The long-standing and dedicated Oxley and Oxley Flats CFA brigades have merged to create Oxley Fire Brigade.

Members of both brigades have been working together for the past year on the merger and say the new brigade will continue to proudly serve the same areas, with the same dedicated personnel, trucks and equipment.

The Oxley Fire Station will remain the main base, equipped with a modern crew cab 4WD tanker and a smaller 4WD Ultra-Light Tanker.

CFA will also retain both stations, with the former Oxley Flats Fire Station now operating as the Oxley Satellite Station.

Leading the new brigade is captain Brendan McDonald, who brings more than 25 years of CFA volunteer experience.

Brendan is well known across both communities, having served as the former First Lieutenant of Oxley Brigade and following in the footsteps of his father, Terry McDonald, former captain of Oxley Flats.

The new leadership team also includes both previous brigade captains - Wayne Doig from Oxley and Terry McDonald from Oxley Flats - ensuring a strong and united future built on shared experience and commitment.

Both former brigades boast a proud history of service.

The Oxley Fire Brigade was established in 1935, an impressive 90 years ago, but its roots stretch back even further to 1902, when the Laceby East Brigade was formed.

Founding members included many local families still connected to the district today, such as the Doig, Docker, Vincent, and Skehan families.

The Laceby East name was changed to Oxley in 1929, and with the building of the current Oxley Fire Station in 1997, the brigade’s area expanded to include the Oxley township itself, now covering from the edge of Wangaratta to the old Docker Post Office.

The Oxley Flats Fire Brigade was formed in 1952 by local farmers Jock Doig, Bill Kneebone and Murray Evans, following the devastating 1943 Tarrawingee fire.

The community built the first fire station in 1959 on land donated by the Evans family, whose members have been active in the brigade ever since.

Although the original station was destroyed by a storm in 1977, it was quickly rebuilt with the help of inmates from Beechworth Prison.

The current Oxley Flats Fire Station, built in 2013 on the same historic site, will proudly continue as a CFA satellite station.

Recently, members of the Oxley Brigade gathered to celebrate the outstanding service and dedication of long-serving volunteers.

The event was a wonderful opportunity to honour those who have contributed so much over the years.

Service Award Recipients:

• 60 Years – John McIntyre

• 50 Years – Terry McDonald, Greg Johnson

• 45 Years – Wayne Doig, Evadne Evans

• 40 Years – Graeme Abotomey

• 35 Years – Bruce Ubergang, Ian Fisk, Brett Byrne, Garry Craig

• 30 Years – Kevin Fisk, Stan Goldsworthy

• 25 Years – Brendan McDonald, Joy Johnson