Storm recovery operations – western Sydney
Since Monday 10 December the NSWFB has been assisting the SES with
storm recovery operations following the violent hailstorms in the
western suburbs of Sydney. NSWFB personnel have been working in some
of the worst affected areas to repair roofs, door-knocking the area
to conduct damage and risk assessments and helping the SES to identify
properties requiring the most urgent assistance. This has been the
NSWFB’s largest commitment to a storm recovery operation since
the storms in Newcastle in June and the 1999 Sydney hailstorms. Up
to 80 appliances at a time have been deployed to the area. On Wednesday
I visited the area to see NSWFB operations first hand and, as always,
was proud of the efforts or our officers and firefighters. I would
like to thank all of the crews, incident management, administrative,
logistics support and major incident coordination centre teams who
have been involved in this operation for their hard-work and commitment.
Channel 9 documentary
The Nine Television Network is producing a documentary series that
will showcase the vital work of the NSWFB and its personnel. Filming
has begun and will continue over the next 14 weeks with the series,
which consists of eight half-hour episodes, to be broadcast nationally
during 2008. This week, a film crew has been working with crews at
15 Burwood filming their involvement with storm recovery operations
in Blacktown. There are a total of three film crews ‘on shift’
with NSWFB crews at 27 Parramatta, 88 Campbelltown, 15 Burwood and
1 City of Sydney, filming them as they respond to emergencies and
as they carry out prevention activities in their local communities.
A NSWFB film supervisor has been placed with each film crew. The film
supervisors will respond to incidents with the film crews and will
be available to address any questions NSWFB personnel may have about
the series. If you are at an incident where a film crew is in attendance
and you do not wish to be filmed, please advise the NSWFB film supervisor.
This documentary series is a great opportunity to further raise the
public profile of our firefighters and the great work that they do.
It will promote a greater understanding of the NSWFB’s wide-ranging
capabilities, and how we work around the clock to protect the people
of NSW. It will also be an effective vehicle to educate the public
about fire safety and prevention. For any enquiries, contact Bronwyn
Hilton, Multimedia Officer, Public Affairs and Communications Strategy
Unit, who is coordinating the NSWFB’s involvement in this series
- (02) 9265 2904.
RFS documentary
In the Line of Fire is a documentary series about the RFS filmed about
two years ago. The series is incident-based and may feature NSWFB
personnel in relation to the 7th alarm Mulgrave paint factory fire
that occurred on 23 June 2006, a large and challenging incident where
the RFS assisted us, and also the January 2006 Central Coast bushfires.
The documentary will air on Channel 9 on 18 December, 1, 8 and 15
January at 8pm.
Managing mental health and stress – new services for
NSWFB staff
Earlier today I sent an email to all staff outlining the range of
support services available to manage stress and mental health issues,
including two new services that are now available to all staff. The
‘counselling in a click’ service is an online service
available to those on shift or in regional areas and provides confidential
counselling that is not face-to-face but is provided immediately.
A new Discussion Forum is an intranet-based site that allows staff
to post messages about a range of topics including issues of mental
health, and to read comments posted by other people interested in
the topic. The forum can be accessed via the following link:
http://intranet-lx1/nswfb/common/nswfb-forum/ For further information
about the issue of mental health contact the Brigade Medial Officers
on BMO.NSWFB@fire.nsw.gov
Community Fire Safety Volunteer program
On Monday 10 December I attended the launch of the new Community Fire
Safety Volunteer program. The program, developed by the Community
Engagement and Development Unit, enlists volunteers from culturally
and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities and utilises their language
skills and cultural knowledge to spread fire safety messages to new
migrants and people within their communities with limited English
language skills. On Monday 10 December the first five members of the
program had the opportunity to find out what it means to be a firefighter
with ‘firefighter for a day’ training at the NSWFB Training
College in Alexandria. All of the volunteers were enthusiastic and
completed the program successfully. I am confident that Mazen, Jane,
Paul, Kim and Raphael will be great ambassadors for the NSWFB and
assist us in our work with CALD communities. I’d like to thank
David Weir, NSWFB CALD Coordinator, who has been a driving force behind
the program, Senior Firefighter Daren Ellen (Manager BA Training)
who took the volunteers through the training, SO Brad Howard and Supt
Rob Kaines for arranging for the event to be held at the Training
College. For further information see the intranet story.
Graduation and recognition
On 4 December I welcomed 19 new recruit firefighters to the ranks
of the NSWFB at a graduation ceremony at the State Training College,
Alexandria. This was the last recruit class for the year and brings
the number of graduates in 2007 to 140. Congratulations to Graduate
Firefighter Garth Boyes who received the Commissioner's Recruit Merit
Award as nominated by his trainers. The graduation was also an opportunity
for me to present awards for Meritorious Service to several officers
and firefighters: SO Rodney Chetwynd, SO Russell Tuner, SF Craig Lawson,
FF Thomas McMillan, FF Damien Bower, FF Paul Collins and FF William
McClatchie, in recognition of their actions at an incident in Molong
in 2006. I also presented Commissioner’s Commendations from
the same event to Mr Peter Cartlidge and Mr Nathan Lawry. Attending
along with the family and friends of graduates were representatives
of the Avoca Surf Lifesaving Club and a small contingent of Surf Lifesavers
from Phuket. The Thai surf lifesavers were in Australia as guests
of the Avoca Beach club, which recently set up a surf lifesaving club
in Phuket – a first for the country. Earlier this year, the
NSWFB donated 12 Oxy-Vivas for this venture and, in recognition of
our contribution, the Phuket Surf Lifesaving Club presented me with
a traditional Thai wood carving and thanked the NSWFB for our support
of their program.
