A 40-YEAR-OLD fire truck is to be part of a fundraising party for the Murwillumbah Fire Brigade today to mark the 30th anniversary of the great fire that destroyed the old Australian Hotel.

Businessman Phil Taylor has donated the use of his 1970 Nissan fire truck, originally used by a Japanese town fire brigade, during the celebrations at the Australian Tavern, built to replace the iconic hotel after it burnt down on June 28, 1981.

“I remember that fire well,” Mr Taylor said.

“I used to park my car – a Ford Cougar – in the shade of that building.

“It was a bit of a sad thing that it burnt down.”

Brendan and Carolyn Frerker, the current publicans of the Australian Tavern, have organised for today an afternoon of music, entertainment, raffles and dining into the evening.

Mrs Frerker said since she announced plans for the 30th anniversary event a number of long-time residents had been telling her exactly what they had been doing on the afternoon the fire broke out.

Today’s celebrations are planned to start at 1pm with the Eureka AllStarz Jazz Band entertaining alfresco diners.

Local musicians Nitestar, Sonic Tonic and Machinery Drive and others have undertaken to donate their talents to the cause into the evening.

The musicians are playing for free and all money raised from a $5 cover charge is going to the town fire brigade.