In this edition of our staff blog, we are introducing Darren Murrell, our Green Triangle Head Supervisor, based out of our Casterton office & depot in Victoria. Darren oversees both the Casterton and Hamilton depots and plays a key role in fire control across Southwest Victoria. With nearly 15 years at Rencon and more than two decades in fire management, Darren brings a wealth of experience, passion, and leadership to our team — and to the communities we serve.
Darren’s story is as much about community as it is about firefighting. A fun fact: at 44 years old, he still laces up his boots to play footy on weekends. Though he has promised himself a dozen retirements, he admits he cannot stay away from the game he’s played for over 30 years.
Darren began his fire career back in 2002 with Victoria’s Department of Sustainability and Environment (now DEECA), working his way up from crew member to crew leader. When a mate introduced him to Nick and the Rencon team, the fit was immediate. By November 2010, Darren was on board, and he’s been an integral part of the business ever since.
His role has grown into a leadership position where Darren now supervises regional depots, manages crews, and ensures the Green Triangle is as prepared as possible for the fire season ahead.
Life at Casterton is seasonal. In the cooler months, Darren and his team focus on contract work, such as insecticide injecting at plantations. These are steady days, often five to seven hours in the field. But when summer arrives, the pace shifts dramatically.
From mid-November through to May, Darren’s work becomes a non-stop schedule of fire management — long days, weekends, and overtime. Where others may find the intensity overwhelming, Darren thrives. Known for being hands-on and hardworking, he prides himself on staying focused and efficient, setting an example his crew respects and follows. “When I’m on the clock, I’m on the go 100%,” he says, and that determination has become one of his greatest strengths in fire mitigation.
The Green Triangle, stretching from the South Australian border across to Portland and back inland, is Darren’s domain. Compared to the mountainous regions of the Otways or Gippsland, the Triangle’s relatively flat terrain makes firefighting more manageable, with better visibility and easier access for machinery. Yet recent drought conditions have turned the usually lush landscape into a tinderbox, heightening the risks. Darren has seen firsthand how quickly fire seasons can escalate when the land dries out.
As for what he brings to Rencon, Darren believes it comes down to respect and leadership. He leads by example, standing shoulder to shoulder with his crew in the field. That approach has earned him a reputation as a fair and reliable boss — one who demands hard work but gives the same back in return. For clients, this means having someone at the helm who knows how to balance efficiency with safety and always finds a solution when challenges arise. “Rencon never holds back,” Darren says. “If someone asks for help, we find a way to make it happen.”
Technology is playing a growing role in Darren’s world, and while he admits he’s still learning, he’s quick to point out the value of drones. In recent seasons, Rencon has deployed drones with thermal imaging to detect hotspots invisible to the naked eye. Darren recalls a fire at Kadnook where small flare-ups were breaking out but couldn’t be tracked on the ground. After a few drone flights, the team had every hotspot mapped and under control — a clear example of how innovation is making fire management safer and more effective.
When asked what motivates him, Darren is straightforward: “The satisfaction of being out there, doing something, and seeing real results live on the job.” That sense of purpose drives him, whether it’s long days in the summer heat or quieter weeks preparing plantations in the winter. For local landholders, his advice is simple but critical: “Don’t do pile burning the day before high winds, check the weather forecast.” With fire risk so often driven by weather, good timing and caution can make all the difference.
Looking ahead, Darren sees Rencon’s role in Southwest Victoria as steady and unwavering. “We’ll keep doing what we do now — supporting whoever, however we can.” It’s a statement that captures both Darren’s own approach and the ethos of Rencon Air & Land: hard work, respect, innovation, and a commitment to our communities.