SOPP Graduation
Yesterday I congratulated 19 firefighters on their promotions to the
rank of Station Officer following their successful completion of the
Station Officers Promotional Program. The new SOs spent the final
day of their training working on the storm recovery operations in
Blacktown. After nine weeks of training, they will be taking up their
posts across the Sydney metro area from tomorrow.
Annual Report now available
Our 2006/07 Annual Report has now been published. This report summarises
the NSWFB’s key achievements and outcomes over the last 12 months,
and hence is a valuable reference tool for any staff needing information
about our wide-ranging activities. It also contains a lot of useful
statistical data. Our award winning annual reports have proven useful
for informing key stakeholders and partners about our work. As in
previous years, the report is available in three formats – printed
copies, on CD, and online on our internet and intranet sites. Copies
are currently being distributed to all Directorates, and to area and
zone offices. Anyone needing further copies should contact Peter Walker,
PACSU on (02) 9265 2667.
Flood medallion presentation
On Saturday 1 December the Premier Morris Iemma and the Minister for
Emergency Services Nathan Rees formally honoured those who helped
save lives and properties during the Hunter and Central Coast storm
emergency on the Queen’s Birthday long weekend in June. Superintendent
Keith King and Superintendent Stephen Davis represented the NSWFB
at the two ceremonies held in Wyong and Newcastle. The NSWFB was one
of 60 Government agencies thanked at the event. The 1 335 firefighters
who worked tirelessly during the emergency operation will be presented
with their medallions as they become available in early 2008.
RetF David Cowie recognised by Royal Lifesaving Society
On Monday 10 December Assistant Commissioner Bob Dobson, Director
Greater Metropolitan Operations, attended the 2007 Commendation Awards
Ceremony for The Royal Lifesaving Society Australia. During the ceremony,
RetF David Cowie from 507 Woolgoolga was presented with the Fire Brigade
Award for his actions at the scene of a horrific motor vehicle accident.
On Saturday 11 November 2006, 507 Woolgoolga attended the scene of
a multiple vehicle collision involving a semi-trailer, an unmarked
Queensland Police vehicle and a four wheel drive towing a caravan.
Personnel at the scene were required to administer CPR to a fatally
injured Queensland police officer. RetF Cowie performed EAR on the
injured officer while Senior Constable Wallace Brooks performed CPR.
Both officers continued to work on the injured officer until the arrival
of ambulance personnel. This award pays tribute to the outstanding
skills and training that NSWFB firefighters have and I congratulate
RetF Cowie on his actions which were in the finest traditions of the
service.
Community Fire Unit website
I am pleased to report that the CFU website went live this week after
months of hard work by Operational Information Service, IT Infrastructure,
Bushfire and Natural Hazards and the Public Affairs and Communications
Strategy Unit. The website is being trialled by team leaders and secondary
contacts as well as the CFU Consultation Group. The new website is
interactive and includes specific information about CFUs and the NSWFB
to volunteers. The website will be rolled out to a further 5 000 CFU
volunteers in 2008. For more information see the intranet story.
Organisational Culture Survey
A short survey will soon be circulated to stations within the Sydney
metropolitan area. The survey is part of a joint research project
being undertaken by the University of Sydney, the University of Queensland
and the University of Western Sydney which is examining the influence
of culture and training on firefighter behaviour at incidents. Attitudes
towards safety, job satisfaction and incident debriefs are among the
topics covered. The results of this survey will be used to identify
key strengths and weaknesses and identify possible future training
directions for firefighters. The survey is completely anonymous and
completed surveys can be returned directly to the University research
assistants who will be visiting stations or to the university by reply-paid
envelope. I encourage firefighters in the metropolitan area to complete
the survey. For further information about the survey contact Acting
Director Human Resources, Chief Superintendent Rick Griffiths on 9265
2623.
RUMOUR MILL
Rumour: Is it true that after a trial
of an SO at 217 Batemans Bay, the NSWFB will be installing an SO+3
on the back-to-back roster at Batemans Bay Fire Station in the near
future?
Response: No, there are no immediate plans to
go back-to-back at Batemans Bay.
Rumour: They are going to be training
firefighters on the Central Coast for rescue. Why doesn’t the
NSWFB on the Central Coast use staff that are already up there, who
are trained, and transfer these around to the various stations, thus
saving the NSWFB a large amount of money in not having to train more
firefighters?
Response: The only station in Metropolitan North
2 (MN2) that has rescue-qualified firefighters is 304 Gosford. The
Heavy Rescue appliance attached there is accredited as secondary rescue
for Gosford LGA. All training and accreditation to become secondary
rescue at 304 Gosford is conducted by the Senior Instructor MN2 at
the station. This incurs a minimal cost to the NSWFB. Rosters and
qualifications also play a part in the transfer of firefighters within
MN2.
Rumour: Is it true that 405 Station
Nowra is scheduled to be getting an aerial pump appliance?
Response: No aerial appliance is scheduled at this
time to go to Nowra Fire Station.
Rumour: Is it true that Queanbeyan Fire
Station is going 10/14 due to the huge military HQ that is being built
near Bungendore?
Response: No.
INCIDENTS
Building demolished in Surry Hills
Storm recovery operations – Blacktown
Firefighters confronted with a red bellied black snake
EVENTS
Firefighters final class for 2007
2007 Young Cherry Festival
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