By Greg Martin

Down the ages, people have been remembered in many ways – with bridges, museums, sporting venues and statues.

Crikey, during my travels I’ve even come across a toilet block named in honour of a bloke whose surname was Dunne!

Silverdale’s Reg Varley would no doubt be chuffed to know his contribution to the community is being remembered by having a truck named after him.

“Just a truck?” I hear you ask.

Not just any truck, but a magnificently restored 1942 GMC six-wheel-drive cabin and water tanker, now one of the standout attractions at the Museum of Fire in Penrith.

The GMC is one of a small fleet of vehicles brought to Australia from America during World War II.

More on that shortly.

Reg passed away on April 3, with a huge cross-section of the community gathering to farewell the 76-year-old.

Throughout his life he made an enormous contribution through business, as a member of the NSW Fire Brigade, a Variety Club Bash fundraiser and a highly respected volunteer with the Historic Fire Engine Association.

The esteem in which he was held by the NSW Fire Brigade was evident at his funeral, where Inspector Kevin Smith performed the brigade’s Bell Ceremony, symbolising the end of Reg’s final shift.

Reg truly lived life to the fullest.

His many fun-filled Variety Bash adventures earned him induction into the Variety Club Hall of Fame, while he was also made a Life Member of both the Historic Fire Engine Association and the Museum of Fire.

The multi-skilled engineer owned his own engineering business and, according to long-time friend and fellow museum life member Gerard Duck, “he was a bloody magician” when it came to engines.

Those talents proved invaluable during the restoration of the giant GMC tanker.

“It was a foregone conclusion that Reg’s amazing skills would make an enormous contribution to our volunteer group as we set about restoring the vehicle to the condition it was in when it rolled off the production line,” Gerard said.

“The GMC sat in one of the museum’s sheds for 40 years, gradually deteriorating until the middle of last year when we volunteers decided to tackle the huge restoration project.

“Surprisingly, just about the only part we didn’t have to worry about were the 16 tyres.

“The work included a complete brake overhaul, removing the engine and pump and restoring both to full working order, stripping the paint back to bare metal and then repainting the entire vehicle.

“When the engine and pump came out, that’s when Reg’s incredible knowledge really came into its own. The man was an absolute genius.

“The finishing touches included Elite Signs Penrith painting the authentic signage before a commemorative plaque was installed on the driver’s-side step.”

The plaque reads:

“Remembering Reg Varley 1949–2026. Friend, workmate and mentor to everyone. The 1942 GMC Tanker was his last project. Reg was always a phone call away.”

The GMC is one of nine vehicles purchased by the Board of Fire Commissioners from the Royal Australian Air Force in 1952 following the devastating Blue Mountains bushfires that summer.

After being modified for firefighting duties, the trucks were stationed at Katoomba, Blackheath, Springwood and Glenbrook, serving their communities until they were progressively retired by 1980.

The last surviving GMC was displayed at the Fire Museum in The Rocks from 1981 until 1985 before being transferred into storage at the Museum of Fire.

Forty years later, Museum of Fire volunteers, together with members of the Historic Fire Engine Association, began the painstaking restoration.

Under Reg Varley’s watchful eye, the volunteers returned the final surviving GMC to the condition it was in when it left the production line more than eight decades ago.

Today, it stands not only as a remarkable piece of Australia’s firefighting history, but also as a fitting tribute to the man whose passion, knowledge and generosity helped bring it back to life.

Volunteers remain the lifeblood of the Museum of Fire. Whether restoring the heritage fleet, digitising historical archives or assisting with the day-to-day running of the museum, they play a vital role in preserving Australia’s firefighting history for future generations.

For more information, contact Ella Terry-Murtagh on 4731 3000 or 0459 893 925.