From the CEO: Fifth Bulletin on 'Creating Our Future Together'

Welcome to the 5th Creating our Future Together BULLETIN.

This Bulletin focuses on CULTURE: Culture is often described as the way we do things around here – the shared values and behaviours of a group or organisation.

Click here to view Bulletin #05 or visit the intranet: home > about CFA > Creating Our Future Together.
You will be prompted to login using your usual CFA member password.

Sally Dalipis
PA to Director Human Resources

Arthurs Creek Big Fun Sunday

Arthurs Creek Big Fun Sunday
26th February, 2012
Arthurs Creek Hall 12 noon - 10pm

Bushfire remembrance and community celebration

Refer flyer for more details.

Black Saturday - Third Anniversary, 2012 - Remembrance Activities

As we all know, Tuesday 7 February 2012 is the third anniversary of the 2009 Victorian bushfires. As the day approaches, many people will be remembering and reflecting on the events that took place.

A number of councils and community groups in fire-affected areas are planning events where local communities can gather, remember and reflect.

For a snapshot of remembrance events being held, please select the following link: http://www.rdv.vic.gov.au/fire-recovery-unit/fru-news-room/commemorative-events

Regards,

Sam Chhay
Acting Manager Human Resources
Northern & Western Metropolitan Region

Diamond Jubilee Medal

The Queen is issuing a Diamond Jubilee Medal to emergency service personnel that have completed at least 5 years service.  Commonwealth countries are eligible.  Australia is submitting only a very few names, whereas Canada is submitting 60,000.

There is a petition in progress trying to change this: http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/diamondjubilee

Please sign if you are interested in supporting this cause.

Geoff

Strathewen Shed in CFA Connect

Article about Strathewen Shed and its extension is on CFA Connect:

• CFA shed symbolic to Strathewen

CFA Connect Updates

Interesting aerial photos from the Mt Beckworth fire that occurred on 28 January.  For those that have not been to a large running grass fire (like me), it might give more of an idea of what happens.

CEO's blog: Fiskville update #6

CEO's blog: Third year anniversary of the 2009 fires

"Then The Wind Changed" Screens on ABC 1

The documentary film about Strathewen's recovery "Then The Wind Changed" will screen on Tuesday February 7 at 8.30pm on ABC 1.

Yarrambat controlled burn

Some photos from the Yarrambat controlled burn on Sunday 29 January:

Keep your contact details up to date

You can keep your contact details up to date via CFA Online:

• Go to cfaonline.cfa.vic.gov.au and log in
• If you have not activated your log in, or have forgotten your password, contact Geoff
  
• Click on contact details in the center menu panel
• Update you details and press Save

Please ensure next of kin details are entered, and if possible, please tick the Make my contact details available to all members checkbox.  If you want to keep some details private, you can check the Silent box next to the relevant details.

I will get an e-mail of any updates so I can keep our brigade records up to date.

Geoff

Seasonal outlook - Feb-Apr 2012

Rainfall:

• The chances of a wetter or drier February to April are roughly equal over most of southeast Australia. See http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/ahead/rain.seaus.shtml

Temperature:

• Warmer days are more likely over Tasmania, Victoria and southeastern SA. See http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/ahead/temp.seaus.shtml

Event Flyer: Knox Group Multi Agency Specialist Appliance Display

Please find attached our flyer for our multi agency specialist appliance display Sunday 22 April, 2012.

We would very much appreciate it if you could distribute and post the flyer within your agency/group/district/brigade so as many personnel as possible are aware of the event.

To date we have received amazing support from all emergency agencies involved and we believe the day will now be something very special for those who can attend.

If you have any questions at all in relation to the event please don’t hesitate to contact myself or Craig, our numbers and emails are on the flyer.

Thank you for your support for the display and for distributing our flyer within your agencies.

Regards

Ian Atherton
Deputy Group Officer (Group Training)
Knox Group

National Emergency Medal

• Letter re National Emergency Medal
• National Emergency Medal details

Flood Response Concerns

The following documents have been issued as a follow up to CFA's response to the Christmas Day floods:

• Letter - VICSES Chief Officer Operations - Working Safely at SES Incidents
• Memo - Flood Response Concerns
• Safety Alert 26 Flood Support Operations

Appliance Turn Out Times

Please find the attached memo from the Chief Officer regarding Appliance Turn Out times.

