PROTECTIVE HELMET

This fire fighting uniform was worn by Robert 'Cam' Cameron Clay between c2010 and 2013 to fight bushfires when he was a member of the Bedfordale Volunteer Bushfire Brigade. This uniform was worn by Cam during the 2011 Roleystone and Kelmscott Bushfire which occurred on the weekend of 5-6 February. The fire burnt across approximately 400 hectares, destroying 72 homes, significantly damaging another 37, caused extensive damage to bushland, fences, electrical infrastructure and destroyed the Buckingham Bridge which crossed the Canning River along the Brookton Highway. Fortunately no human lives were lost. Cam mainly worked in the operations centre during this event.
Cam Clay first joined the Bedfordale Volunteer Bushfire Brigade in 1972. Even when he and his family were living outside of the area Cam was still involved with the Brigade and became fully active again in 1979 when he and his family moved back to Bedfordale. Cam was awarded his 35 year active service medal in c2012. This uniform was worn during the Roleystone Kelmscott Bushfire of February 2011. When not volunteering for the Brigade Cam was volunteering his time to help improve the local environment. He was a member of a number of environmental groups and in 2011 was awarded the City of Armadale's Citizen of the Year Award.
Volunteer bushfire brigades were not only active in their own area but also responded when required to bushfires in other parts of WA and, at times, other states in Australia. Before the 1980s the volunteer brigades were the only defence the local community had against all types of fires. In the mid 1980s paid firefighters were stationed at Armadale only in the summer before eventually becoming a permanent fixture. In the mid 1980s paid firefighters were stationed at Armadale only in the summer before eventually becoming a permanent fixture.
The uniform tells the story of the role volunteer bushfire brigades have and continue to play in protecting communities and local bush from out of control bushfires. Bushfires have and continue to pose a threat to homes, businesses, farms and communities in the hills region. The threat of bushfires impacts how people in the hills and bush areas choose to live their life when they have to make the decision to stay and defend their home or flee and hope that their home survives.