Productivity Commission Report
The Productivity Commission’s 2007 Report on Government
Services was released last week. One of the key findings was that
the median property loss caused by fire had fallen for the fifth year
in a row from $2311 in 2001/02 to $2000 in 2005/06. Emergency Services
Minister Tony Kelly commended NSWFB firefighters on their hard work
which had contributed to this result. Thank you to the Strategy and
Planning Division for compiling information and providing analysis
for the report, not only on behalf of the NSWFB, but on behalf of
all other emergency services in NSW as well. However, the biggest
thank you is reserved for our nearly 7000 officers, firefighters and
support staff who continue to show their dedication to protecting
the lives, property and environment of the people of NSW. Well done.
Police Commissioner’s Commendation
On Tuesday 30 January, I joined the Premier, Deputy Premier,
other dignitaries and thousands of friends and family to witness the
graduation of 799 new Police officers at Goulburn. During the ceremony,
I was extremely proud to witness Commissioner Moroney present the
Police Commissioner’s Commendation for Courage to Station Officer
Carlos Henry, and the Police officers with whom he rescued a child
from a townhouse fire at Kingswood. SO Henry was previously awarded
the NSWFB Medal for Conspicuous Bravery.
Name Change - Community Safety Division
As part of the Executive and Regional restructure, the Risk
Management Directorate has changed its name to Community Safety Division,
headed by Assistant Commissioner Murray Kear. The division has also
undergone some restructuring in its Community Engagement and Development
Unit, formerly Community Risk Management, which includes Community
Safety Advisors (formerly Community Risk Management Officers) dedicated
to working with specific major risk groups. Congratulations to Stephen
Pearce on his promotion to Chief Superintendent with his appointment
as Assistant Director, Corporate and Community Risk. Read more about
the changes to the new Community Safety Division on the intranet.
Australia Day AFSM recipients
Three NSWFB firefighters have received national recognition
for their contribution to community safety. As part of the Australia
Day Awards, Superintendent Michael Guymer, Captain Keith Ferguson
(Springwood) and Captain Raymond McTiernan (Delroy) were named as
Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) recipients. All three have had
long and distinguished careers with the NSWFB and thoroughly deserve
this recognition for their hard work and dedication.
200th Pumper Ceremony
On Wednesday I attended an official ceremony to mark the
200th Class 2 Urban Pumper designed and built by the Skilled Group
in conjunction with the NSWFB. Held at City of Sydney Fire Station,
the event was an opportunity for representatives from the NSWFB and
the Skilled Group to reflect on a long and successful working partnership.
Much of the advancement in NSWFB appliances in recent years can be
attributed to the Skilled Group’s Class 2 pumper. For nine years
the two organisations have worked together to upgrade the NSWFB’s
appliance fleet to better reflect the current needs of firefighters
and their growing role in emergency management. During the ceremony,
executives from the Skilled Group presented the NSWFB with a three-dimensional
etching of the Class 2 pumper encased in glass. Photos of the model
and the event are available on the intranet. The real pumper joined
the NSWFB fleet late last year and was delivered to Molong Fire Station.
The Skilled Group has almost finished a prototype of a new Class 3
Pumper based on a Scania chasis, and we hope to see the first deliveries,
and phasing out of all International pumpers, later this year.
NSWFB Open Day 2007
I know many stations are keen to start preparing for the
NSWFB’s annual Open Day, so I am happy to announce the date
for this year’s event is Saturday 28 April, which falls on the
second day shift of A Platoon. Materials will be posted to the intranet
in the coming weeks to support you in organising and promoting your
Open Day activities. If you have any questions in the meantime, contact
Sponsorship Manager Jane Crosland on 9742 7358 or Public Affairs Officer
Natalie Laharnar on 9265 2802.
