Highlights from old Newsletters.
June/July 1972 Fred Penny sent public relations statements to the "Fireman" a C.F.A. (Country Fire Authority) newspaper and the M.F.B. "Review". This resulted in a special issue of the "Fireman". Fred then visited various enthusiasts in the Melbourne area and attended a meeting of the Australian Fire Brigade Enthusiasts Association (A.F.E.E.A.) at Lilydale Fire Station at which five members were present.
July 23rd 1972
The preliminary meeting of the proposed H.F.E.A Vic branch was held at the Lilydale Fire Station with ten people present, including Brian Blunt from Sydney H.F.E.A. who advised how this proposed branch should operate. Don Warden was elected as our first President. Ian Hunter was elected as Vice President. Les Sharp was elected as President/Treasurer. Fred Penny continued as Secretary.
Subscription ($5-00) would be payable in September 1973 for the period September 1972 - December 1973. Eventually the Enthusiasts Association was wound up and a small balance of cash was donated to the Victorian Branch to clear the books. Under our new name of H.F.E.A. of Victoria, our membership grew and members purchased vehicles.
September 21st 1972 (fourth Thursday)
First meeting of the H.F.E.A. (Vic) at Fred Penny’s house.
November 30th 1972 (fourth Thursday)
Second meeting of H.F.E.A. (Vic) at Jack Barton’s house. Three new members welcomed including J. Barton. H.F.E.A. (Vic) were asked to participate in the then proposed Transport Museum of Victoria to be established at the Tramway Museum Society’s site at Bylands. We stated that we would consider a small fire station if the project went ahead. We also asked the City of Knox to include us in the list of "interest groups" for the Rowville Police Paddocks Project. This project did not get past the early planning stage. February 1973 Two members attended a conference at Flinders Street Station regarding the Bylands Project. (Tramway Museum Society of Victoria) April 1973 H.F.E.A. (Vic) is listed in the Melbourne phone book. The secretary contacted the Motor Registration Branch regarding available classifications for limited registration of Historic Fire Vehicles. September 1973 Financial statement showed balance of $60.00. 1974 calendars arrived (The calendars were sponsored by A.W.A. and had twelve coloured plates of N.S.W./Vic fire appliances. These were sold for $1.00 each.) Letter from the Tramway Museum Society invites participation at the official opening of Bylands complex. A suggestion was made that the Club consider a badge or insignia for the Victorian branch. October 1973 The H.F.E.A. (Vic) attended their first exhibition at the "Mission for Seamen" at Flinders Street Extension. Although this was to be the smallest event we ever attended, we had our name up on the wall for the public to see. November 1973 A suggestion that the H.F.E.A. (Vic) consider producing their own newsletter. - Carried unanimously. December 1973 We had been having monthly meetings at various members’ homes. The December meeting was at the home of Jean & Don Warden where members saw the ex M.F.B. 1914 DENNIS for the first time. Much correspondence with the N.S.W. Branch on how they achieved limited registration for their vehicles. J. Barton acquires ex C.F.A. K4 International. January 1974 First Annual General Meeting. Six new members including Ken Whitworth. Ken flew to Sydney to purchase a 1935 Leyland Tiger Cub and a DENNIS "BIG 4", both ex N.S.W.F.B. pumper’s. Les Sharp purchased a 1937 DENNIS "ACE" and drove it down from Sydney, straight out of service and fully equipped. May 1974 Hobby Fantastic Exhibition at Brighton Town Hall where we had a colour slide show operating. We had seen a chemist shop at Doncaster displaying a short film in their window and we offered to lend them a selection of our slides. The first issue of the (Vic) Branch newsletter "Monitor" was published. Fred Penny bought Car 66, an ex M.F.B. 1924 Albion hose carriage as a wreck. Steve Duckett bought C.F.B.B. 15 Graham hose carriage and Ken Whitworth bought a MANNS Steam Wagon. Treasurers balance $132-65 September 1974 Brian Blunt (President of H.F.E.A. Federal branch Sydney) attended a meeting at Ken Whitworth`s home. The Ringwood Lake was suggested as a possible venue for a Fire Engine Rally. Les Sharp reported that his DENNIS "ACE" would lead "Fire Prevention Week" procession. October 1974 The city of Ringwood confirmed acceptance of request to use Ringwood Lake Reserve for the first Victorian Fire Engine Rally on 19th January 1975. (We had to guarantee not to pollute the lake with oil) The secretary calls for member’s personal ideas on a Victorian Branch car badge design.
