Adelaide Show

The CFS has a long-standing history at the annual Adelaide Show (formerly known as the Royal Show).

The Agricultural and Horticultural Society have given tremendous support to the CFS allowing volunteers to represent their brigades at the largest event in the State whereby all aspects of rural living are placed on show.

In the late 1950’s and early 60’s, volunteer firefighters would parade around the arena before competing in the state hose and ladder drills.

Over the years the competition aspect dropped away but CFS volunteers have continually held a presence at the event.

With the CFS headquarters being built at Keswick volunteers had ready access to the Wayville showgrounds and brigades would make the annual pilgrimage to staff the CFS outdoor static display.

The showgrounds was littered with members wearing their CFS overalls as they handed out promotional material with “Smokey the Koala”.

In 2002 and 2004, the CFS show stand won First Prize for Outdoor Exhibit.

Displays in the main arena were also encouraged by the society and in 2005 and 2006 CFS volunteers were again privileged to put on a nightly display in front of an 8,000 strong crowd.

Titled the “CFS 15 Minutes of Flame”, the capability display commenced immediately after the ‘Holden Storm Riders Precision Driving Team’ at 8.15pm for each of the nine nights of the show.

The display involved more than 150 volunteer firefighters and presented an entertaining look at how the CFS has evolved from being a bushfire brigade to a highly sophisticated multi emergency response agency.

The display started with a parade of beautifully restored fire engines of that era to images of the early fire service projected on the arena’s big screen.

After a glance back at the “way we were”, the presentation came alive with a series of live “emergencies” using spectacular pyrotechnics including fires and explosions, hazardous material spills and a road crash rescue before closing with an unexpected turn of events.

CFS volunteer firefighters - active members of brigades from across South Australia - responded to each emergency under lights and sirens using the latest firefighting appliances and equipment.

To add to the dramatic visual impact, the presentation featured a soundtrack containing the “hottest” music hits from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and today to reflect how the CFS has evolved to it’s current form.

It was an exciting opportunity for the CFS to “shine” and promote to more than 100,000 South Australians that CFS members are actually volunteers who are active 24 hours a day, every day of the year, responding to all kinds of emergencies, not just bushfires.

While the presentation featured stunning visual effects, the passion of CFS volunteers was what made the performance really come alive.

While the main purpose for being in the arena was to demonstrate the capability of the CFS, it was also a useful recruitment tool with the public making multiple enquiries about wanting to become a CFS volunteer.