Razed and raised

By Melissa Meehan
IT was the brigade who razed their own station to the ground – and then built it back up again.
With a station too small for the number of vehicles it needed to protect the growing community, the Officer CFA raised money to pull down the old outdated station in Station Street – and then build a bigger one on the same site.
Captain Gary Barnes said the old station resembled a shed that only had enough room for two bays.
The new station has three truck bays, enough to see CFA headquarters lend the brigade a new truck that will help them fight fires in a rapidly growing area.
Funds for the new station were raised through fundraising efforts, including garage sales, as well as help from Op Shops in Pakenham and Berwick.
“Without their support over the past 10 years we would never have been able to build this,” Mr Barnes said.
“That and the support of the local community was fantastic.”