COMMISSIONER’S BUSINESS
Professional standards
In previous issues I spoke about the need to safeguard our good name
and high standing in the community. An old adage I mentioned was “sweat
the small stuff, and the big stuff will look after itself.”
From recent visits it seems that I may have been a little too subtle,
as many have asked what I mean “about tyre black and stuff”.
Well here it is: some of us need to lift their game. Appliances with
tyres that haven’t been blacked, scruffy uniforms, and unauthorised
trips in appliances are not on. I know, and the public knows, that
if there is a major emergency, firefighters will risk their lives
if need be. That’s the “big stuff”, but it doesn’t
happen every day. The “small stuff” happens every day.
There are simple things we need to do to maintain our image and reputation.
I expect to see clean, gleaming appliances and neat professional-looking
firefighters all the time, not just most of the time, and I expect
all officers and firefighters to make sure that this is the norm.
It’s not a lot to ask, and thankfully there are few exceptions.
World Vision Tsunami Appeal cheque handover
Thanks to the tireless efforts and enthusiasm of Superintendent Ray
Kelly, and the generosity of NSWFB fire officers and staff, a cheque
for $68,500 was presented to World Vision CEO the Reverend Tim Costello
last Tuesday at City of Sydney Fire Station.
The cheque was handed over to Mr Costello by the President of the
Relief and Welfare Fund, retired Chief Superintendent Doug Messenger
and I. Mr Costello graciously accepted the donation and spoke about
the political and social difficulties facing World Vision and other
groups in rebuilding South East Asia. The money will be put to very
good use.
SO Chris Sykes, SO Tim Fox and SF Greg Watson, three of the four
NSWFB members who provided logistical support to the medical teams
in tsunami-affected areas, met Mr Costello and were able to share
their experiences.
As always, the generosity and compassion shown NSWFB staff from all
areas always amazes me and makes me very proud. Well done everyone.
Quit Smoking program
I am the first to endorse any initiative that improves and sustains
the health of NSWFB members across the state. It was especially pleasing
on Wednesday when the FBEU State Secretary Craig Harris joined me
to jointly launch the Quit Smoking program.
Many of us know somebody who has died from a smoking-related illness.
Both my father-in-law and brother-in-law died from lung cancer. We
all know the health risks associated with smoking, yet one person
in five continues to smoke anyway.
The Quit Smoking program is an initiative of the NSWFB Health and
Fitness Branch who are working closely with the NSW Department of
Health to offer smokers the means and support to quit. The program
is also subsidised to make it affordable to all those who participate.
The Union has fully endorsed the initiative because it shares the
concerns for firefighters’ health and welfare. Of the participants
in our trial program, 30% are still not smoking after six months.
I strongly encourage all NSWFB staff who smoke to give the program
a go. To find out how you can quit the habit, phone 1800 425 282 or
9265 2800.
OPERATIONAL UPDATE
Ashfield factory fire
This morning I attended a 13th Alarm factory fire in the inner-Sydney
suburb of Ashfield, which was still burning when I left at 1530. This
is one of the largest fires we have had in Sydney for some time. An
incident management team is on site, and crews from 26 fire stations,
including crews from both sides of Sydney harbour and the inner west,
three aerials and one Hazmat unit are in attendance.
The Brescia Furniture store is a large three level building with
cliplock roof. First arriving crews assigned on the initial 4th Alarm
had to beat a hasty retreat as an intense fire in a loading bay entered
a void then flashed over. The fire has been bottled up by the construction
and all crews and aerials are in defensive mode awaiting wall and
floor collapse.
RUMOUR MILL
Rumour: Is it true that in the latest
recruitment campaign all retained firefighters who applied have been
held back from continuing to further stages, and if so, is there going
to be a retained recruitment in the future?
Response: No, it is not true that retained firefighters
have been held back. In fact, in recent campaigns retained firefighters
have been very competitive. The final figures for this campaign are
not yet available, but in the 2002 campaign retained firefighters
comprised only 6.25% of total applicants, but 22.5% of successful
applicants.
As in the two previous campaigns, there will continue to be a separate
program, known as the Retained to Permanent program, for retained
firefighters who do not succeed in the general merit process. Participants
will be selected on the basis of merit from a pool of the retained
firefighters who have applied for this program.
NEWS IN BRIEF
New award: 12 percent pay rise and better leave conditions
Firefighters will receive a four per cent pay increase every year
for the next three years, following ratification of new Permanent
and Retained Firefighter Awards by the Industrial Relations Commission.
