The following information briefly highlights some of the expirences and thoughts shared by John Rose. While the official CFS records indicate that John Rose joined the CFS in December of 1950, his experience with fighting fires apparently began much earlier. John who was born in 1927 recollects his first experience with a fire near his home at Hindmarsh Valley in 1936. John who was then nine years old, recalls a bushfire on Cut Hill about 15km north of Victor Harbor. It was a hot day and as the fire neared his home, his father collected the leather fire beaters which had been soaking in the water trough near the house. Each leather fire beater being attached to a bamboo poll. John remembers his father climbing into their Model 'T' Ford to fight the fire with the beaters and being told by his father that he had to stay at home. 1946 and ten years later John is now 19 years old and about to become involved in his first major fire. Again on the 'Adelaide to Victor Harbor Road' in the area of Cut Hill, a fire is started by a vehicle with a gas producer (used on vehicles during the War, due to the shortage of petrol) dropping hot coals along the Adelaide Road. This fire was fanned by hot north-westerly winds which blew the fire up the hills face near Brown Hill, towards the township of Port Elliot. John rode a motor bike (a 600 side valve Aerial) and his sister on a horse, both acting as runners giving information to the firefighters on the spread of the fire towards Port Elliot, with two way radios not yet in use. John recalls the motor bike had kerosene added to the petrol tank, helping prevent fuel vaporisation within the bikes fuel system. As well as fire beaters, modern metal knapsacks were now being used to fight the 1946 fire along with private fire units which could have tanks placed on them at the outbreak of any fire. (This fire eventually burned through to the township of Port Elliot and the foreshore, burning some tents in the foreshore caravan park). After the War John recalls the use of the problematic HF (High Frequency) radios which were used by firefighters, being particular poor on hot windy days, although when working being a general improvement in communication. To jump across a few years, John who was a farm contractor able to turn his hand at many skills and managing to obtain a pilots licence, in 1972 had the opportunity to tender for an aeroplane being offered as part of a deceased estate. To his surprise he won the tender and became the proud owner of a 1966 Aero Commander 100 Dater aircraft, which he housed at a private airstrip which is now part of McCracken Estate, Victor Harbor. John and the plane becoming the unofficial emergency air service for Victor Harbor and the South Coast on quite a few occasions. John was able to use the plane not only to report the movement of fires to troops on the ground, but was also used to help with searches on land and sea. On one occasion on hearing that an arsonist was working through the Victor Harbor area, John recalls searching the road network from the air in his plane (and knowing John, it was probably fortunate for the arsonist, that John was not able to get his hand on him). When asked his thoughts on the current CFS organisation and it evolution over the years, John sees that the CFS now is better managed and organised, with specialised equipment and clothing provided to the CFS and its volunteers. John recalls that before overalls were provided, firefighters would often just wear a shirt and shorts, and when it got too hot you just ran. John however, also points out that the occurrence of fires has become much more frequent over the years, with more people and more risk in the area. John, a fit 73 year old today, is an active and a valued member of the Hindmarsh Valley CFS Brigade and can still be seen on the back of a fire truck. Again for the sake of any 'would-be' arsonist who may be reading this article, you best pray you get caught by the Police first, because John and his mates may not be near so kind if they catch you first. John's son, Geoff Rose, is also an active firefighter within John's Brigade of Hindmarsh Valley. Written 1st January 2001