Most Recent Column in The Fireman - February 2010

Editorial - Time for Reflection and Taking Stock

February brings us to the middle of the bushfire season and the recent anniversary of Black Saturday.

We now live in a world where the firefighting we do may be familiar, but the rest of our world is changing.  Government is making changes in the way fire fighting is managed and funded, and while the general public may be no more knowledgeable, its members are far more alert and in some cases quite alarmed.

Through all of this Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria (VFBV) has been working hard in its role as the volunteers' advocate. 

We have had a legal firm and an experienced project officer, former CFA Chief Officer Trevor Roche, preparing and managing our submissions to the Bushfires Royal Commission, and monitoring the submissions of other organisations.

On another front, the VFBV Black Saturday Volunteer Recovery Fund has distributed over $800,000 among the firefighters who lost their homes or other assets to the fires.  More than 100 volunteers lost their homes, many while they were fighting fires elsewhere, and scores of others lost farm, business and other personal assets.

Volunteering and your local brigade are very much about community, and even a year later, Black Saturday is something we must face together.

The advice we all received in the days after the event is still relevant, don’t be afraid to talk to your mates or a professional if your experiences then or in other elements of life are getting you down. 

Every human being has their limits, and there is no shame or embarrassment in that.  Talking to a mate is one of the best safety valves in life.   It’s part of what makes CFA brigades work, and always will be.

At an organisational level, VFBV continues to assert its role as the advocate for volunteers, and is working hard now on any issues that affect them.  You can find us on the phone, via email and frequently visiting the regions in person.  Of our staff, most are CFA volunteers themselves and all have past connections with CFA and volunteering.

VFBV is committed to maintaining and improving the volunteer-based CFA that is Victoria’s only viable model for managing fire now and into the future.

Andrew Ford,
CEO

SAD LOSS OF DEDICATED VOLUNTEER

All volunteers were saddened to hear of the loss of Lieutenant Hugh Monroe when the tanker he was driving was involved in an accident on 10 January. Four other members of the Tolmie and District Brigade were injured with Lieutenant Trevor Mahon and Firefighter Colin Nesbit transported to hospital in Melbourne. Firefighters Alison Maloney and John Johnson were treated at hospital in Shepparton.

To Hugh’s wife Kathy and their 3 children, the state’s volunteers express their condolences and share with the family and the team at Tolmie & District Brigade their sense of loss and sadness.

We wish you a speedy a full and speedy recovery.

JOINT CAF/DSE SOP’S RELEASED

Keep an eye out for the release of Joint Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) from CFA and DSE that address important Incident Management, Information Sharing and Warnings that have been agreed and issued in early February. CFA Area management will be conducting information sessions and briefings to brigades and groups in due course and members should acquaint themselves with these.

AFSM's FOR RESPECTED VOLUNTEERS

 Four well respected volunteers have been awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal in the Australia Day Honours List in recognition of his contribution to the fire service in Victoria.

VFBV State Councillor and Region 4 delegate Andy Cusack AFSM from Mumbannar in the state’s far west has been recognised for his untiring work as a passionate volunteer leader. As Group Officer for over 18 years with the Dartmoor Fire Brigades Group, Andy is well respected as a generous contributor to improved firefighter safety and training, sharing his extensive training knowledge and experience from the timber industry.

Group Officer David Allen AFSM from Monegeetta in central Victoria similarly honoured with the awarding of Australian Fire Service Medal for outstanding leadership at Brigade, Group and Regional levels. David combines a full time role as a CFA Community Infrastructure Manager with a heavy involvement as a volunteer leader. David has made many significant contributions, including his invaluable work implementing new policy and procedures around land use planning and structural fire safety.

Group Communications Officer Phil De La Haye AFSM from Hastings on the Mornington Peninsula equally shares the honour of these Australia Day awards, being recognised for his outstanding dedication and service to the community as a volunteer leader. A CFA volunteer for more than 42 years, 32 of those in officer positions, Phil is widely applauded for his exceptional dedication to member welfare and coordination of human resources especially for operational strike team management. A Group Base Station Operator for many years, Phil acknowledges the immense role played by his wife Julie in collaborating to deliver untiring service.

