General News
11 June, 2025
Ablaze with pride
For Neil “Stacky” Robertson, being part of the Maroona CFA Brigade is more than just a role, it’s a lifelong commitment built on family tradition and community service.
Now the brigade’s Captain for the past six years, Neil joined the CFA at just 16 years old, following in the footsteps of his parents. “It was a big learning curve. We spent time out at the Grampians and all over the place.
There was a lot more people about back then. When I was younger, they did a lot of burning, we burned rail lines, we burned roads, so we were dealing with fire all the time,” he recalled.
He earned his stripes also on the back of a private unit at Ross Bridge, gaining early experience in the field. “They had some really practical group exercises at the time.
We’d actually light fires and you had to put them out, so it was just getting there (to an active fireground), it’s times ten.”
Despite decades of experience, last summer's bushfires was some of the worst fire fronts Neil has evet had to deal with, “Last Christmas, that was as full-on as I’ve ever dealt with. On Boxing Day, we couldn’t see anything, we did a lot of good work,” he said.
Since taking on the captaincy, Neil has had to balance firefighting with managing people. “That’s another learning curve, how to deal with different people, and understand why they do what they do. I’m one to lead by example, which puts me on the truck a fair bit,” he said.
Neil estimates the brigade has around 50 members, though only about 10 are active, adding to the drive to lead by example.
“I find at bigger incidents, people will jump on board with me and help you out. One good thing to come out of the Christmas fires was that it got people back in the fire zone and reminded them of what can happen,” he said.
Privately Maroona is well-equipped when needed, with farmers around the district turning up on force when fires start.
“I reckon we’d have ten to a dozen different fire units just in our brigade, so when it’s happening, they turn up.”
Neil like many CFA captains appreciate the effort members go to for their brigades, “It’s a bit hard to have to ask people to do stuff you’re not going to do yourself. You get to know people. Some don’t want to be on the frontline but are happy to help in the days after” Neil said.
For Neil, it all comes back to giving back.
“It’s a community service. The community has been good to me, so pay a bit back.”
Read More: Ararat