HUNDREDS of years' worth of firefighting experience gathered in Forrest on Saturday, and that was just the trucks.
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The men who brought them to town each boasted decades of wisdom acquired from their time serving different brigades.
The Historical Society's display at the Canberra Fire Museum even attracted a man willing to change his last will and testament.
Victorian man Graham Dickens travels the world photographing fire trucks and collecting memorabilia. He said he had recently decided to change his will - not that his death is imminent - so his 1600 model fire engines and raft of other collectables would be given to the museum.
''I've been photographing fire trucks from the West Indies to Europe and most states of Australia,'' said Mr Dickens, a former Telstra employee.
Cootamundra's Brian Morgan, recently retired from 32 years in the NSW Fire Brigade, brought his 1957 Bedford truck along, a vehicle that started its service in Bourke. ''It's insured for $10,000,'' he said when asked its cost.
Chris Wallace, a retired firefighter of 40 years from the central coast, brought his 1960 Thames Trader. ''It's a showpiece,'' he said of the vehicle that is one of seven vintage fire trucks he owns.
The gathering of old trucks was part of the ACT's Centenary celebrations. PHILLIP THOMSON