Welcome to our new Director Human Resources
It is my great pleasure to advise that Mr Mark Kelly will join us
next Monday April 21 as our new Director Human Resources. Mark commenced
his career as a solicitor in private practice before moving into Human
Resources in the private sector. He has moved through successively
more senior roles with multinational organisations including ICI (now
Orica), Ansea Brown Boveri, Schindler, and most recently, as Director
HR for the Australia / New Zealand Region for Tyco Fire and Security.
His responsibilities and experience have encompassed environment,
health and safety, employee relations, organisational development
and training, and compensation management. Mark has degrees in Arts
and Law, and is admitted as a solicitor in NSW. He is married with
two daughters and is an avid scuba diver in his spare time. I am sure
that everyone will make Mark very welcome as he joins our senior executive
team and I hope that his association with the NSWFB will be long and
rewarding.
Mudgee Firefighter Championships
Last weekend I was in Mudgee with teams from 22 Brigades for the Zone
RW2 Championships. The Championships now include new events that further
reinforce essential skills, including the booster fitting event, BA
event, and new rescue event. I encourage all Brigades to talk to people
who participate and try to pull together their own "demo team."
You will become more skilled and proficient, and meet lots of new
friends throughout the state.
SOPP pre-entry assessment Question Bank
The question bank for the Station Officers Promotional Program has
been updated and is now available on the PDU website. The bank of
questions has been approved by the NSWFB Learning & Development
unit and the FBEU; all questions for the November 2008 exam will be
drawn from this question bank. To confirm your eligibility to sit
the upcoming examinations please refer to In Order 2007/3 Station
Officers Promotional Program - entry requirements. In accordance the
Award, applications for entry into the coming year's Station Officers'
Promotion Program will be advertised in the In Orders later this year.
If you have any questions regarding the question bank or any other
aspects of the Station Officers' Promotional Program, contact Acting
Supt Rick Parkes, Manager PDU on 9318 4303 or the SOPP facilitators
at PDU.
New Zealand fire and NSWFB assistance
On 7 April 2008, following a request from the National Commander of
the NZ Fire Service (NZFS), the NSWFB sent Inspector Bob Alexander
from the Fire Investigation and Research Unit (FIRU) to Hamilton,
New Zealand to work alongside the NZFS, with its investigation into
the cold store fire which claimed the life of New Zealand Senior Station
Officer Derek Lovell and injured seven other firefighters. Inspector
Alexander led the investigation team at the site and will continue
to assist NZ's fire investigation team from Sydney. I am sure that
all members of the NSWFB will be proud that we are able to assist
our NZFS colleagues in this sad but necessary task.
Anzac Day march
The NSWFB contingent has significant support from within the organisation
and continues to grow, with more than 150 people marching in 2007.
This year the NSWFB contingent will feature uniformed, retired and
administrative staff. A banner party will also be made up of students
from the NSWFB State Training College. March activities will be followed
by a barbecue and refreshments for participants at 1 City of Sydney.
For further information contact Supt Peter Stathis on 92652705 peter.stathis@fire.nsw.gov.au
or Assistant Commissioner Bob Dobson 92652701 bob.dobson@fire.nsw.gov.au
Punchbowl house fire
In the early hours of Saturday 12 April, 64 Lakemba and 62 Bankstown
attended a house fire in Bouvardia St, Punchbowl. The crews were confronted
with a single level brick and tile house with the front section of
the house fully involved. One person had escaped the house but unfortunately
suffered smoke inhalation and severe burns to approximately 70 per
cent of his body. Neighbours provided emergency cooling for the victim,
and firefighters administered first aid and contained the fire to
the front of the house. A neighbour recorded the entire incident on
a camcorder and the footage was used by Channel Nine as the lead story
in the evening news, which is broadcast nationally.