Captain Bob Smith AFSM of Ocean Grove along Victoria’s west coast has also been recognised for his outstanding commitment and leadership, a CFA volunteer for more than 45 years, much of that time in leadership roles. A respected Fire Safety Officer with CFA, Bob couples his passion for community with tireless work in both Operations and Community Safety. His genuine commitment to the very grass roots of CFA has seen Bob provide outstanding leadership and dedicated service to the Ocean Grove Fire Brigade, Bellarine Group and Fire Control Region 7.

All volunteers join in congratulating these four deserving recipients.

37TH URBAN JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP IMMINENT

Saturday and Sunday February 20/21 are set aside for the 2010 Junior Urban Championship to be held in Echuca. Eighty one teams have entered to participate in all events, including four teams from Esperance Brigade in Western Australia.

SPONSORS SOUGHT FOR CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHIES

The Association is seeking sponsors for two new 10 year Aggregate trophies for State Urban Championship events - A Section Marshall Two Competitors and B Section Marshall Two Competitors.  Interested Brigades or members should advise the Association as soon as possible – the cost would be $130.00

SUBMISSIONS DUE SOON – DRIVER TRAINING STRATEGY

Just a reminder to all brigades, groups and members of the closing date for submissions to VFBV on feedback on the CFA’s Driver Training and Endorsement Strategy being the end of February. Written submissions can be forwarded to VFBV at PO Box 453 Glen Waverley, VIC. 3149.

VFBV have formed a Reference Group to prepare a consolidated response for CFA and the findings will be considered at VFBV State Council in early April.

WRITER SOUGHT FOR ASSOCIATION HISTORY PROJECT

This much anticipated project has reached a stage where the Association seeks expressions of interest from individuals who could assist the Project Team with editorial, technical writing and desktop publishing skills. The technical aspects of writing and publishing such a diverse project will require specialist advice from individuals or organisations wishing to contribute to this important historical record.

Please register your expression of interest with Allan Monti at a.monti@vfbv.com.au

VFBV WELFARE FUND HELPS MANY VOLUNTEERS

The Welfare Fund launch in November 2008 presented an opportunity for all CFA Brigades to access a member based welfare fund where upon application small financial grants may be made for eligible brigade members.

Since November 2008, forty four (44) grants totalling more than $ 100,000 have been made to brigades for the support of volunteer members who find themselves suffering financial hardship.

As a result of grants made over this period, volunteer brigade members have received assistance to meet legal and medical expenses, assist with funeral expenses for family members, support for the payment of utility bills and loan arrears. In numerous cases, support has been provided for families where serious illness has impacted significantly on the member families and funds provided via the Welfare Fund grants have eased financial pressure during tough times.

Many grants are provided as a result of brigades recognising members at tipping points, and the small amount of help in many cases is sufficient to allow the member to resolve their difficulties.

Financial counselling is recommended in many cases to further assist members in planning a recovery route.

Non contributing brigades are encouraged to consider becoming a member, with 2009/10 fees set low at $85 (no GST applies).

All brigades have been invited to become contributing members with invoices mailed in July 2009, and to avoid waiting periods in the future, brigades that have not decided to join are encouraged to consider the benefits to their members.

Don't keep your strike team secret

An informal survey by Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria (VFBV) has found that many country newspapers miss the chance to report the work of their local strike teams.

Some brigades have said their work in other parts of the State is not reported, and yet editors of local newspapers have said they would be delighted to run pictures of local volunteers and reports of their work on the fireground.

The editors' common lament is that they only heard about it after the volunteers got back, sometimes weeks later.

VFBV says your mobile phone is the key to giving your local paper what it needs to get your brigade's achievements on the front page;

• A photo of the tanker crew or strike team leaving – give the local media enough warning and they will be delighted to come and take a picture
• Pictures from the front - if your phone camera has high enough resolution (5 megapixels is plenty), send back a picture of your crew at work or a cheery team photo at the staging ground.
• Give them local names – the paper will need names to go with the picture.
• Make a few notes – they will want to know the type of work you've been doing, where it is and how the crew are faring.  "Tired but in good spirits" and "getting some good frontline experience" might be useful lines.
• Don't be afraid to specify when it’s ok for the reporter to call you – 11am is not ok if you are on night shift
• Don't forget to stress that the home town is still well protected by CFA volunteers, even with a tanker crew or strike team away

If this is all a bit too complicated while you're dealing with work on the fireground, get a brigade member who's back at home to be the local paper's contact point and the one to relay pictures and information to them.

Providing news with a local angle is a good way to build a good relationship with your local media, and show your community how hard its local volunteers are working.