COMMISSIONER’S BUSINESS
Commissioner Greg Mullins is on leave. This week’s Commish’s
Corner comes to you from Acting Commissioner John Anderson.
Australia Day Honours for NSWFB Staff
My warmest congratulations to Chief Superintendent Jim Hamilton, Inspector
Ross Brogan and Captain Col Maslen who were awarded the Australian
Fire Service Medal (AFSM), and Anne Pickles, who received the Public
Service Medal (PSM).
Jim Hamilton, ADSO, is internationally recognised as an expert in
counter-terrorism, hazmat and CBR response. He was a key part of the
preparation for the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Ross Brogan, Operational
Commander S6, has spent most of his extensive career working in the
field of arson investigation and played a pivotal role in reforms
at FIRU including the development of the K9 dog unit. Col Maslen,
Captain at 376 Merewether, has been a member of the NSWFB for more
than 50 years. His award recognises his outstanding leadership and
community service. Anne Pickles, NSWFB Information Coordinator, has
been recognised for her achievements in ensuring staff have access
to up-to-date and easily accessible information.
These awards acknowledge dedicated and distinguished service to the
NSWFB and the community. They are a wonderful reflection upon both
the recipients and the NSWFB as a whole. Well done!
Australia Day
I was proud to hear the NSW Premier Bob Carr publicly acknowledge
the outstanding work of SO Bruce Cameron and SO Greg Watson in his
Australia Day address. The Premier praised their amazing work as part
of the tsunami relief effort and recognised that the skills they had
developed as NSWFB firefighters allowed them to overcome extremely
challenging conditions. Their work, and the work of Tim Fox and Chris
Sykes, will continue to do us proud for years to come.
In other events, NSWFB firefighters defended the tri-services challenge
trophy in the annual Australia Day Surfboard Challenge. From all reports
we put in another strong showing, but the results haven’t come
through yet. Watch this space!
In the evening the NSWFB Hazmat vessel “Otter” was part
of the Heroes Parade at Cockle Bay in Sydney. The NSWFB’s Hazmat
Unit launched the Otter in 1995 and currently has 12 other small vessels
deployed around the State. These are used for hazmat incidents, flood
relief and bush fire response.
NSWFB Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
The Commissioner has established the NSW Fire Brigades Long Service
and Good Conduct Medal to recognise long service and good conduct.
Ten years eligible service is necessary to qualify for the Medal and
Clasps are awarded for each additional 10-year period. The Medals
are currently being struck and delivery is expected to commence during
February 2005. The initial award will be 4,872 Medals. Each medal
will be delivered in a presentation box set containing a full-size
medal, a miniature and a riband bar. Full details of the medal, together
with a photograph, are available on the intranet.
OPERATIONAL ROUNDUP
If you haven’t had a chance to catch up on the details of the
Mascot house fire, Manly 3rd Alarm fire and the response to Sunday’s
electrical storm, please visit the intranet. If the stories are not
on the home page, you will find them in Past Articles.
Superintendents on the move
Several Superintendents will be rotated from mid-February in a move
that will provide each with the opportunity to tackle new projects
in new areas. The rotation will also provide teams within the zones
an opportunity to develop additional skills under new leadership.
Under this rotation Garry McBain will move from N2 to S6, Peter Murgatroyd
from S6 to W6 and Neil Harris to N2.
Superintendent McBain has been ZCN2 since 2001. Before that he was
a relieving Superintendent of various Zones across the state. Superintendent
Murgatroyd was promoted to ZCS6 in September 2003. Superintendent
Harris was ZCW6 before being seconded to the Police Counter Terrorism
Command. Supt Harris will take up the position in N2 upon the completion
of his secondment.
The attributes and skills that underpin each Superintendent’s
professionalism will be an ongoing asset to the NSWFB and in particular
their new Zones. I wish each Superintendent the best in their new
Zones.
RUMOUR MILL
Rumour: Is it true that 4 Darlinghurst
will be moved to 3 The Rocks and that 3 The Rocks will be moved to
4 Darlinghurst and that a mini Bronto will be installed at 4 Darlinghurst?
Response: Zone Commander South 1, Supt Gary Meers,
has advised that Darlinghurst Station, a NSWFB and Kings Cross icon,
is currently undergoing some repairs and maintenance. During this
time Darlinghurst Ladders have been a temporary visitor to The Rocks.
The ladders will return to Darlinghurst as soon as possible.
Rumour: When will the missing SOG check
sheets for the appliance drop box folders be published and issued?
