7^th January 1966

Letter from Brigade to Council requesting no parking signs be erected by the Police Department at the entrance to the Fire Shed, because “many motorists park in front of the doorway whilst using the public telephone or transacting business in the Post Office” across the road.

25^th January 1966 Letter to Council with account for repairs to transfer case of tanker.

26^th January 1966

Letter from Brigade to Council with account for AB1 Nozzle and couplings and Dry Chemical Fire Extinguisher.

27^th January 1966

Letters from Council to Brigade:

1. Requested rope (11^th Nov. 1965) be included in next year’s requirements
2. No action to be taken on fire siren

2^nd February 1966

Letter from Progress Association to Council

“The above Association was very disturbed to hear of the unreliable state of the Glenhaven Bush Fire Brigade’s tanker.

The Association was informed that the vehicle is a 1943 model and has been under repairs for some time, in fact on one occasion during the present fire season it was at Council workshop for almost 2 weeks and on other occasions from one to two days, this of course leaves the Brigade’s area without fire protection during these periods.

We are further informed that the oil pressure of the fire tanker engine is now at a dangerously low level and that the oil consumption is excessive.

On behalf of the resident’s of the Brigade’s fire protection area we would ask Council to give urgent consideration to the purchase of a new fire tanker for the Glenhaven Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade.”

4^th February 1966

Letters from Council to Brigade re:

1. Matter of signs deferred to the annual meeting of Bush Fire Brigades on 1^st April next
2. 12 additional helmets to be supplied ASAP
3. Repairs to Fire Tanker – driver’s instructions enclosed in lieu of fitting of simple gear change requested. Council garage to check gear change on vehicle
4. Arrangements being made to place No Parking sign on Fire Shed door

11^th February 1966

Letters from Brigade to Council:

1. enquiries made to the Board of Fire Commissioners reveal that no approach has been made by Council regarding the additional Fire Siren. Council asked to follow up.
2. alerting Council that tanker oil pressure is at a dangerously low level and oil consumption is becoming excessive. Asked for tanker to be inspected and repaired.

March 1966 – 1966/1967 Officers

Captain D. Symes

Secretary R. Schofield

Equipment Officer C.L. Horwood

Deputy Captains A. Nix, R. Schofield, E. Hallenstein, B. Graham, D. Hayward

As part of the equipment return for March 1966, requests were made for:

29^th March 1966

Letter from Brigade to Council President

“As this old and worn vehicle is a constant worry to our equipment officers, and also a great waste of their valuable time, in endeavouring to maintain it in a roadworthy condition, we are appealing to you, as President of our Shire, to assist us in obtaining a new fire tanker for the Glenhaven Bush Fire Brigade.”

This concerted appeal from the Brigade enclosed a long list of repairs to the tanker, as well as the disgruntled equipment officer’s report.

29^th March 1966

Letter from Brigade to Council requesting repairs to the windscreen of tanker

“The flaked rust is a serious hazard to the driver’s eyes, and the entire frame is in danger of total collapse.”

7^th April 1966

Letter from Progress Association to Council

“The residents of the Glenhaven area are most disturbed at the lack of fire protection owing to the condition of this old and worn vehicle, and again ask Council to give urgent consideration to the purchase of a new vehicle for the Glenhaven Bush Fire Brigade.”

15^th April 1966

Note from Council Purchasing & Equipment Officer to Finance Committee

“It is suggested that the driver wear a pair of motor cycle goggles to overcome the present difficulty.”

19^th April 1966

Note from Council Purchasing & Equipment Officer to Finance Committee

“Council’s Mechanic has inspected the vehicle and road tested it. He advised me that in his opinion the engine runs well, the oil consumption over a distance of sixteen miles was 1/3 of a pint of oil and that for the age of the vehicle he does not consider this excessive.”

4^th May 1966

Letters from Council to Brigade

1. Council’s Mechanic considers engine runs well and he does not consider that the oil consumption is excessive.
2. Enquiries being made to find a replacement Blitz cab to overcome windscreen problem.
3. Council’s Forman Mechanic has road tested the vehicle and considers the engine to pull well under load.

May 1966 - Note from Glenhaven V.B.F.B. President to Council asking them to consider a new tanker or repair existing one before fire season. Also the need for additional fire siren.

22^nd June 1966

Letter from Council to Brigade stating that fire tanker is to be overhauled and sirens may not be erected within a radius of 3 miles of any areas under the control of the Board of Fire Commissioners.

29^th June 1966

Letter from Brigade to Council re:

1. No Parking sign promised on 4^th Feb. 1966
2. Extension to fire shed has been pending for more than 8 months
3. request for the Council Field Day for brigades to be made an annual event

6^th July 1966

Letter from Progress Association to Council re the present position of the proposed extension to the fire shed.

