Three generations of Dalbosco continue on in the CFA

FOR many people, the CFA are the ones who are out on the front lines during the major bushfires like the ones which affected many people in 2019/20, but for one family, the CFA is more than that; it's part of their blood.

The Dalbosco name has been a part of the Porepunkah CFA for the best part of 75 years since Sid Dalbosco joined back in 1947 when the way the group were fighting fires was a lot different to what we see today.

With three generations currently aligned with the brigade, Sid is proud to see his family continue to be part of the community.

"When I started there was nothing else to fight fires," he said.

"All we had were a rake hoe and knapsacks which is how we started off,"

"When there was a fire, we would have to go to garage which they were stored."

The brigade started to assist with fighting small fires to now has heavy tankers and breathing apparatuses to serve in larger-scale fires and motor accidents.

"Things have changed tremendously as we started off with the knapsacks planted all over the place, and throughout the years we have grown at one stage we had a pump on a trailer before getting our fire truck," he said.

"It continues to grow which is fantastic and I'm lucky enough to have seen where it started from."

Sid's sons Michael, Paul and David grew up with the CFA being part of the Junior Brigade from a young age and competing in fire sports, which they felt was a great stepping stone to joining the CFA.

"When we were youngsters, we joined in fire sports and as natural progression we went into the senior ranks." Paul Dalbosco said.

"For our family especially through Dad we have been community oriented and as farmers the CFA is always a great support for us and it's a natural progression to be drawn here."

As a former captain, Paul understands what the CFA is all about by being the head of the brigade.

"It gives a little bit fulfilment that you are the head of an organisation which is very beneficial for the town," he said.

While currently not up and running, the junior brigade was a way to give people a stepping stone into what is needed as part of the organisation and for the third generation of Dalbosco's, just being part of the community like their dads and grandfather was enough motivation to join.

"Being part of the community is fantastic and we were able to see it on Good Friday with the appeal," Michael's son Sam Dalbosco said.

"Seeing kids come out and give a years' worth of pocket money to the charity, you got to see how much people appreciate your presence,"

While only in his fifth year as captain of the Porepunkah CFA, Michael Dalbosco is looking forward to seeing what is next for the brigade.

"With the town growing, the plans for a new three bay shed have been completed with works hopefully to start in next couple of months, the current shed is going to converted into offices and changerooms, with the money there ready to go," he said.

"We have an excellent team here, with ex–captains being still involved, so just like a footy team, we know if everyone works together and shares the load, we can turn out regularly,

"We saw this during the bushfires a couple years ago where we only had to call on members from other brigades later on in the campaign, which I'm very proud of the team."