Juniors '0' Birthday Party

Some photos from the '0' birthday party held by the Juniors as their inaugural event.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/arthurscreekrfb/sets/72157625524571619/detail/

I hear that the Juniors (untrained, young and new) beat the BMT at one of the drills by a considerable margin. 

Pre-season BBQ and awards presentation

Some photos by Michael from the pre-season BBQ & life membership awards presentation - 5 December 2010.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/arthurscreekrfb/sets/72157625650127530/detail/

NWMR Newsletter and Churchill Fellowship information

Please find attached the December edition of the Northern and Western Metropolitan News.

An article featured in this newsletter is the 2011 Churchill Fellowship, in particular the 2011 Lord Mayor’s Bushfire Appeal Churchill Fellowship, which is awarded for research into ways to combat and reduce the impact of bushfires. To help promote this worthwhile initiative, I have also attached a Churchill Fellowship flyer and poster in PDF format. It would be appreciated if this could be promoted at brigade level. More information is also available at http://www.churchilltrust.com.au/

And as usual, it would be appreciated if the newsletter could be made available to all members at the brigade.

Regards

Kris Perkovic
Media & Marketing Coordinator
CFA Northern & Western Metropolitan Region

Structural PPC Update - 10 December 2010

Structural PPC Update - 10 December 2010

Leona Latcham
Program Manager
Personal Protective Clothing

VFBV December 2010 Newsletter

Attached for your information is copy of the December 2010 VFBV Newsletter.

Jenni Laing
VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADES VICTORIA

Firestar Rose Donation

2010 has been a busy year for Firestar Rose, and in just under four months the program has raised $31,191.63. Over 290 brigades directly benefited from this contribution, and your brigade was lucky enough to receive a donation of $159.74 from the sale of 14 roses. This donation should now be in your brigade’s bank account.

The remainder of the money raised was donated into CFA’s Public Fund, where it will go towards the further development of volunteers by way of leadership training, improving their firefighting skills and the provision of additional equipment. If you have any questions regarding your donation, please email cfaprom@cfa.vic.gov.au by replying to this email.

You can keep updated on the Firestar Rose program by visiting CFA Connect or the Firestar Rose website, http://www.firestarrose.com.au/.

Kind regards,

Nancy Thompson
Marketing Relationship Coordinator
Strategic Communications, CFA

BoM Seasonal Outlook - December 2010

The BoM's quarterly seasonal outlook for January to March 2011 was issued Friday 17th Decmber. Headlines for our area:

Rainfall: average rainfall predicted: http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/ahead/rain.seaus.shtml

Temperature: above average temperatures predicted: http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/ahead/temp.seaus.shtml

Click on the links for more details.

FEEDBACK: D14 Exercise - Sunday 5th December

I would like to thank everyone that was involved in last weeks exercise. An exercise of that size and scale requires everyone involved to participate in the spirit for which it is intended to be a success. This includes the crews on the trucks, the facilitators and the people that undertook roles at the ICC & “Div Comm”, without the commitment and enthusiasm that everyone displayed we would not have had such a successful outcome.

TFB Boundary Realignment Project

The fourth and final stage of the TFB Boundary Realignment Project (Implementation/Education) is nearing completion. Since the last TFB project update in October, a media campaign has been run that will conclude this week. TFB District signs are also being manufactured.

Roster

The roster has been updated.  Please check your details to make sure they are correct and contact the Secretary with any errors or required updates.

It is recommended that you put the BMT, stations, car and tanker 3 numbers into your mobile for quick reference.

Geoff

Latest CFA Dispatch Channel Map (Further Information)

The channel map is purely an indication of the primary dispatch channels used across the state. It’s not meant to be a map indicating all channels used by all parties. We receive a lot of enquires, particularly from members in the country Districts & VicFire, requesting the information provided on this map as there are numerous “VicFire” channels used in the country Districts in addition to a lot of Brigades that are still Cat 5 and use the A channel as their “dispatch” channel.

The designation REG-14 is what’s displayed on the Motorola radios even though we now call them Districts. The new Tait radios display D14A 62.

