Some restorations reveal more than a vehicle's mechanical history — they uncover a story that had been hidden for decades under layer after layer of paint. That is exactly what happened during the ongoing restoration of No. 010, the Museum of Fire's GMC CCKW-353 Water Tanker, when volunteers stripping the vehicle's bodywork found the truck's original wartime green paint sitting intact beneath its fire brigade red. A Wartime Workhorse The GMC CCKW — affectionately nicknamed th

Twenty years ago, in 2006, the world looked very different. Social media was still in its infancy, smartphones had yet to transform everyday life, and the ways we worked, communicated and connected with our communities were on the cusp of enormous change. Looking back at 2006 provides a fascinating snapshot of the time. John Howard was Prime Minister of Australia; Melbourne hosted the Commonwealth Games and Steve Irwin’s sudden death shocked the nation. It was also a year of

*This information is an extract from the colour-book produced by the Museum of Fire's Heritage Team to celebrate the centenary of Kearsley Fire Brigade becoming independent in 1926, at a ceremony held on Friday 7 August 2026. Should you wish to use any of the information and pictures provided we ask that you please reference the Museum correctly and contact the Museum for permission where applicable. In the early 1920s, the town of Kearsley was thriving, with five coal mines,