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

From the Chief Officer

Latest blog entries:

• #38: Vehicle Livery, VICROADS, Wangaratta HAZMAT case study, posted 9 January 2012
• #39: Continuous Improvement, Hoselaying And Hydration, posted 20 January 2012
• #40: Australia Day 2012, posted 27 January 2012

Power interruption - Strathewen

There is a scheduled power interruption for Strathewen for:

• Tuesday 31 January 08:30-15:30

7 Feb Ceremonies - 3rd Anniversary

The brigade will be holding a flag-lowering ceremony on Tuesday 7 Feb 18:00 at Arthurs Creek station to commemorate Black Saturday.  Blues to be worn.

We are holding it early to allow anyone who wishes to attend the Strathewen ceremony to get there in time.  All brigade members are invited.  Refer to the following for details of the Strathewen event:

• Invitation
• Program

Geoff

Proposed FDP - Nillumbik & Banyule Monday 23rd January 2012

After local consultation I am planning to introduce the Fire Danger Period – Fire Restrictions - in Nillumbik and Banyule at 0100 hrs on Monday the 23rd of January 2012.

I need to submit the paperwork by this Wednesday, if there are significant objections or comments, please let me know ASAP.

Kind regards

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

District Committees

The following committees are being formed within the District and we currently have 2-3 nominations for most of these, given that we would like to have a committee of 4 or 5 people openings are available for more nominations.

District Committees:

• Comms & Technology
• Operations
• Equip & Infrastructure
• Volunteerism
• Training
• Safety, Welfare & Diversity
• Championships
• Community Preparedness

Alan Squires
Secretary District 14 VFBV

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Please contact Geoff if you are interested in participating in one of the committees, or you want to know more about them.

CFA Fiskville Investigation – Update #5

A number of CFA members, past and present, and their families have contacted CFA to register their interest in receiving regular updates and to offer information which they believe will be useful to the independent investigator Professor Robert Joy.

Landscaping for Bushfire: Garden Design and Plant Selection

I’m pleased to announce that CFA’s new Landscaping for Bushfire: Garden Design and Plant Selection publication is now publicly available on the CFA website at www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plants.

Manager Volunteerism and Manager Training Delivery - Recruitment

Please find attached recruitment adverts for the positions of Manager Volunteerism and Manager Training Delivery within Operational Training & Volunteerism. The adverts will appear in The Age tomorrow (Sat 14th January) on seek.com, the January edition of the The Fireman and today’s People Moves.

The closing date for applications is Monday 30th January 2012. The recruitment process is being managed through Rosemary Hardman & Associates, ph. 8648 6552 with further information able to be obtained at www.rosemaryhardham.com.au

Please disseminate through your networks. I am keen to ensure that as many CFA members as possible are aware of these two opportunities, which will play a significant role in the direction and leadership of Operational Training and Volunteerism.

Cheers and thanks,

Lex de Man AFSM
Executive Director
Operational Training & Volunteerism

Minutes - General Meeting - 5 December

Attached are the minutes from the last general meeting.

• Minutes - General Meeting - 5 December

Thanks to Sue for preparing them.

Geoff
 

CFA Employer Recognition Certificates

Please find attached correspondence to NWMR brigades with regards to employer recognition certificates which went out to secretaries to table at your next brigade meeting.

Sam Chhay 
Acting Manager Human Resources
Northern & Western Metropolitan Region

Hurstbridge farmers market

Our rostered days for the Hurstbridge farmers market for 2012 are:

• Sunday 1 April
• Sunday 4 November

Please keep them free and offer Ros your help with manning the gates.

Geoff

Callout history - 2000-2011

If you thought we had a quiet year, then you're correct. We've had the quietest year since 2000. 

From the Chief Officer

The Chief Officer's latest blog entries:

• From the Chief Officer #37 posted 12 Dec 2011

From the CEO: Fourth Bulletin on 'Creating Our Future Together'

Link to page containing the bulletins.

http://cfaonline.cfa.vic.gov.au/mycfa/Show?pageId=creatingOurFuture

Note that you will need a CFA Online login to access this.  If you don't have one, please contact Geoff.

Fiskville updates #3 and #4

Refer to the link below for the latest information on Fiskville:

Fiskville update #3

• Terms of reference document

Fiskville update #4

Geoff

Strike teams - 2011/12 fire season

Some key documents for strike teams this summer.  These can be also found on the "Operations" tab.

• Strike team identification
• ST 1403 roster
• ST 1421 roster (note: Arthurs Creek is not supplying appliances to 1421)
• Strike team checklist

Geoff