BILL Richardson’s brush with the Barnawartha fire of 1952 was one of many incidents he took part in over several decades, though it was among the worst.
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Mr Richardson, 91, yesterday received the Country Fire Authority’s 60-year service medal from deputy chief officer Steven Warrington, at a CFA morning tea commemorating the 1952 fire.
He had joined the Wodonga Rural fire brigade in 1950 while farming the former Westlands property and later was involved with the Wodonga West brigade, both as a firefighter and secretary.
His friend, George Coyle, 97, received a similar award last year but Mr Richardson had been unable to attend to receive his medal at that time.
The former army gunner was no stranger to danger, having been a “Rat of Tobruk” whose duties in 1941 had included leading a platoon bombarding German positions besieging the port city.
Mr Richardson went to Barnawartha on January 31, 1952, but he and his mates found they could do little as the fire headed for their own properties on the edge of Wodonga.
“All Westlands was burned but the homestead had been removed before and I lived in Stanley Street at that time,’’ he said.
Irene Margery was among 1952 survivors at yesterday’s morning tea organised by Colin Coyle and Jeff McEachern.
Mrs Margery recalled being ordered to leave the Barnawartha telephone switchboard inside the post office as the flames approached.
“The men were racing around the town,’’ she said.
“I was 19 and I couldn’t keep up with the calls coming through the switchboard.
“I was made to go into Wodonga for safety.”
Postmaster Les Thomas left the building while the fire passed through but quickly returned and Mrs Margery was back at her post next morning.
Another 1952 veteran, Jim Parker, said it wasn’t only the men who were heroes that day.
“Their women stood by them providing cups of tea and refreshments, keeping a lookout for fire and always having a bucket of water on hand,’’ Mr Parker said.