11^th July 1966

Letter from Brigade to Council re the location of battery charger promised in October 1965.

26^th July 1966

Letter from Council to Brigade – Battery charger has been included in 1966/67 Estimates

3^rd August 1966

Letter from Council to Brigade:

1. Sign to be painted on door ASAP
2. Extension to fire shed is receiving consideration and Council has authorised the acquisition of additional land for the extension.
3. The proposal for the field day is receiving further consideration

20^th September 1966

Letter from Board of Fire Commissioners to Council – “no objection would be raised to the erection of a hooter type alarm in the position desired.”

20^th September 1966

Letter from Council to DMR – permission sought for erection of bush fire warning sign in Old Northern Road, Glenhaven.

12^th October 1966

Letter from DMR to Council – no objection to erection of sign

24^th October 1966

Letter from Brigade to Council:

1. due to physical and financial hardship of the equipment officers over the past 12 months on the delivery and pick-up of the tanker for repairs and pick-up of equipment, could Council please accept responsibility for these duties?
2. Council proceed to acquire and erect the fire siren

5^th December 1966

Letter from Brigade to Council requesting new 6 volt battery for tanker.

8^th December 1966

Letter from Council to Brigade

1. picking up of the fire tanker by the Brigade has always been at the suggestion of an officer of the Brigade. All Brigade fire equipment is delivered by Council’s vehicles unless a Brigade arranges to take delivery from Council’s depot
2. Council plans to take no further action in the erection of the siren, but if it is still desired, Department of Local Government Approval is necessary.

March 1967 – 1967/1968 Officers

President E. Overs

Captain D. Symes

Secretary N. Bent

Equipment Officer C.L. Horwood

Deputy Captains A. Nix, R. Schofield, B. Graham, W. Staples

Number of Personnel 34

The required list still contained the new Bedford, extension to shed and red flashing light, as well as:

1. Spot light for tanker
2. 4 new tyres for tanker
3. Fire Siren

27^th June 1967

A meeting was held between the Council and Brigade to resolve differences over the past year, with regard to payment of brigade accounts. Those present included the President and all members of Council, excluding Cr. Horwood and 6 senior officers of the Brigade. Much correspondence is on file regarding this issue. Council resolved to settle the outstanding Brigade accounts.

4^th September 1967

Letter from Brigade to Council re a faulty tanker battery and requesting the whole electrical system to be overhauled by a competent auto electrician.

“While this was being charged today a fire call was received and the tanker was inoperable.”

4^th October 1967

Letter from Council to Brigade:

1. Battery replaced
2. New wiring of tanker carried out approx. 12 months ago
3. Council’s Mechanic now reports vehicles electrical system appears to be in order

10^th October 1967

Letter from Council to Department asking for their approval for the extensions to the fire shed. $1600 has been included in the 1967/68 Estimates. The extension is to be constructed of similar materials to the existing shed, except for the floor, due to the cost and difficulties associated with the slope of the land. This was to be constructed of timber.

 A council note indicates that the timber floor would not be able to hold the weight of the tanker, but because of the removal of the existing rear wall the tanker would not be such a tight fit in a shed that was never designed to hold one.

5^th December 1967

Letter from Brigade to Council for sign post outside Captain’s residence indicating this as the place to report fires.

27^th December 1967

Letter from Brigade to Council re Siren stating anxiousness of Glenhaven Residents west of Mills Road. Council were reminded that the siren had been applied for in November, 1965. A letter of the same date to the Bush Fire Committee (121 Macquarie St, Sydney) was attached. It stated that the Brigade had received a R.V.B. F.B. 3 12 volt type hooter. The Brigade however had been notified by the Board of Fire Commissioners that this type of hooter would be most inadequate. They highly recommend a Model A, 240 volt AC hooter. Approval to purchase and install this hooter is sought.

29^th December 1967

Letter from Brigade to Council re several battery failures of Council supplied Exide batteries over the past 12 months. “we have been forced to purchase two new batteries as an emergency measure in an effort to keep the tanker in a serviceable condition as the batteries were again found to be flat last evening.” Kellyville Brigade had encountered similar problems and the Brigade believes them to be faulty and of poor quality. Council was requested to provide authority to purchase the 2 batteries and to give the matter of battery failure urgent attention.

(Council file resumes January 1970. It would appear 1968 and 1969 records are missing)

(Signpost presumably agreed to – see May 11 1973)

(Date of extension to shed?)

1968/1969 Officers

President R. Jennings

Captain D. Symes

Deputy Captains S. Raso, R. Schofield, B. Graham, W. Staples

Secretary N. Bent

Equipment Officer C.L. Horwood

30^th May 1968 - Extensions for shed to commence June 1968