By RON LANE
“THERE were fire trucks from all over the area starting to arrive. From Bulimba, Camp Hill, Wynnum and our station Kemp Place. It was a hell of a big blaze, and I stood there for a moment thinking – what the hell have I got myself into.”
Starting in a local abattoir it had spread, engulfing five adjacent buildings and it would be some time before it was declared entirely finished. At the end of this period fireman Keiran Kearney of the Kemp Place Fire Station, really came to understand what being a fireman all was about.
This was just the first of several majors in which Kerin was to be involved. Majors such as the Paddies Market Woolsheds, the Bee Hive Picture Theatre and perhaps the most dangerous of all the fires in the Dry Docks which were situated in the Bulimba area.
“This was where ships were docked to be refurbished and because there was a lot of welding going on in the upper structures of the ships, sparks were falling down all over the place. There were all sorts of chemicals scattered all around and we just didn’t know what was what. And boy that really made things very scary,” Keiran said.
Born in Newmarket, Brisbane, in 1945, Keiran was educated at Ashgrove Marist Brothers College in Brisbane. After finishing Year 10 at the age of 16, he left college to start work as an apprentice bricklayer, apprenticed to Queensland Public Works. After four years Kerin broke away and went into business for himself.
It was during his years in the building game that Keiran met up with an attractive lady named Maree.
“Maree was the daughter of one of my builders, and,” he added with tongue in cheek, “I think that if I didn’t take her off his hands and marry her I wouldn’t get payed.”
Then in 1978 – just prior to joining the fire department – they married. Now happily married they are the proud parents of sons Liam and Thomas.
After having been self-employed for several years, and with some urging from mates, Keiran took the step that was to lead to an incredible 36-year career as a member of the Queensland fire service.
“We did our probationary fireman training at the back of the Enogerra fire station on the old football fields,” Keiran said.
“After this my first posting was to Kemp Place Fire Station in the Valley where I served for some 10 years.”
Following on Keiran, was sent to the Roma Street Depot, in upper Brisbane – a posting which also lasted several years.
Kemp Place was a major station and the advanced training available ensured that members had the chance to become all car drivers – that is the big ladder trucks and snorkels – otherwise known as cherry pickers.
Then in 1992 Keiran was posted to the Sunshine Coast and based in Noosa. “The Noosa Station had started in ’85 and had a staff of nine. When we got a callout there would just be the officer and driver; where as in Brisbane it was usually the officer plus five; it came as a bit of a shock.”
The year 1992 also saw Keiran called to his first major bushfire.
“This was indeed a learning curve, because all my firefighting had been in the metropolitan area; houses and factories. Then here I was on my way to attend a major breakout in a national park. Things were certainly different.”
This was not the only thing that was different, for during his years at Noosa he became involved in the running of the Santa Express. Run during Christmas, with the fire vehicles decorated as a Santa Vehicle, it was done to help raise funds for the Salvation Army, as well as create fun for local children.
“A thing that I am proud of is working to help with the Triple F Program. This stands for Fire Fighting Fascination Program. The major fireman involved in this was Phil Bowden. This was aimed at helping kids who had an unhealthy fascination with fires. As the co-ordinator Phil did a great job taking it state wide.
Another project in which Keiran took part was the Road Accident Program. Known as the R.A.P. this was taken into the schools and, working in conjunction with police and ambulance officers, it was aimed at making students fully aware of the consequences of vehicle accidents.
“Both the Triple F, and the R.A. programs, were something that we were all proud of, as we were working to help our kids.”
However, in 2015, Keiran’s career in Fire and Rescue went on hold following a work related shoulder injury that saw him placed on medical retirement. But this did not create a vacuum, as it enabled him to continue to devote more time to his beloved Dolphins Rugby Union Club at Noosa.
“Our first contact with the Dolphins started back in 1992 when the boys started playing. They were enrolled at St Thomas Moore College which is right next to the club so it just followed on. Then two years later both Maree and I started working with the club – Maree helping in the canteen, where she still helps out, and I with the coaching squad, working with the juniors.”
For Keiran his involvement with the game started in his school years. During his time as a student at Ashgrove College he came under the spell of the somewhat famous Brother Terence Curley, a former Wallaby and Barbarian team member.
Except for a short time while based in Brisbane, where all the essential services and government departments played in the Rugby League Church competition, Keiran first love was Union.
Then in 1996 after some five years coaching he was appointed president of the junior club, a position he was to hold for eight years. After this he took a seat on the management committee of the senior club. Later on, he was elected to the office of senior vice-president; a position he held for several years.
In 2014 Keiran stepped aside and his outstanding contribution was acknowledged when he was appointed a life-member of the club. Wanting to maintain his involvement he joined the maintaince team; now he can be found driving the club mower on the grassy fields.
“It is a great club,” Keiran said.
“We have won many premierships in all grades, and also sent junior teams to play in New Zealand. But to me the highlight was when the club played host to the visiting British Lions in 2013. This is indeed an honor of which we can be very proud.
“The great dedicated men and women who have passed through our club have made it the success it is today. Men such as Max Gunthorpe, Gregg Dodd, Chris Burton, Michael Phalen, and Michael O’Conner, the dual international, and many, many others. Also we are proud of our association with the Noosa Surf Club. It was in their bar that the first meeting of what was to become the Dolphins was held. We are still tight with Moggie and the rest of the surf club team.
“Many great people and memories – and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
At the annual Sunshine Coast Sportsman Awards Dinner, Michael O’Conner, recipient of a Legends Award, said in his acceptance speech that he considered Keiran Kearney to be “a true legend of coast Rugby.”
Truly, one of Our People.
