June 27th 2024

Our Shed hired that great 12 seater bus again and with John Webster at the wheel, a gang of 9 sailed off to visit the Bredbo Shed boys, who we had met at Cooma a month or two ago. A visit to their cavernous farm shed, lunch at the pub and a personalised guided tour of the American Firefighting Pilot memorial. How good is that?

John wrote a few words and provided a few snaps:

At the Bredbo Pub, the publican, who is by the way the President of the Bredbo Mens Shed, has put together a Memorial to the three American firefighters who were killed when their plane crashed while fighting a severe blaze during the devastating fires just 20 km from Bredbo four years ago. He has dedicated a room on the side of the hotel to the memorial which contains paintings of the three airmen, their plane and several items of memorabilia, including a large part of the wing from the plane. They have a dinner once a year in memory, and this year they have extended an invitation to the current US Ambassador to Australia, Caroline Kennedy.

Members who travelled to Bredbo included John Webster, Terry Hourigan, Peter Rowell, Duncan Souter, Robin Brinton, Selby Brown, Graeme Harmer, Rob Honeybone and Gery Koetzle.

Story and Images: John Webster