In Suhopolje, the two-day commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Suhopolje Volunteer Fire Brigade (Dobrovoljno vatrogasno društvo Suhopolje) has begun. The programme started with the presentation of a monograph and the opening of an exhibition tracing a century and a half of firefighting in the area, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the central cross in the local cemetery.
At the Croatian House in Suhopolje, the monograph "150 Years of the Suhopolje Volunteer Fire Brigade" was presented, while simultaneously the exhibition "150 Years of Firefighting in Suhopolje" was opened. Attendees at the ceremony included Virovitica-Podravina County Prefect Igor Andrović, Suhopolje Municipality Head Goran Doležal, acting commander of the Virovitica-Podravina Fire Brigade Association Boris Tomšić, president of the Suhopolje Volunteer Fire Brigade Mirko Solar, commander of the Suhopolje Volunteer Fire Brigade Igor Gotal, monograph author Stanislav Artuković, director of the State Archives in Virovitica Dijana Cenger, and parish priest of the Parish of St Teresa of Avila in Suhopolje Ljubiša Krmar.
The Suhopolje Volunteer Fire Brigade currently has 32 operational members with 6 vehicles. The vehicles were acquired with the support of the Virovitica-Podravina Fire Brigade Association, with some received from the Tyrol region. Two new vehicles are soon to arrive for the Suhopolje brigade. The society carries out approximately 60 interventions of all kinds annually and currently gathers 45 children and youth, a number that is constantly growing.
The central ceremony will take place on Saturday, 17 October, featuring a holy mass, a parade through the streets of Suhopolje, and a formal session. In honour of the 150th anniversary of the Suhopolje Volunteer Fire Brigade, numerous awards were presented to society members, as well as those who contributed to the creation of the monograph and exhibition.
Ivano Gotal, Jasenka Dumenčić, Josipa Solar, Vesna Validžić, Andreas Lesić, Danijel Pleša, Marija Gotal, Gordana Krnjak, Damir Litrić and Dominik Bičanić received diplomas and firefighter commemorative medals for 10 years of membership. Awards for 20 years of membership were received by Darko Čurik, Valentina Solar, Matea Đurinić Toth, Anja Dumenčić, Davor Hock and Dinko Beleg, while Pavao Fijala, Neven Louvar and Ivica Dumenčić received them for 30 years. Dubravko Plavanjac and Antonija Culag received diplomas and commemorative medals for 40 years of membership.
Matija Dumenčić, Luka Dumenčić, Petar Validžić, Mihael Solar, Dominik Bičanić, Maja Validžić and Andrej Šaka received the bronze firefighter torch, while Mirko Mitrovac received the silver firefighter torch. The bronze firefighter medal was awarded to Marija Gotal, Anja Dumenčić, Jasmin Šaka, Danijel Pleša, Gordana Krnjak, Antun Validžić, Dino Validžić, Tomislav Tot, Dario Bartolović, Slaven Kožar, Danijel Bišćan, Denis Bišćan, Nenad Subota, Tihomir Balaž, Irena Jurišić, Dario Jurišić, Antonija Culag, Davor Hock, Matea Đurinić Toth and Darko Čurik.