My recommendation is to enjoy some Christmas cheer and don’t get too hung up on a map that was produced as general information only.
Regards,

Shane Peacock
Manager, Communications Operations
Technology Services Dept.

Latest CFA Dispatch Channel Map

For your information, please find attached the latest CFA Channel Map indicating the Dispatch Channels in use within the Districts following some recent changes due to new sites, Boundary Alignment, etc.

The designated location of the Channel is based purely on the physical location of the site only as I’m aware that several Brigades may use the channels listed in a neighbouring District if coverage permits.
Regards,

Shane Peacock
Manager, Communications Operations
Technology Services Dept.

Fire Danger Period District 14 Municipalities - Commences 0100 hrs Monday 3rd January 2011

Subject to the CFA Chief Officer signing off on our recommendation, it is planned to commence Fire Danger Period (fire restrictions) at 0100 hrs on Monday the 3rd of January for the following municipalities –

• Wyndham City Council
• Melton Shire Council
• Hume City Council
• City of Whittlesea
• Nillumbik Shire Council
• Banyule City Council

As we move towards this date, can all Brigades be aware of this announcement and if requested by members of the community for further information, please direct them to either the Victorian Bushfire Information Line 1800 240 667 or the CFA’s public website http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/.
Additional local information will also be provided via local newspapers next week.

Regards

John Deering
Operations Manager
CFA District 14
Northern and Western Metropolitan Region

Fire restrictions - 3 January

Fire restrictions will commence on Monday 3 January, 2011.

Changes to mnemonics at end of pager messages

With the CAD upgrade next week (around the 13th December) there will be a change to the Brigade mnemonics that are presented to Brigades when they are paged for calls.

These changes mean that Brigades and GMTs/Region staff with “all-calls” pagers will now be able to see who has been notified of an incident.

The main change for members to be aware of is the introduction of the letter C to the front of the Brigade mnemonics (this stands for CFA), for example Buninyong – BUNI will now CBUNI.

D14 Exercise - Thanks and congratulations from Euan Ferguson, Chief Officer

I was impressed at what I saw on Sunday morning at the Kangaroo Ground Level 3 Exercise. Although I was distracted by some phone calls about an international deployment, I was able to visit the ICC, be briefed by Brian, visit the Exercise Control and have a quick brief by Troy, then inspect the Staging Area. The exercise was well reported (in a very positive light) by the evening news.

I know that these things do not just happen. I also know the incredible challenges of bringing in so many people and keeping them busy at different levels.

I felt it was an outstanding success – at least the bits I saw. I am sure that others would have expressed similar views.

Gentlemen – THANK YOU! Job very well done! I know you probably slept soundly on Sunday evening, but keep up the great work! I appreciate your effort and we are very much the better for it.

Please pass on my thanks and congratulations to all who were involved in the planning and execution of the exercise last Sunday.

Regards,

Euan Ferguson AFSM
Chief Officer
Country Fire Authority

FDP District 12

Would like to advise you that the FDP will be proclaimed in the Mitchell Shire and Murrindindi Shire on the 20th Dec 2010.

Discussions with all concerned within District 12 indicate they whole heartily agree with this date.

Districts 22 & 23 will be proclaimed on the same date.

Could you please advise the necessary Group Officers and Captains within your Districts.

Cheers
John Smith
Operations Officer
Mitchell Catchment

Community Safety update for Fire Ready Road show

Dear Community Safety Team,

I’m writing to make sure everyone is informed about the FireReady Roadshow, which will be launched to the media tomorrow morning.

The FireReady Roadshow will be visiting 41 locations around the State from 4 December 2010 – 13 February 2011, with the aim of raising awareness of the need for everyone to have a bushfire survival plan - including residents, holiday makers and day visitors.

May day calls on wrong channels

Can you please ensure when conducting drills that involve broadcasting a “May Day” message via the radio, the channel NOT be a Vicfire monitored frequency.

