Wednesday, March 30, 2011

District 14 Operations Report now on CFA Connect and Facebook

The April edition of the District 14 Operations report is now available at the following places:

http://www.facebook.com/CFANorthWestMetro
http://www.cfaconnect.net.au/news/d14-operations-report-april-2011.html

Attached also is an edited text version of the Report.

Regards

Kris Perkovic
CFA Northern & Western Metropolitan Region

Strathewen Shed Extension

(From David)

The Melbourne Water problem relating to the Shed Extension has been overcome.

Excavation for the septic tank will be starting this Friday.

From the CEO - Inquiry into arrangements for CFA volunteers

Good morning all,

As many of you know, the State Government announced last week an inquiry, to be led by retired County Court judge David Jones, into arrangements for CFA volunteers (see Minister Peter Ryan’s statement attached). http://premier.vic.gov.au/2011/03/former-judge-to-lead-independent-cfa-inquiry/

The inquiry will look into, among other things, recruitment, training and support for volunteers. Mr Jones will hand any recommendations, for the Government to consider, by June 30 this year.

The inquiry, the first of its kind for CFA, is a unique opportunity for a fresh look at arrangements for CFA volunteers from an outside, independent perspective. Recommendations will provide invaluable feedback and help CFA and volunteers better protect Victorian communities.

The findings will be especially relevant to the work of the new Operational Training and Volunteerism department, headed by Lex de Man, senior Executives and the Board.

Trained and professional volunteers perform all operational roles within CFA including at the highest levels of incident management, supported by career fire fighters in a fully integrated manner. The inquiry will cover any impediments to the ability of volunteers to undertake any role within CFA, as well as the capacity for volunteers to be appointed as CFA employees.

It will also look at arrangements to ensure the voices of volunteers are heard in accordance with the Volunteer Charter, recently signed by the State Government, CFA and VFBV and soon to be enshrined in law.

CFA welcomes the inquiry and I encourage all CFA members to assist in any way they can.

Mick Bourke
Chief Executive Officer

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Bread from Breadwise

We are still fortunate to be getting free bread from Breadwise every Wednesday. We all need to be mindful of a few things.

There is a small of group of members who kindly collect the bread from Diamond Creek on a Wednesday night. If you are at the station when they arrive please help them unload the car and get the bags onto the tables.

Whilst you are waiting for the bread to arrive, please stack the chairs at the kitchen end of the tables so that crumbs are not falling on them from the bags.

Bags are not provided so it would be appreciated if people could bring their own down to the station to collect their bread.

If the bread bags are starting to empty out, gather what is left into one bag and dispose of the empty bags.

There are crumbs everywhere by Thursday morning. If you load up your bags on the bench or on the tables and you leave crumbs, please clean them up.

It is understandable that everybody is in a rush to get home but if we want access to free bread we may need to help each other sometimes and take responsibility for cleaning up after ourselves.

Thanks

Lisal

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Updated Skills Matrix

The skills matrix has been updated.  Please check your records to make sure that they look correct, and contact Geoff or Andrew if there are any ommissions.
The matrix is also available on the 'Training' tab.

Geoff

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

D14 Trainer and Assessor Courses

Please be advised that we have recently scheduled both a Provide Instruction Program and an Assessor Program course for District 14. Attached please find an information flyer which provides details of these two courses as well as nomination forms for each. The flyer can be displayed and promoted at the brigade.

Both courses are now open for nomination.

If you have any queries in relation to these courses, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind regards

Rachel Scott
Coordinator Training & Development

Weekly Media Report

Please find attached the Media Report, covering news items from the last fortnight.
A reminder also to check out our facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/CFANorthWestMetro for news updates, photo and videos.

Kris Perkovic
CFA Northern & Western Metropolitan Region

Region Newsletter - March 2011

Please find attached the March edition of the Northern and Western Metropolitan Newsletter.


Life Membership Criteria

Attached is the Life Membership Criteria proposed by Michael.

Please review it prior to the next general meeting so that it can be discussed and agreed.

Solar Panels

A question came up recently (from Hamid, I think) regarding issues with solar panels on buildings & houses.

CFA have issued a Operations Bulleting on this: http://cfaonline.cfa.vic.gov.au/mycfa/Show?pageId=displayDoc&docId=013083

It is found in the Operations > Operations Manuals > Operations Bulletins page of CFA Online.

You need a CFA Online login to get access to the document.  All members have a log in but it needs to be activated by Geoff.  If you have not requested its activation, or if you have forgotten your user id and password, please contact Geoff to get it established.

Geoff

CHALLENGE - Leadership and Development Program 2012

Please find enclosed information brochure, application & selection guidelines and application forms for the Challenge 2012 Program. The program which runs from Saturday 7 January to Wednesday 18 January is designed to assist in leadership development skills.
Applicants will need to submit their completed application form to their Brigade Captain/OIC by Friday 29 July. The application should then be forwarded to District 14 Manager Training & Development, Susan Beatty by close of business on Friday 12 August. All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome.

Further information is available on Brigades On-Line however if you have any queries regarding this program, please do not hesitate to contact me on 8746 1400.

RACHEL SCOTT
Coordinator Training and Development
Northern & Western Metropolitan Region

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Minutes

Thanks again to Sue A for writing the minutes.

Strathewen & St Andrews Gardening - SGA Food For Thought Workshop

The Strathewen & St Andrews Gardening Groups invite our communities and neighbouring communities to attend two FREE workshops called "Food For Thought" on Sunday March 20th and Sunday April 3rd from 10am - 1pm at the Strathewen Community Centre. Workshops to be presented by Sustainable Gardening Australia and funded through the generosity of the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust. See attached flyer for further details. RSVP to nyree_earps@yahoo.com.au by March 18th 2011 for catering purposes.

Regards

Nyree

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Confirmation of FDP termination - CFA District 14

7/3/11 is confirmed for D14 restrictions to be lifted

Please spread the word, we will be advertising and with media shortly

Regards

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

D14 operations report; weekly media report

The March edition of the District 14 Operations report is now available at the following places:

http://www.facebook.com/CFANorthWestMetro
http://www.cfaconnect.net.au/news/d14-ops-report-march-2011.html
http://www.youtube.com/cfatv

Attached also is a text version of the Report.


Weekly media report
Kris Perkovic
Media & Marketing Coordinator
CFA Northern & Western Metropolitan Region

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

New Tait radios - seatblet/transportable radios

These are some photos of the Seatbelt or Transportable radios. The Mic head is about the same as the Hand Held Control Head that is being fitted to FCV’s ect. Plus the HHCH has a set as powerful as a Mobile I believe.