FAREWELL KEITH

It is with great sadness and regret that we announce the passing of Woodend CFA volunteer Keith Beman, who died early this morning following complications of recent surgery. Keith was a much loved and valued member of the Woodend CFA and Woodend community and will be greatly missed. Ironically, he was unable to make this year’s annual dinner due to his illness, where he would have received his 15 Year Medal.

Prior to his illness Keith was a very active a fire fighter and truck driver, he is Assistant Communications Officer, Fire Equipment Maintenance Officer and Co-ordinator of Emergency Pre-Plans.

Keith was born at Tarrant Monkton in Dorset, England and grew up in the port city of Southampton. So, it seems natural that when he started work, he did so at sea. Over the years, he has held a variety of interesting positions that have taken him to the four corners of the world.

He was a Radio Officer with the British Merchant Navy and traveled to over 80 countries from remote places such Rio Muni and the Island of Fernando Po in West Africa to mega cities such as New York. He sailed behind the Iron Curtain, traded with countries with no diplomatic ties to the UK, been in Argentina when they had one of their revolutions, was not far from Cuba during the Missile Crisis, spoken by radio to the descendants of Fletcher Christian on Pitcairn Island – “they spoke a quaint English”. Viewed Galapagos on the horizon, watched whales sounding long before it became popular, been in two collisions and aground once (not his fault). And that’s just a few. The only major places he hasn’t been to are the Middle East and India.