January 1975
First Fire Engine Rally at Ringwood Lake. It was free to the public and pumping displays from the lake took place. After several years of our ever increasing parade of preserved fire engines at the M.S.T.E.C. ground at Wantirna it was felt that we could run our own Rally and the display at Caravan City, Maroondah Highway was the first attempt to raise capital on our own, of course supported by others. February 1975
Annual General Meeting
Fourteen members and one visitor (Gary Burns) present. Ian Hunter elected President and also editor/publisher. Ken Whitworth elected Vice President and Fred Penny elected Secretary/Treasurer. Seventeenth ordinary meeting: - Unanimous agreement that the first Victorian Fire Engine Rally was such a success that the Branch should attempt two Rallies per year at the same venue, with better publicity next time. December 1975/January 1976 "H.F.E.A. NEWS" becomes "H.F.E.A.???????" with the suggestion that a name should be found for the newsletter. February 1976 Ken Whitworth edits the newsletter as a gap filler until newly elected editor Doug Edwards can take over, in doing so introduced the name "MONITOR" (Improvements accepted). Apparently there weren’t any and the name remained. (At least until 1983 when it became "THE MONITOR") 
Fireman using a Monitor which was the inspiration for the newsletters new name in 1976. October 1976 A suggestion that "as we are interested in special commercial vehicles, should we consider joining forces with the Bus & Coach Society, Historical Commercial Vehicle Association and Military Vehicle Owners Club at a combined Rally?" November 1976 Committee position of "Rally organiser" introduced. January 1977 "MONITOR" has the first summarised history of the association, compiled by Fred Penny. February 1977 Suggestion to hire a hall for monthly meetings presently held in rotation at member’s homes. July 1977 N.S.W. Federal Branch apparently declining in membership and general activity. A suggestion made that the Victorian Branch became the Federal Branch. July 1978 On July 6th the Club holds its first meeting at Boronia Fire Station. Meetings now are on Thursday. June 1980 Position of property steward created and the first incumbent was Gary Burns. May 1981 Limited registration (Club permit scheme) is now available to members. July 1981 The club got its first official mailing address, a Post Office box at Mooroolbark, Victoria. March 1982 H.F.E.A. participated in a parade together with vehicles from the Melbourne Fire Museum and the Fire Engine Association. Vehicles were inspected by the then Premier Mr L. Thomson, who subsequently unveiled the mural "Legend of Fire" on the M.F.B. Head Station building in Albert Street East Melbourne. May 1982 Clubs 100th meeting held on May 20th 1982 at Boronia Fire Station. Rally committee recommends the name "Historic Commercial Vehicle Rally" to the meeting. October 1982 The first Historic Commercial Vehicle Rally was held on October 24th 1982 at Caravan City, Croydon. A one-day rally and swap meet. This event ran at a loss. February 1983 The general meeting of the Club was cancelled due to the Ash Wednesday fires. March 1983 This months newsletter reported that the second meeting of the association was held at Jack Barton`s residence on November 30th 1972 and that three of the eleven members attending, Fred Penny, Steve Duckett and Jack Barton were still members in March 1983. August 1983 Club records show membership at 36 members. October 1983 The second "Historic Commercial Vehicle Rally" was to be held at Croydon, but due to the sale of venue, was changed at the last minute to Lilydale Show Ground Reserve. Costs of approximately $800-00 were just met. Approximately 150 vehicles attended including only about 70 of the 128 pre entered. A 30-minute video was made of the event. A questionnaire regarding the forming of a Commercial Vehicle Club was circulated to entrants. May 1984 The Historical Fire Engine Association is incorporated pursuant to the Associations Act of 1981. July 1984 Club records show membership at 22 members. October 1984 Our Third Annual display sponsored by GMH – Isuzu, commenced with an early start in the city, with our first road run to our Annual display. We advertised the run in the local press, resulting in a large number of members of the public standing or sitting along the Maroondah Highway. We proceeded along the highway and to the Lilydale Show Grounds. The poor public attendance may possibly have been because they had seen it free as we drove past. The run of about seventy vehicles included the then still in service half-cab AEC horse float of Garrett and Griffiths and a 6x6 Ford Louisville carrying an oil drilling rig, still covered in mud from Western Australia! Ken Whitworth brought up the rear in his 1927 MANN Steam Wagon, Jim and Delsa Bury brought four trucks from Trafalgar in Gippsland. At the monthly meeting, the first mention was made of admitting enthusiasts of