Profile - Kevin Atteridge

Kevin Atteridge is a busy man. He’s the Group Officer for the Rutherglen Group, and has been for six years, along with being Captain of Springhurst brigade and coach of its running teams.

Kevin’s been a CFA member for 38 years, and couldn’t have stayed involved if it wasn’t for the support and back-up provided by wife Lyn, who also happens to be Secretary of the brigade auxiliary.

“If it wasn’t for Lyn doing what she’s doing, I wouldn’t be able to do this. Lyn allows me to have the freedom to do this. The brigade’s only one of the heaps of committees I’m in – the VRFBA, VFBV, OHS, R23. And I’m on the school and hall committees.”

Kevin’s lived in Springhurst all his life, and has resided in the one house all that time – 63 years. But he reckons he’s not yet a local: “I won’t be a local ‘til I’m buried on the hill at the cemetery.”

In his time with CFA, Kevin’s held most positions, including Apparatus Officer and First Lieutenant. He said it’s not difficult to combine the Captain and Group Officer roles, but it is time-consuming.

“You spend more time. Some weeks it could be 20 hours, others there’s meetings and travelling time.”

Kevin is a small engine repairer and originally joined the brigade because he was asked to fix a CFA tanker. “I did that and that was the start.”

But he also makes sacrifices for CFA: for instance, during the 2003 Campaign Fires, he didn’t work in his own business for three weeks because of the demands of organising crews to send away.

“At one stage there were 26 people out of the Group in one day. And we had to make sure people were left behind to look after their home brigades. It was bit of a juggling act.”

And Kevin thinks of the wider community as well. The town’s pub closed down and there was nowhere for locals to gather and have a yarn. So Kevin started a social club, which has been meeting for 12 months and provides drinks and a meal for up to 70 people each week.

“It’s there for the residents of Springhurst and neighbourhood to get together every Friday night.”

Kevin, like many CFA members, is extremely noble and humble. “For the work I do, the best memories I get, is a little note in the mail to say thank you. We still get vouchers today – five years afterwards – from residents saying thanks for saving their house and property in 2003.

“You’ve got to remember it’s a team effort. You’re only as good as everybody around you – wives and kids understanding and supporting you.”