A VOLUNTEER firefighter's bravery nearly 30 years ago was celebrated at the opening of Wodonga's replacement $7.8 million fire station on Thomas Mitchell Drive on Saturday.
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Jeff Borlace was officially commended for his brave conduct in attending a house fire in Wodonga in late January 1991 in which a mother and her five children all died.
His commendation was announced by Governor-General Bill Hayden in May the following year after Mr Borlace had rescued three of the five children at the time of the fire in Trudewind Road, but all subsequently died.
After moving to Queensland with his wife Mary, Mr Borlace had not been officially presented with his citation locally until Saturday.
"Originally a copy was sent to me in the mail," he said.
"I got a letter in the mail about three weeks ago to invite me down to today's opening and I wasn't going to miss it for the world.
"But I didn't know about this presentation until (Friday)."
Mr Borlace, an asthmatic, wasn't wearing a breathing apparatus during the rescue for which he was also presented with a CFA valor medal.
He was presented with the citation by CFA deputy chief officer Garry Cook.
"We thought it was a great little touch for today." Wodonga officer in charge Ash Mills said.
"It is also great to see so many members of the community coming forward to celebrate with us.
"This facility has the ability to bed down and sleep 10 firefighters 24/7 and at our old facility we could only fit four in.
"The team are a lot happier here given the room they've got and not climbing over the top of eachother."
The new station opened in January and Mr Mills revealed there had already been some interest in purchasing part of the former station site in Smythe Street.
"I'm not sure about the detail, but it would be pretty sought after given its location," he said.
"What we are seeing now is the staff going out to places like Beechworth, Tallangatta and Yackandandah and supporting volunteer brigades.
"One of the things we want to try and negate is when they are out at those distant areas they are not here to protect the township."
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