By CASEY NEILL
ROBERT ‘Bob’ Allen spent almost 50 years of his life as a firefighter, so a CFA guard of honour following his funeral was a fitting farewell.
The Hallam, Doveton and Dandenong fire brigade stalwart died this month at age 73 following a health battle.
His funeral service was held at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Dandenong on 10 February, and mourners continued reminiscing at the Hallam station afterwards.
Hallam Fire Brigade operations officer Greg Christison said Bob volunteered with the Mansfield Fire Brigade in 1966.
He started his time as a career firefighter with Dandenong Fire Brigade in 1971 before in 1992 moving to Doveton where he spent four years before retiring.
Bob signed up as a volunteer with Hallam Fire Brigade in 2006 where he provided a guiding voice to younger members until his passing this month at age 73 following a health battle.
“He would chair brigade meetings in the absence of our president and was the first person in the motor room, preparing the brigade for muster,” Greg said.
“Bob personified the attributes our community expects.
“His presence will be missed.”
Greg said Bob received all CFA service awards up to and including the 35-Year service badge on 25 October last year when he was also made a CFA Honorary Life Member.
His colleagues described him as “a firefighter who could be relied upon to do any job and he would do it well”.
Bob’s sister-in-law Trish told the service that he was the second of three children born to Violet and William Allen in Piries, near Mansfield.
“Though Bob spent most of his adult life in Melbourne he always thought of himself as a country boy,” she said.
“He liked nothing better than going bush, camping by a river, fishing, cooking his catch on an open fire – unless, of course, it was a fire-ban day!
“Bob chose woodwork as his hobby when his previous one, firefighting, became his occupation.
“He always parked his car with its nose pointing toward the gate so he could respond to a fire call as quickly as possible.”
His dedication inspired many family members to follow in his footsteps.
Wife Elaine served with Dandenong CFA ladies auxiliary for 33 years and is a life member, and eldest daughter Jeniene served the Dandenong and Pakenham ladies auxiliaries for 25 years.
Jeniene’s eldest son Daniel was a junior and senior firefighter at Pakenham and was last year awarded the National Emergency Medal for services during the Black Saturday fires.
Bob and Elaine’s youngest Jo-anne was Junior Fire Brigade Champion at Dandenong when she was 12 and in 2000 made her debut at the Dandenong Fire Brigade Ball.
“Elaine says joining the CFA was the best thing Bob ever did,” Trish said.
