paddock start to go brown. There was no flame,
One of the worst times was when she was man-
just a paddock suddenly burning brown. The fires
ning the radio while the tanker was off fighting a
had arrived in her town. She organised the local
fire in very tough terrain. She heard a crewman
fire trucks to return from other fires to defend their
call “The fire is coming at us and …...” then
home town and helped authorities to arrange a
there was nothing…….Silence…… The world
total evacuation of the town. Her knowledge of
stood still for a time but, having a job to do, she
the area was essential in locating rural properties
could not allow herself to panic. Luckily the
on roads that were unnamed or did not even
truck eventually regained radio contact to report
show on the maps.
everyone safe.


Joan remained behind in her home with the CFA
It was not a life that most people would accept
radio while her children were evacuated and her
easily. Being the local communications base
husband fought with the other members of the
meant being tied to the township especially dur-
brigade.
ing the summers. There was no such thing as a

holiday.
Joan will tell you that this is not the worst fear she

has ever felt….
It also meant constant pressure to make sure

that every detail was recorded and reported cor-
Because it was a farming community most men
rectly. In an emergency situation , when not
worked away from home and were not contact-
every operator can hear the others on the same
able in an emergency. That made it really difficult
frequency, messages were often garbled or in-
to find a crew to man the truck in an emergency.
terrupted by others. Getting a message wrong
Eventually, with the permission of the CFA, her
could mean sending a truck to the wrong loca-
sons became crew members. They had to seek
tion or sending it ill-equipped to deal with what-
special permission because they were under age,
ever emergency had occurred.
but having grown up surrounded by the CFA they

were well trained and sensible. Still, there was
Joan would tell you that she was just one mem-
always a horrible fear when her husband and
ber of the brigade and just one person doing her
sons went off to fight fire.
bit to support the CFA. Yes, there were hun-
dreds of people doing similar volunteer roles
throughout Australia, but there are not many
who have done it for such a sustained length of
time. There are not many who have done it
while knowing that the lives of her husband and
sons were depending on her.

Australia is full of people like Joan. They are
quiet and don’t talk about what they have done
yet we would not be able to live so well without
them.

Joan, you are an inspiring woman. Thank you
for everything you have done for us.
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