Australia's first all-Indigenous crew fire truck returned to original station | ABC Australia

A chance discovery by a rural fire brigade captain has uncovered a wealth of firefighting history, and a vintage Bedford truck used Australia’s first all-indigenous fire crew.
The 1960s truck has now been returned to the small Bellbrook Rural Fire Brigade in northern NSW, where it’s about to be brought back to life.
There are plans to restore the old vehicle and highlight its important place in the region’s history and value to the local Thungutti community.
The community and local firefighters are thrilled to have the old truck back in their town and the restoration is expected to take at least two years.
Story by Emma Siossian.
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[@elinor6525]

Most excellent! I was deployed to Kempsey with the TFS in the 2019 bushfires, we got paged lights and sirens to Bellbrook for property defense as a fire front came through. Nice to see a story that links me back to that night. I'm an immigrant to Oz, love learning more about connected history and culture, good luck with the restoration :)

[@Bearded-Foodie]

Thankyou for running the story. So happy to finally see it, a much needed boost for me today also ❤️

[@wayneshannon3028]

Wow😳 I wanna see this truck fully restored, please keep us posted on each episode....

[@railtrolley]

Bedford S type. Also known as the Big Bedford. They did have electric start on the engine. Crank handle is a back-up.

[@murraylraimona8046]

We called them RL'S in Singapore,and Bedford buses we called the White Elephant's

[@ngaireucortesi3985]

Love 💕 to see the truck coming back.

[@johnmathisen1167]

Loved it hope that they can get it done

[@murraylraimona8046]

Most trusted truck ever even in the Army's NZ AUSSIE

[@nickthomas8400]

good luck - iconic design with character!

[@PatrickSmith-cc1wb]

Done some miles in the front one.

[@eldorado1244]

First great video

[@mohammadnoormauludadnan1847]

Skull lorry