The 2001 history says station records suggest an informal residents’ brigade existed in 1945. Its account then follows the Baulkham Hills Volunteer Fire Brigade, whose members debated disbanding in November 1951. These earlier references are context for Glenhaven’s formation, rather than proof of an uninterrupted organisation from 1945.
At Harry Holland’s request, a group captain attended a meeting at Glenhaven Public School on 11 December 1951. Thirty-four people attended. They resolved to form a Glenhaven bush-fire brigade and send the officers’ and members’ names to Council for approval.
The founding list names Holland as president, Eva Bonnard as secretary, S.A. Yarrow senior as captain, E. Ford and S.A. Yarrow junior as deputies, and R. Hudson as treasurer. The surviving scan and transcription preserve the names of those who turned up.
By April 1952, the equipment return included metal knapsacks, buckets, stirrup pumps and a 200-gallon tank carried on a private truck. Watering cans filled with kerosene were used for back-burning. The list makes the material beginnings of a volunteer brigade unusually tangible.
Read the evidence
Open the original record at the supporting passage.
- 34 attended1945-1951.htm
- President Mr. H.C. Holland1945-1951.htm
- x watering cans1952-1956.htm