School principal rescues elderly resident
An Arncliffe primary school principal rescued an elderly
woman from a house fire across the road from the school on Thursday
1 February. Chris Johnson became an instant hero in the eyes of the
students at Athelstane Public School when she entered the burning
home of Todora Grasesvki and pulled her to safety, after the students
alerted canteen staff to the emergency. Miss Johnson is being considered
for a Commissioner’s Commendation. A special thanks to D platoon
from Arncliffe and Kogarah who entered the house to search for other
occupants and contained the fire to the room of origin. Read more
about the incident on the intranet.
NSW Seniors Week 2007
Seniors are at high risk of being injured or dying in a fire,
and the NSWFB needs to be continually reaching them with fire safety
information. Seniors Week, being held from 11 to 18 March 2007, is
one way to take the information directly to them. I encourage fire
stations to contact their local council to find out what they have
planned for Seniors Week and how the fire crew can be involved. For
more information on Seniors Week, visit file:///W:/PACSU/Publications/Commish's%20Corner/2007/www.dadhc.nsw.gov.au/seniorsweek
or contact Station Officer Stephen Woods, Community Safety Advisor
for Ageing and Disabilities Services, on email stephen.woods@fire.nsw.gov.au
or mobile 0409 603 149.
Firefighters to participate in NSW Big Ride
A team of firefighters from stations across NSW will be participating
in the NSW Big Ride, which will pass through eight towns on the Mid
North Coast next month. The annual ride starts and finishes at Taree
and travels through the towns of Forster/Tuncurry, Bulahdelah, Gloucester,
Wingham, Wauchope, Port Macquarie and Coopernook. The NSWFB team for
this event comprises Deputy Commissioner Ken Thompson, FF Karlo Bozic,
SO Rick Cousins, SO Glenn Dickson, SO Bill King, SO Terry Kirkpatrick,
Captain Dave O’Donnell riding with his seven-year-old old son
Toby, and SO Peter Yates. Retired Inspector Lance Gudgeon and his
wife, Millie, will provide support for the riders. All riders will
undertake the full ride which covers 540 kilometres over nine days
from 17 - 25 March. The Community Engagement and Development Unit
(Community Safety Division) will also be working with Area Commander
Rob Lindsay, Zone Commander David Gray and the local stations to conduct
a number of fire safety programs across the Mid North Coast during
the ride.
Relief and Welfare Fund holiday accommodation
The Relief and Welfare Fund has a holiday unit at Forster
on the NSW north coast which can be rented by its members. The unit
is fully-furnished, has three bedrooms that comfortably sleep six
people and is available for only $250 per week year-round. All you
need to bring is your own linen. The unit is extremely popular so,
to ensure fairness, those who were successful in previous ballots
will not be eligible to apply for any further ballots for a period
of two years ie if you utilised the unit in the 2004/2005 ballot you
will be eligible to re-apply in the 2007/2008 ballot. Members wishing
to enter the ballot to stay at the unit must complete the Application
for Accommodation form on the intranet. For anyone who isn’t
a member but would like to be eligible for the ballot it’s not
too late to join this worthy cause. The fund is there for all employees
should they fall on difficult times. Assistance includes financial
assistance, such as help with funeral costs, the purchase of medical
equipment, emergency accommodation, food and goods and services, as
well as peer support. Last month alone, the Fund provided around $10,000
in assistance. The Application for Assistance form is available on
the intranet as are details of the elected members of the Committee
which assesses these applications. For more information contact Tamryn
Russell on (02) 9265 2872.
INCIDENTS
Narrabri - the old Railway Hotel gutted by fire
Overturned fuel tanker closes New England Highway for 10 hours
NSW Fire Brigades Task Force deployed for Snowy Mountains emergency
EVENTS
Incident Management training for RN2
Bravery awards for Gosford trio
Successful inter-agency rescue drill at Batemans Bay
Mardi Gras 2007
COMMISH’S CORNER
Commissioner’s e-mail: Commissioner@fire.nsw.gov.au
Cora Sarmiento, Commish’s PA: 9265 2930
PACSU: fax 9265 2882
Commish’s Corner Rumour Mill: 9265 2627
To contribute a story to the intranet, please contact Public Affairs Officers: (West) 9265 2613, (South) 9265 2802 or (North) 9265 2631