RFS volunteers give up free time and dig deep to revive former army truck’s life as a rescue vehicle

AN ageing but valuable truck is lovingly being given a new lease on life by volunteers at the Rouse Hill Rural Fire Brigade, who are not only devoting thousands of hours but shelling out thousands from their pockets.

Rouse Hill RFS volunteers Jeff Whitton and Isaac de Bono with the truck. Pictures: David Swift

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AN ageing but valuable truck is lovingly being given a new lease on life by volunteers at the Rouse Hill Rural Fire Brigade, who are not only devoting thousands of hours but shelling out thousands from their pockets.

The former army truck, which is nearly 60 years old, has been used as a rescue vehicle for the RFS in the Hills and has pulled out many a vehicle from bogs and muddy patches.

Its hard work through the years has been recognised by the loyal crew who have rebuilt it. The RFS are made up of volunteers and are involved with both local and inter-state rescue work.

The rebuilt truck gets a fresh coat of paint.

The Rouse Hill RFS's rescue vehicle in 1970.

Jeff Whitton, the captain of Rouse Hill RFS brigade, which comes under the Hills Shire, said the whole project had been one big challenge but worth the countless hours spent on it.

“Yes, it’s a labour of love because the vehicle is needed in the shire, that’s why we decided to do it,” said Mr Whitton, 60.

“It’s also good to get our hands dirty and put something back into the community.

“It’s a very old truck and is a former army vehicle which dates back to the 1960s.

Rouse Hill RFS captain Jeff Whitton inside the truck.

“It’s taken us more than 12 months as we had to strip the whole vehicle and rebuild it.

“One of our guys is a boilermaker and steel fabricator.

“Through the years people have been adding stuff to it so we have rebuilt it, basically.

“The brigade converted the four-wheel truck into a rescue vehicle more than 20 years ago and it has been used in the shire and mountains for hazard reduction work, too.”

Mr Whetton, who like the other RFS crew members is a volunteer, said the vehicle’s heavy duty winch had proved a life saver on many occasions when fire trucks had become bogged, especially on rural properties.

Electrician and RFS volunteer Isaac de Bono checks out the wiring.

Mr Whitton, a financial planner by profession, has been a volunteer with the RFS for 23 years.

The Rouse Hill brigade has 25 members and three vehicles for firefighting services, which these volunteers also maintain.

“The renovation of the truck has been handled mainly by Ryan Williams, Isaac De Bono, Nabil Fahmy, Nathan Greaves, Frank Silveri and myself, with three of us being the core group,” Mr Whitton said.

“We have been working on the truck every weekend for the past year and have also raised funds through community events.

The Rouse Hill RFS's rescue vehicle before the renovation.

“It’s definitely worth all this effort and local companies have also helped.

“Being a part of the RFS keeps me fit and there is a lot of satisfaction involved.

“Yes, it is dangerous work during the fire season and our priorities are saving lives and looking after the crew.

“Houses and buildings can be rebuilt but crews cannot. It’s people first, properties second.”