Regards,

Justin Dally
Operations Officer
District 14

Bushfire Safety Policy Framework

The Bushfire Safety Policy Framework has now been released as a public document on the Fire Services Commissioner’s webpage on the Department of Justice website:

http://www.justice.vic.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/justlib/doj+internet/home/community+safety/fire+safety/fire+services+commissioner/justice+-+victorian+bushfire+safety+policy+framework+-+%28pdf%29

Kind regards,

Liz Armitage
Executive Manager Strategic Communications
CFA

Neighborhood Safer Places now shown in the recently released Edition 3 North West map book

Please be advised that Neighbourhood Safer Places are now shown in the recently released Edition 3 North West mapbook, and will be shown in subsequent mapbooks. While they were not included in the Central Edition 3 mapbook the decision was made to include them from the North West onwards, after some consideration. The (relative) stability of the NSP dataset in the North West and South West mapbook areas suggested that, to firefighters, the benefits of including them outweighed the issues around the dataset.

Please bear in mind that it is likely that more NSPs will be added during the two and a half year lifespan of the mapbook, and some may be decommissioned – the CFA website remains the appropriate place to view the current list of NSP locations, and words to this effect are included on the bottom of each mapbook page that has an NSP on it.

Happy to discuss, and to those who have already fielded questions on this issue, my apologies for not sending this out earlier…

Cheers,

Pete Luckock
Policy Research Analyst
Operations Directorate

Bushfire Start Minimisation Review - Trials

As per tonight's (Monday 6 Dec) meeting attached is the EnergySafe letter received last week re the above -  for the Blog.  It is interesting to surmise how the Thomas Road power line (SWER) "will be operated in a different way" but I pretty sure that I can guess.

Pat Corr

Message from Gill Metz (sent 18-Nov)

Good afternoon everyone

As some of you might be aware, CFA CEO Mick Bourke last week announced several changes to CFA’s staffing arrangements. This is covered in his CFA Connect blog post of 12 November:

http://www.cfaconnect.net.au/blog-mainmenu-8/CFA-Makes-Changes-for-its-Future.html

As outlined in his post, I have accepted a role at CFA headquarters in Burwood working as part of a project team reviewing CFA’s funding arrangements. This is a challenging role and something I am very much looking forward to as this is an area of interest and one which I believe I can make a significant contribution (and which I believe will support the region into the future). This project is expected to last 12 months.

Replacing me in the role of District 14 Regional Manager will be DCO Greg Esnouf, who will bring much needed operational support to the district. I will hand over to Greg on Monday 6 December, so I would ask that everyone makes Greg welcome at the time.

Kind regards

Gill Metz, Regional Manager, District 14

Media Reports

I've fallen behind posting media reports.  The following are a batch of various items.

---

Weekly media reports

• 19 November
• 3 December
• 10 December

---

TV news reports from the District 14 exercise (nb: large files):

• ABC
• GTV9
• HSV7

Creswick Woollen Blankets

Creswick Woollen Mills are offering a fundraising opportunity.  $25 from the sale of each DC5 Blanket (wool aramind blend, $275 each) will be donated to a brigade of the purchaser's choice.

Some order forms will be available at the station if you or any of your family or friends are thinking of purchasing one.

District Exercise Photos

District 14 Exercise - 5 December 2010

Juniors events

Mr Reader and I attended a meeting last night with Mark Gravell and have arranged to have a '0 Birthday Party' for the Arthurs Creek/Strathewen Juniors on 21st December from 7 - 8.00pm. We will be having cake, snacks, balloons etc.

The invitation is for all 11-16 year olds, plus bring a friend with the view to new enrolments. As it is a birthday party, younger members and generally any interested Brigade members can attend, and we will have 'games' appropriate for the age of attendees.

We would also like to invite our Lieutants / Captain to the party and other relevant VIP's

We will then run sessions on the 11 Jan, 8 & 22 Feb, 8 & 22 Mar for all junior members. Future months will be advised at a later date.

On 28th January, our Junior Brigade has been invited to the Red Light Disco at the Yarrmabat CFA from 6.30pm - 8.00pm

Kerstin

Flood Safety Update & Information

Flood Safety Update & Information - 8th December 2010