The pay rise will apply from the beginning of the first pay period
on or after 24 February 2005 for permanent firefighters and from 1
April 2005 for retained firefighters. Permanent firefighters will
receive their new rates in their pay on 17 March 2005. Retained firefighters
will receive their new rates in their pay on 15 May, backdated to
1 April 2005.
The new Permanent and Retained Firefighter Awards will also deliver
even better, more flexible leave arrangements, including:
· The introduction of one week of paid paternity leave;
· Increased paid maternity leave and paid adoption leave,
from the current nine weeks to 14 weeks at full pay or 28 weeks
at half pay;
· Permitting access to pro-rata long service leave after
seven years service, in contrast to the current arrangements where
access is usually granted after 10 years;
· Allowing firefighters to take a period of long service
leave at double pay, ie an employee may use their entitlement to
two months long service leave by taking one months leave and receiving
two months pay for that one month period; and
· Public holidays that fall while a firefighter is on a period
of long service leave will be paid, and not debited from a firefighter’s
leave entitlement.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Tsunami relief forum
Next Monday 14 March the four officers deployed to Asia to assist
in the tsunami relief efforts will address a forum about their experiences.
SO Bruce Cameron and SF Greg Watson will speak about their experience
in Indonesia, SO Chris Sykes will talk about working in the Maldives
and SO Tim Fox will discuss his time in Sri Lanka. The forum will
be held at 1 City of Sydney on level 3 and will be followed by a light
lunch. Further inquiries can be directed to Joanne McKeough via GroupWise
or on 9265 2921, or SO Kim Reeson via GroupWise or on 9265 2643.
Harmony Day
Living in Harmony is an Australian Government initiative designed
to promote community harmony, build relationships between people,
and address racism where it occurs in Australia. The initiative is
primarily a community-based education program aiming to improve our
appreciation and understanding of the society in which we live. Harmony
Day is Monday 21 March and all stations are encouraged to get involved
in events in their local community.
Contact your local council to see what events are organised and how
your station can be part of them. Twenty two translated fire safety
fact sheets will launched around Harmony Day. Closer to the date there
will be template media releases and other information about the fact
sheets available on the intranet to publicise them closer to the time.
Contact your Public Affairs Officer for further information.
Triple 0 Party and Police Charity Ball
The next Triple 0 party will be held next Friday 18 March at the Glasshouse
at UTS Broadway. Tickets are $15 at the door and it goes from 8pm
to 3am. There will be two DJs and stage dancers. The NSWFB representatives
on the Triple 0 committee have unfortunately noticed a drop off in
NSWFB staff attending recent functions. As well as being a great opportunity
to catch up with old friends and make new ones, the Triple 0 parties
raise funds for a variety of worthy charities; recently $8,000 was
raised for the Red Cross tsunami fund.
The NSW Police have extended an invitation to all NSWFB staff to
attend their annual charity ball to be held on Saturday 19 March.
Tickets are $110 each, with proceeds going to NSW Police Legacy (assisting
the families of police officers killed in the line of duty) and Stewart
House. Both these charities are supported by the Triple 0 Committee.
The ball is at the AJC Function Room, Randwick Racecourse and the
dress code is formal (mess dress is appropriate). RSVPs and payment
are due on 15 March. Contact Tom (Alan) Cooper via GroupWise or the
police organising committee direct on 9265 6499 ext 56499.
Sydney vs Newcastle Firies soccer challenge
This year’s first Sydney vs Newcastle soccer challenge will
be played at 1pm on Wednesday 23 March at Broadmeadow Magic Soccer
Fields, Wanderers Oval, Curly Rd, Broadmeadow.
The game will cost $10 per player. At this stage there will only
be one all-age game. BBQ and refreshments will be available.
Anyone interested in playing for the Sydney team, please contact
Steven Walker via GroupWise. Newcastle players should contact Mark
Johnson or Craig Hadden, also via GroupWise. Numbers are needed ASAP
to organise transport.
Police Games AFL
Tomorrow the NSWFB AFL team will take on the Police in the Police
Games at 10am at Wrights Reserve in Quakers Hill.
Last Friday 4 March saw the AFL team compete in the Navy's Father
Mac Cup. It was a round robin format which saw the team play five
games against various Navy sides. The AFL team won three out of the
five games and narrowly missed out on the final. Thanks to all the
players who gave up the best part of the day to commit to the competition
and thanks also to Marissa from Health Services for providing first
aid and strapping.
Cricket Club match
The NSWFB Cricket Club is playing its inaugural game against Westpac
Banking Corporation on Friday 18 March at Waterloo Oval from 9am.
The game is 40 overs per side with a trophy awarded to the winning
team. Spectators are most welcome and entry is free so come along
and support the team.
The World's Greatest Shave to Care and Cure
The World's Greatest Shave to Care and Cure is one of Australia's
biggest fundraising events. Over the weekend of March 10-12, 60,000
people across the country will pledge to shave or colour their hair.
Money is raised by asking friends, family and workmates to sponsor
these individuals. In return for a donation they get to see them with
brightly coloured hair or no hair at all!
Many people 'go it alone' and take part as individuals. Many more
get together with friends or workmates to form a group and take the
plunge together.
The money raised from the sponsorship raises funds for the Leukaemia
Foundation, a national not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the
care and cure of patients and families living with leukaemias, lymphomas,
myeloma and related blood disorders.
If you are interested in registering to take it all off or would
just like some more information call 1800 500 088 or visit www.worldsgreatestshave.com.au.