Kolekcionar vatrogasnog znakovlja

Dobrovoljno vatrogasno društvo Dubovica osnovano je 26. Veljače.1928. godine, nakon što je strašni požar kakav se ne pamti u povijesti našeg kraja zahvatio susjedno selo Veliki Bukovec u kojem je više desetina domaćinstava ostalo bez krova nad glavom. Prvi pobornici osnivanja društva bili su Kovaček Franjo i Nemec Antun. Pored spomenutih, odluku o osnivanju društva donijeli su: Petrin Imbro, Vrbanić Nikola, Vađunec Valent, Golenja Antun, Nemec Stjepan, Kranjec Franjo, Kovač Ivan, Tržec Antun, Kranjec Alojz, Habijan Ivan, Tkalčić Stjepan, Štefanec Ljudevit, Ferenčak Josip, Križan Đuro, Zdelar Ivan, Švajcar Marko, Kovaček Ivan, Zdelar Đuro, Zdelar Ivan, Petrin Ivan, Triplat Đuro, Repić Stjepan, Petrin Stjepan, Triplat Franjo, Jakopčin  Lovro, Špiranec Antun, Petrin Tomo, Letina Antun, Habijan Antun, Mraz Stjepan, Varga Valent i Kovačić Franjo. Te godine društvo je brojilo 56 utemeljitelja i 35 podupirajućih članova, a u upravni odbor ušli su Varga Valent kao predsjednik, Kovačić Franjo-tajnik, Triplat Đuro-blagajnik i Petrin Imbro kao zapovjednik društva.

Sam početak bio je težak jer nije bilo financijskih sredstava za nabavu vatrogasne šprice, odjela kao i ostale nužne opreme. No u rukovodstvu su bili ljudi odlučni i svjesni svog zadatka. Prva sredstva skupila su se od članarine utemeljitelja društva te od ostalih dobrovoljnih priloga mještana i raznih donatora van sela. Tim sredstvima  kupljena je prva vatrogasna ručna šprica, nekoliko pari odijela i ostala nužna oprema te od tada mjesto Dubovica ima Dobrovoljno vatrogasno društvo opremljeno da može stupiti u akciju gašenja u slučaju požara. 1930. godine društvo je sagradilo svoj prvi vatrogasni dom kako bi moglo lakše djelovati, održavati sjednice, pozivati ljude na razne dogovore… Uz vatrogasnu aktivnost budio se i kulturni život u selu, počele su se održavati priredbe, u društvu je djelovala limena glazba, a kasnije je osnovan i tamburaški zbor. Sve to zajedno pridonijelo je razvoju općeg kulturnog života u selu. 1938. godine društvo je proslavilo desetu godišnjicu osnutka i rada uz svečano otvorenje prosvjetnog doma koji je sagrađen suradnjom DVD-a i ogranka seljačke sloge. Sve do drugog svjetskog rata društvo je uvijek složno radilo, izvršavalo sve zadatke i uvijek je bilo spremno stupiti u akciju u slučaju potrebe. Tijek drugog svjetskog rata najcrnje je razdoblje djelovanja društva. Stihija rata odvukla je ljude na sve strane. Mladi članovi društva otišli su u rat, a u selu ostaju samo stariji vatrogasci. 1944. godine selo Dubovicu i društvo zadesio je tragičan događaj. Na mjestu sadašnjeg spomen obilježja ubijena su tri naša mještana: Kovaček Franjo, jedan od prvih i najzaslužnijih osnivača društva, Kojetinski Tomo, vrijedan i zaslužan vatrogasac i Zdelar Franjo, uvijek dobar prijatelj vatrogastva. Stihija rata odvela je mnoge u kolone iz kojih se neki mještani nikad nisu vratili. Nakon završetka rata društvo je nastavilo s radom koliko je to bilo u mogućnosti ponajviše zbog financijskih sredstava i opreme kojih tada nije bilo, a do nove se nije moglo doći. Društvo je započelo sa stručnim osposobljavanjem članova i poduzimanjem preventivnih protu-požarnih mjera. Sredinom 1953. godine nabavlja se nova motorna vatrogasna šprica te se pažnja posvećuje učenju i rukovanju na čestim vježbama i takmičenjima. 1958. godine, za 30 obljetnicu osnutka i rada društva, društvo je dobilo svoj prvi barjak. Bio je to svečani trenutak za naše društvo kojom prilikom je prikucano 114 spomen čavlića i 32 spomen trake na dršku barjaka što je predstavljalo simbol prijateljstva od strane darovatelja prema ovom društvu i organizaciji. Iz godine u godinu društvo postiže sve bolje uspjehe na javnim vježbama i takmičenjima, a 1962. godine osvaja 3. mjesto na natjecanju Kotara Varaždinskog koje se održavalo u Varaždinskim Toplicama.