Response: Not all A4 SOGs (the office folder) have
a corresponding A5 (vehicle folder) checksheet. The quickest way to
determine if you are missing some of the existing A5 checksheets is
to open the SOG Folder in the Station Portal, on the NSWFB Intranet
site and look at the index for each section. Replacements can then
be ordered through Supply Services.
Rumour: Is it true that N4 is creating
new relieving firefighter positions this year?
Response: Region North is not establishing any new
firefighter relieving positions for Zone N4. However, the Regional
Commander has approved the relocation of one Relieving Officer position
from gSa North to N4.
Rumour: Is it true that hazmat vehicles
are being placed in stations in Sydney this year and if so, where
are you planning to put them?
Response: The option of relocating hazmat appliances
is currently being considered with no firm locations identified at
this time. Close consultation with the Hazmat Unit, regions and the
FBEU will occur to ensure that an overall increase in organisational
hazmat capability occurs.
Rumour: Is there any truth to the rumour
that the first initial deployment of firefighters to the ethanol fire
at Port Kembla were to receive a commendation for recognition of their
efforts in such dangerous conditions?
Response: There were a number of nominations submitted
in relation to that fire which were considered by the Honours &
Awards Committee at its last meeting. There will be individual commendations
to some of the personnel who responded on the initial call and there
will also be Unit Commendations to 422 Warrawong and 503 Wollongong.
I have decided to introduce a new Service Commendation which will
be awarded to support stations and units who respond to major emergencies.
It is anticipated that the Commendations will be awarded at a ceremony
at the State Training Centre shortly.
NEWS IN BRIEF
Premier Bob Carr at Queanbeyan Fire Station
Today NSW Premier, the Honourable Bob Carr visited Queanbeyan Fire
Station to officially handover a new appliance, thermal imaging camera
and three emergency medical treatment packs. He was joined by Member
for Monaro, the Honourable Steve Whan. Chief Superintendent Paul Rugg,
Deputy Regional Commander South and Inspector S5 Chris Cruden were
there to welcome them with SO Ebbels and his crew. The Premier was
particularly interested in the OH&S aspects of the appliance and
the demonstration of the thermal imaging camera.
NSWFB busy at Tamworth Country Music Festival
The annual Tamworth Country Music Festival was held from 14 - 23 January
2005 with the NSWFB playing a significant role, both operationally
and non-operationally, in the festival’s success.
With the city’s population swelling from 38,000 to 80,000 people,
strategic plans were developed to manage the increased risks. Standard
Operational Guidelines were varied, staffing numbers increased and
rosters changed in order to ensure the safety of all visitors.
ZCW5, Supt Steve Pearce reports that, as in previous years, the NSWFB’s
plans were tested by a major incident when a tornado hit Narrabri
and destroyed several properties.
In Tamworth, the NSWFB had a community safety display, participated
in the festival cavalcade and Bernie Cinders, proved popular with
locals and visitors alike.
Well done Supt Pearce for managing the NSWFB’s involvement
in the festival. AC Murray Kear has given me a first hand report of
the good work you and your firefighters are doing.
Cootamundra Bravery Awards
At a special ceremony held on Sunday 23 January at Cootamundra Fire
Station, Assistant Commissioner John Benson, Regional Commander South
presented the Commissioner’s Commendation for Bravery to 12-
year old Brooke Duffy and her cousin, nine-year-old Zac Sheppard for
saving the lives of Travis and Jayden Sheppard from a house fire in
2003.
Tsunami Donation
Don’t forget to bid for the accommodation offer in the beautiful
Hunter Valley. If you missed the details, you can read all about it
on the intranet. Remember that bids will be closing at 1800 hrs on
Monday 31 January.
With only a few days to go the NSWFB has once again proven itself
to be a community minded organisation. The response to the Relief
and Welfare Fund’s tsunami appeal has been overwhelming. At
12 noon today (Friday) we have raised $55,700. So many individuals
have made generous contributions and all over New South Wales stations
have conducted public appeals.
The donation account will remain active only until 31 January for
those still wishing to make a donation. Account details are as follows:
Account Name: Tsunami Relief Fund
Account Number: 104969
Credit Union BSB: 802 825 (for direct crediting from another financial
institution)
UPCOMING EVENTS
NSW Police Games
The NSW Police Games is being held from Saturday 5 - Sunday 13 March,
2005. The event is open to all police and emergency service personnel
and their families. In 2004 the NSWFB provided 109 competitors and
we’re hoping to increase that number this year.
There are 31 sports being contested over nine days with six-a-side
cricket returning to the program. Registration books are available
from NSWFB Police Games Coordinator, Inspector Terry Farley. Online
registration is also available at www.nswpolicesport.com
The closing date for paper registrations is Saturday, 26 February
with online registration open until two days prior to each event.