Star Volunteers: Meredith Rural Fire Brigade

Community

In the lead up to Volunteer Week (21–27 May), Golden Plains Shire Council will be sharing information about some of the Shire’s amazing volunteers who embody this year’s Volunteer Week theme, ‘Give a little, change a lot’. The volunteers we are profiling have given so much more than a little; the underlying message of the theme is that often small efforts (in the grand scheme of things), can yield significant positive change.

Since 1911, the volunteer firefighters of Meredith have attended thousands of fires and actively protected Golden Plains Shire. Today, Meredith volunteers have worked together to keep the Brigade going and the community safe for over 100 years!

Brigade members assist in local fire protection activities (bush, grass and structural) and township emergencies, and they also volunteer in ‘strike teams’ to assist other brigades when called upon.

Meredith Rural Fire Brigade currently has a crew of about 40 active and non-active members. Non-active members are those who occupy positions in Training, Communication and Equipment and active members are those who have trained and are accredited to turn up when paged 24/7.

Peter Kruger, 5th Lieutenant of the Meredith Rural Fire Brigade, is committed to his volunteer role, despite the risks his duties can pose. He said, “Hearing your pager go off means it’s time to help, to miss your family and to change your plans. It’s time to pray for a good outcome, it is time for believing in yourself and your team. It’s time to help the community, it’s time to get sweaty, dirty, and damn it, it can be great fun!”

Peter’s attitude and dedication are admirable, as are the efforts of every volunteer involved in the Meredith Rural Fire Brigade over the last century.


National Volunteer Week is the annual celebration to acknowledge the generous contribution of our nation’s volunteers.

Learn more about Volunteer Week

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