meeting held. It is available to provide refreshments to brigade during times of burn offs and large fires. It was disbanded when Council Canteen was established. It would appear that these willing and able ladies’ services were never required.
22nd February 1972 Listed on Council’s 5-year equipment replacement plan for Glenhaven Brigade.
Re 2 existing vehicles “No requirement for vehicle change.”
Re present garage “Re-inforce timber floor. Estimated Cost $200”
Remarks “Equipment should suffice till time area taken over by N.S.W.F.B.”
21st March 1972 E. Hallenstein becomes the 1st honorary life member of the Brigade
16th July 1972 Letter from Brigade to Council informing that Mr. T. Muston has recently been appointed a Deputy Captain and will be attending the annual fire school at Camp McKay, Kurrajong.
Tom Muston became captain after Doug Symes resigned and moved to Maraylya at the end of 1972. He had been in the brigade 4 years at this stage.
1972/73 Office Bearers (incomplete)
President R. Jennings
Captain D. Symes
Deputy Captain T. Muston
Secretary N. Bent
7th November 1972 (Station records) R.J. Jennings becomes President.
12th March 1973 (station records)
Letter from Brigade to Mr R. Groves of Five Dock Nurseries Pty Ltd, Glenhaven Road thanking him for “very generous offer to make your equipment and personnel available for the first four hours of any serious fire it will give us breathing space to call in members from their widely scattered employment locations”
April 1973 – 1973/74 Office Bearers
President R. Jennings
Captain T. Muston
Senior Deputy Captain S. Raso
Deputy Captains A. Nix, W. Staples, M. Barnes, R. Bailey, T. Foulcher, K. Ford, H. Holland, R.S. Burt
Secretary N. Bent
Equipment Officer W. Staples
Personnel available 15
Councillor Kevin Ford was a chemist by trade and became Baulkham Hills’ Deputy Fire Control Officer. As there was a requirement for the Deputy Fire Control Officer to be an officer of a brigade he was put on Glenhaven’s list as Deputy Captain, even though he was never active in the brigade.
11th May 1973
Letter from Brigade to Council re changes to the 2 sign boards in Glenhaven Road. One board was outside the captain’s residence and the other outside the station.
“Following on the resignation of the former Brigade Captain, Mr. D. Symes, and his movement out of this district it would be appreciated if the following changes could be made as promptly as possible to two sign boards in Glenhaven Road.”
Editor’s note – these boards indicated the captain’s residence and emergency brigade contact telephone numbers.
24th May 1973
Letter from Council to Brigade agreeing to have the Captain’s sign altered and re-erected.
June 1974 – 1974/1975 Officers
Captain T. Muston
Senior Deputy Captain W. Staples
Deputy Captains R.J. Jennings, H. Holland, M. Barnes, R. Burt, A. Woodcock
Secretary N. Bent
Equipment Officer R. Burt
Personnel available 15
8th November 1974
Letter from Brigade to Council re window broken by vandal.
“A vandal has thrown a brick through the window at the back of our Fire Shed. It would be appreciated if Council could have this glass replaced as a matter of urgency, and we suggest that a strong wire mesh be placed to cover the whole window against any further acts of this nature.”
Council agreed to these requests.
22nd November 1974
Letter from Gordon Robilliard Solicitor to Council re Lease Registered No. P054773 over fire brigade land.
In Winter/Spring 1975 edition of “Bush Fire Bulletin” the official journal of the Bush Fire Council of New South Wales page 6 the following letter appeared:
Editor’s note – Although the following article refers to the fire being on Australia Day, all other records indicate that this fire was actually one day before Australia Day and this has been confirmed by members from that era.
Australia Day 26th January 1975 – The Big Fire
Extract from “Sandhurst to Glenhaven 1889 – 1989” from Article by Harry Holland and Tom Muston
“On Australia Day, 26th January, 1975, Glenhaven was ravaged by the worst fires in its history. At the height of the blaze, at 4.00 p.m., over seventy fire fighting vehicles were working in the Glenhaven area, trying to bring the flames under control.”
“Vehicles came from the Hornsby, Blue Mountains, Blacktown, Sutherland and Windsor, as well as Baulkham Hills Shire. Only two houses were destroyed – one of which was unoccupied. No-one was injured.
Editor’s note : unfortunately this article incorrectly refers to the date of the big fire as Australia Day 1975. There is overwhelming evidence that the date was actually the day before, 25th January 1975.
Editor’s note – This fire prompted the Brigade to design a new letterhead. It had a photograph of a road winding through fire devastated bushland in the top left hand corner with the caption “Voluntary service to the community in times like this”. It’s first use on Council file occurred on June 9th 1975 and an example of it is scanned at 3/10/78.
29th January 1975
Letter from Brigade to council thanking “the back room girls” (Base radio operators) for their terrific job during the Glenhaven fire.
31st January 1975
Letter from Brigade to Council re Provision of Toilet
“a long time ago we requested provision of a toilet behind the Glenhaven Fire Shed. Nothing has happened about this, and during last weekend the necessity for it, with several brigades grouped around our shed, became apparent. We would appreciate action taken on this, and would suggest that it be provided with a padlock so that only authorised personnel may use it at times when this or other brigades are operating in our area.”
Editor’s note: The toilet was first requested on 13th February 1970.
6th February 1975
Letter from Progress Association to Council requesting toilet / ablution block.
March 1975 – 1975/1976 Officers
Captain T. Muston
Senior Deputy Captain Bob Bailey who replaced the ill W. Staples
Deputy Captains R. Jennings, H. Holland, M. Barnes, R. Burt, K. Ford, T. Foulcher, R. Bailey, C. McMaster, P. Edwards
Secretary N. Bent
Equipment Officer W. Staples
Personnel available 31
1st May 1975
Letter from Council to Brigade re toilet block
“With regard to provision of a toilet block at the fire station, it is advised that this matter will be considered along with the replacement of your existing fire tanker.”
“You will be accordingly advised of further developments.”
6th May 1975
Letter from Brigade to Council re resignation of Secretary N. Bent to be replaced by H. Holland.
Editor’s note – Norm had been secretary of the brigade since March 1967.
8th May 1975
Letter from Council to Brigade stating that Glenhaven’s note of appreciation has been passed on to the ladies (base radio operators) in question.
16th May 1975
Letter from Brigade to Council asking them to ignore the letter of 6th May 1975 re N. Bent’s resignation.
(Woops – I didn’t realise he unresigned so quickly. Maybe these 2 letters and my note should be deleted as it may remind members of that era of some unpleasantness. Tom Muston notes that this was purely a personality clash – see letter 19.8.80, but I (Ian) can’t find this letter)
9th June 1975
Letter from Brigade to Council re combined training day for at least 10 new younger members of the brigade.
1st July 1975
Letter from Council to Brigade stating the training of members is basically a responsibility of individual brigades.
2nd September 1975
Letter from Brigade to Council re hydrant marking. Red-orange spots were painted on the roadway opposite the hydrants. Other brigades were encouraged to do the same, as it was believed to assist brigades operating in an emergency in unfamiliar areas.
- Woodcock and N. Bent were also added to the list of Deputy Captains.
2nd December 1975
Letter from Brigade to Council – N. Bent elected as Senior Deputy Captain, subsequent to the departure from the district of Mr. R. Bailey.