Bathurst house fire
At 0521 hours on Sunday 13 April, the pumper and hazmat tanker from
216 Bathurst Pump, 105 Kelso Pumper and Insp Tom Morrison (Duty Commander
Region West 2) attended a house fire in Havannah St, Bathurst. Upon
arrival crews were confronted with a single level, weatherboard cottage
fully involved in fire. Quick action by crews prevented the fire spreading
to an adjoining cottage, and all crews have been praised by the Duty
Commander, FIRU and the NSW Police for the actions. On arrival at
the scene, firefighters were advised that no-one was inside the cottage.
Unfortunately the body of an unidentified person was discovered at
the front of the house during a secondary search. FIRU and NSW Police
forensic specialists spent two days investigating the fire to determine
its cause.
Flu Vaccination Program 2008
If you haven't already, consider getting a free annual flu shot as
part of the NSWFB's voluntary 2008 Flu Vaccination Program, which
was announced earlier this week. This program is in line with our
ongoing commitment to provide a healthy and safe workplace. To find
out more about the program and vaccination details read the full details
on the intranet.
Fire 000
Filming for the Channel 9 TV series Fire 000 will be finishing at
15 Burwood, 27 Parramatta, 62 Bankstown and 88 Campbelltown on Sunday
4 May. The on-air dates for the eight episodes are still to be confirmed
by the network. When we have a schedule it will be promoted internally
to all firefighters and staff. This week Channel 9 also filmed two
community service announcements (CSAs) at 15 Burwood and 27 Parramatta
to promote the importance of smoke alarms and calling Triple Zero
(000) in emergencies. This is a great opportunity to promote our safety
messages and something the NSWFB has not been able to secure in the
past. These CSAs will coincide with the on-air dates of the TV series
and help reinforce these important messages to the community. A lot
of hard work has gone into the making of the Fire 000 series and I'd
like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been involved;
I am sure you will all be proud of the final program as it showcases
the capabilities and professionalism of the NSWFB.
'400 in 4' charity ride a success
On Friday 11 April, NSWFB firefighters completed the '400 in 4' Charity
Ride and raised more than $20 000 for the Burns Unit at Westmead Children's
Hospital. From 8-11 April, riders cycled over 400kms and endured wet
and difficult terrain to reach their final destination in Wagga Wagga.
I commend the riders who worked tirelessly to complete the journey.
They are an excellent example of how our firefighters often go above
and beyond the 'call of duty' to serve the community. Read the full
intranet story on '400 in 4'.
RUMOUR MILL
Rumour: Is it true that there will be
no more rescue accreditation courses before the end of 2008?
Response: The Rescue Section is planning three primary
rescue operator courses before the end of 2008. This will depend upon
the upcoming occupancy of a new rescue training facility.
Rumour: Is it true that the current 2008 recruitment
campaign won't be happening until the new financial year?
Response: The next recruitment campaign for full-time
firefighters will run during June 2008. Details of the campaign will
be announced soon to all staff. Firefighters receiving enquiries from
members of the public interested in applying should tell enquirers
to monitor our website over the coming weeks for details.
Rumour: Why is it that the Brigades requires
contractors to inspect smoke detectors and change batteries in our
Fire Stations when firefighters provide the same service, plus installation,
for the most vulnerable group of people in our community?
Response: The requirement to inspect the smoke detectors
on Brigades premises is included in the "Test & Tag"
contract which provides a single contract and process for a qualified
person to attend each site. The inclusion of smoke detector testing
is a cost efficient strategy to ensure state-wide consistency and
compliance.
Firefighters can certainly check and maintain the smoke detectors
between the scheduled contractor visits.
INCIDENTS
Arcadia helicopter crash
Premier commends NSWFB for rescue at Greenacre house fire
EVENTS
Firefighters bike more than 400 kilometres for charity
Local NSWFB firefighters remind residents to change the batteries
in smoke alarms
503 Wollongong gets SABRE message across through local media
Some Harmony Day and 'Change your clock, change your battery' events
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