Woodstock’s new Rural Fire Service (RFS) station was officially opened on Wednesday 1 October.
The official opening was located on Belmont Street in Woodstock at 2pm.
The Woodstock Bushfire Brigade was formed in 1932 and has served the district for almost a century, with volunteers fighting fires and acting as first responders for traffic accidents on the nearby Mid-Western Highway.
Built at a cost of $475,000, the new station provides greater space and a modern accommodation for firefighters, their equipment and vehicles.
“It’s great to get a new fire station for Woodstock. We have been fighting to get our facilities and equipment upgraded for a number of years,” said Woodstock’s RFS Captain Robert Moodie.
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“We are hoping this new station will lift the number of volunteers joining up in the area,” he said.
“We mainly get called out to grass fires and building fires. It’s important to have an active brigade in our area to manage the increasing risk of fire as we get hotter and drier summers.”
Deputy Captain Libby Moodie said: “It’s vitally important to have fire fighters in our town because in the event of fire breaking out in bushland, grassland or buildings, we need to respond quickly.”
Ms Moodie said the brigade had an excellent response record.
“When the historic Woodstock Hotel caught fire in 2020, we were on the job within five minutes, and managed to save the pub from burning down.”
“When we respond to vehicle accidents on the Mid Western Highway, we provide first aid to those in need and make sure there is no risk of fire around the accident site.”
Members of the Woodstock brigade provide first aid and assist the injured until the ambulance paramedics arrive from Cowra.”
Three generations of the Moodie family are involved in the local RFS, with Captain Robert Moodie and daughter Libby playing important roles and 16-year-old Blake, the newest member of the family to join.
As we move into a new fire season, it’s important for home owners and farmers to make sure their properties are properly prepared in case of a bushfire.
This includes:
1. Preparing their property by mowing grass and making sure gutters clear of leaves that might catch fire.
2. Bush close to buildings should be kept trimmed.
3. Paddocks with long grass should be slashed with no debris around the fence line.
4. Any fallen trees need to be collected in one area.
Woodstock Fire Brigade is currently a campaign to recruit new members with the next basic firefighter training day scheduled for October 12.