Historic Commercial vehicles. A call for a meeting to be held on 21/11/1984 to discuss the formation of a Historic Commercial Vehicle Club (H.C.V.C) was moved by Ken West, seconded by Fred Penny. November 1984 At this meeting six members of H.F.E.A. were present with three apologies. Twenty-three visitors attended. Motion 1: - "The purpose of this meeting is to form a Commercial Vehicle Branch of the Historic Fire Engine Association of Australia" Moved Rick Toseland, seconded Graham Stokes. Motion carried. This motion is to be put to the next H.F.E.A. meeting for official acceptance. Motion 2: - "That a review of the position of the Commercial Vehicle Branch takes place at the June meeting, 1985" Moved Ross Taylor, seconded Hilton Boxshall. Carried with 2 against. March 1985 Last newsletter before the commercial vehicle owners also receive a copy. June 1985 The first official run of the H.F.E.A. Commercial Vehicle Branch (C.V.B.) is to the Royal Melbourne Show Grounds. October 1985 The fourth Historic Commercial Vehicle Rally and swap was held at the Wantirna Rally ground of the M.S.T.E.C. The rally again started with a procession from the Treasury gardens precinct in the city. At Wantirna the ground was wet due to rain the week before and most of the buses and coaches bogged on the muddy grass. The need for hard ground was thus established. December 1985/January 1986 The Vice President reports that the two Clubs (H.F.E.A. & C.V.B.) have merged very well. February 1986 The Club changed its name to the Historical Commercial Vehicle and Fire Engine Association of Victoria Inc (H.C.V. & F.E.A) on a motion proposed by Ken West, seconded by Dennis Brooks.
November 1986
The fifth Historic Commercial Vehicle Rally was held for the first time at Dandenong. (International truck plant car park) The Club ladies did the catering at this event February 1987 The General meeting is told that the only way to streamline meetings and shorten them is for the committee to hold regular meetings and conduct administrative matters at them. 
Logo of the Historic Fire Engine Association of Australia - 1985
March 1987 The first honorary membership is awarded to Fred Penny in recognition of the many years of hard work for the Club. Fred’s wife Irene was a special guest at the meeting - much to Fred’s surprise. October 1987 The sixth Historic Commercial Vehicle Rally was held also at Dandenong (International truck plant Car Park) The Club ladies again did the catering at this event. September 1991 A special general meeting to resolve the change of Club name to Historic Commercial Vehicle Club Inc. (H.C.V.C) is convened. November 1994 Our last display day at IVECO (International) Trucks Carpark. January 1995 Ken Whitworth heads a new Display Day Sub Committee, with the display moving to a new venue at AFL Football Park. Our Annual display has grown in size to 600 exhibits this year, with several other clubs, commercial stall operators and trade stalls all taking advantage of the larger grounds. The financial return to the club is also steadily increasing. February 1996 A Forward Planning Sub Committee is formed to ascertain the best future direction for the club to take and to investigate suitable land and buildings for possible Clubrooms, Museum, Storage facility and Workshops. This search proves to be a slow and difficult one due to limited club funds and a shortage of suitable premises. September 1996 Committee met with Tramway Museum Society of Victoria to discuss possible development of the Bylands (Kilmore) site by the H.C.V.C. March 1997 Club membership almost 200 with vehicle ownership amongst members at approximately 460 vehicles. A few minor changes also made to our constitution to include the words "of Australia." Which makes the club name Historic Commercial Vehicle Club of Australia (H.C.V.C.A or just H.C.V.C) October 1997 A new Club logo introduced to include the words "1972 25 YEARS 1997." Another meeting venue also found this year due to changes within the C.F.A. November 1999 The Office of Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading approves a draft of an amended Constitution in principle. This is the first step in allowing the club to form a museum arm, with a separate Constitution. This year’s Annual Display, the last at AFL Park due to ground closure, proves to be the best yet financial return for the Club. February 2000 A Special General Meeting of members approved the new Constitution. This will allow a museum to own property and to apply for tax deductible donation status. March 2000 A new site for our Annual Display is sought. The National Trust of Victoria is approached regarding empty sheds at Victoria Dock. April 2000 The sheds at Victoria Dock are to be sold. The club entered discussions with management of Chesterfield Park, Scoresby, regarding a possible venue for the Annual Display and future site for meeting room and Museum complex. 
Current logo of the Historic Commercial Vehicle Club of Australia | 
