By Shelby Brooks
John Minett was the captain of the Narre Warren Fire Brigade when the truck he was on was engulfed in flames during the Ash Wednesday bushfires, killing 11.
Six Narre Warren firefighters, along with five from Panton Hill, died during a firestorm in Upper Beaconsfield near St Georges Road around 9pm on Wednesday 16 February 1983.
The Narre Warren volunteers were found huddled together under their new firetruck, presented to the brigade only two days beforehand.
The handover of the truck and its keys was captured by then Gazette journalist Ian Thomas on the Monday.
Near the Narre Warren truck were the volunteers from Panton Hill in their truck, also deceased.
John Minett’s son Brian held his Dad’s spare helmet while reflecting on his father’s sacrifice.
“At the time, with Upper Beaconsfield and Narre Warren being small communities, it sits very well that Dad saved lives before he perished,” he said.
“I stand here today to make sure his memory, and the memory of the other people who perished at Ash Wednesday, are remembered.”
Brian was just five years old when his father died, but his Dad was his hero.
“My Dad and I were pretty inseparable, I grew up around the Narre Warren Fire Brigade – the old tin shed on Webb St,” he said.
“I remember a really funny story where we were getting a hair cut at Berwick Barbers, and he got called to a hay shed fire on our way back from Berwick.
“I was always keen to get out and give a hand but he took the nobs off the doors so I couldn’t get out, I was stuck in the car.”
Brian said although he was just five he remembered Ash Wednesday as being “hectic”.
“As a five year old, I didn’t know how enormous the incident was, I remember going to the pool and seeing the smoke come over and the sun being quite orange and the smoke cover in the air. It wasn’t until the next day it unfolded that they were killed,” he recalled.
There was never a doubt in his mind that he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps.
“It’s all I ever wanted to be – a firey,” he said.
“I’ve certainly looked at it as a way to reflect, for my own CFA career I feel privileged an honoured to follow in his footsteps.”
Brian joined the CFA in 2001.
“Over that time I’ve had some fantastic people who had worked beside Dad so I’ve been able to get a really clear image of what Dad was as a captain and a person, where I only knew him as a father,” he said.
“To get that understanding, and to over the years, learn more about my Dad John has been a blessing for me.”
Brian has a memorial to his father in his shed, where the helmet and a spare pair of overalls are displayed.
“I reflect on this on a regular basis when I’m out in the shed. I had to dust [the helmet] off this morning and give it a polish.“