The Dubovica volunteer fire brigade was founded on February 26, 1928. year, after a terrible fire, the likes of which cannot be remembered in the history of our region, engulfed the neighboring village of Veliki Bukovec, in which dozens of households were left homeless. The first supporters of the foundation of the company were Franjo Kovaček and Antun Nemec. In addition to those mentioned, the decision to establish the company was made by: Petrin Imbro, Vrbanić Nikola, Vađunec Valent, Golenja Antun, Nemec Stjepan, Kranjec Franjo, Kovač Ivan, Tržec Antun, Kranjec Alojz, Habijan Ivan, Tkalčić Stjepan, Štefanec Ljudevit, Ferenčak Josip, Križan Đuro, Zdelar Ivan, Švajcar Marko, Kovaček Ivan, Zdelar Đuro, Zdelar Ivan, Petrin Ivan, Triplat Đuro, Repić Stjepan, Petrin Stjepan, Triplat Franjo, Jakopčin Lovro, Špiranec Antun, Petrin Tomo, Letina Antun, Habijan Antun, Mraz Stjepan, Varga Valent and Franjo Kovačić. That year, the society had 56 founders and 35 supporting members, and the board included Varga Valent as president, Franjo Kovačić as secretary, Triplat Đuro as treasurer and Petrin Imbro as the society's commander. The very beginning was difficult because there were no financial resources for the purchase of a fire extinguisher, department and other necessary equipment. But there were people in the management who were determined and aware of their task. The first funds were collected from the membership fee of the founder of the society and from other voluntary contributions from the locals and various donors outside the village. With these funds, the first fireman's manual syringe, several pairs of suits and other necessary equipment were purchased, and since then the town of Dubovica has had a Voluntary Fire Company equipped to take action in the event of a fire. In 1930, the society built its first firehouse so that it could operate more easily, hold meetings, invite people to various agreements... Along with the firefighting activity, the cultural life of the village was also awakened, events began to be held, brass bands played in the society, and later a tambura choir was founded. All this together contributed to the development of the general cultural life in the village. In 1938, the society celebrated the tenth anniversary of its foundation and work with the ceremonial opening of the educational center, which was built with the cooperation of the DVD and the branch of the peasant harmony. Until the Second World War, society always worked together, completed all tasks and was always ready to take action in case of need. The course of the Second World War is the darkest period of society's activities. The element of war dragged people in all directions. Young members of society have gone to war, and only older firefighters remain in the village. In 1944, a tragic event befell the village of Dubovica and its community. Three of our locals were killed at the site of the current memorial: Franjo Kovaček, one of the first and most meritorious founders of the society, Tomo Kojetinski, a hard-working and meritorious firefighter, and Zdelar Franjo, always a good friend of the fire department. The element of war led many to columns from which some locals never returned. After the end of the war, the company continued to work as much as it was possible, mainly because of the financial resources and equipment that were not available at the time, and new ones could not be found. The company started with professional training of members and taking preventive fire-fighting measures. In the middle of 1953, a new motorized fire extinguisher was purchased, and attention was paid to learning and handling it in frequent exercises and competitions. In 1958, for the 30th anniversary of the foundation and work of the society, the society received its first banner. It was a solemn moment for our society, during which 114 memorial nails and 32 memorial ribbons were nailed to the flag handle, which represented a symbol of friendship from the donors towards this society and organization. Year after year, the society achieves better and better success at public exercises and competitions, and in 1962 it won 3rd place at the Kotar Varaždinski competition, which was held in Varaždinske Toplice.