CFS Volunteer Yearbook 2019
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THE VOLUNTEER YEARBOOK 2019 • Lightbars. • Light-Heads (Surface Mounted Flashers). • Pioneer LiFe™ Battery Operated - Portable Area Lighting. • 11”, 16” & 23” Mini Lightbars. • Pioneer™ Super-LED® Flood / Spot Lights. • Sirens, Switches & Speakers. • Dash / Deck / Visor Lighting. Pioneer LiFe™ 35 CFS Vehicle Intercom Units • 12 or 24v DC. • Crystal Clear Sound. • Waterproof Microphone. • Full Kits Available. • Australian Made! Station Sirens 240v / 415v The "Original" Floating Strainer Float Dock® Strainer Float Dock® strainers are self- levelling, there are no whirlpools Fire Truck Repairs or suction loss! • Striping • Pumps • Nozzles PAC Brackets® • Hoses The Complete answer for • Fire Damage Tools & Equipment stowage. 262 Shearer Drive Phone: 0413 935 463 Seaford South Australia, 5169 Email: [email protected] Contents p20: State Duty Commanders 4: WELCOME 6: REGIONS ROUND UP 13: INCIDENTS 18: OPERATIONS 22: DEPLOYMENTS 27: CELEBRATIONS 30: PROFILES 33: PARTNERSHIPS p15: Mount Compass 35: FRONTLINE SERVICES 41: FRONTLINE SERVICES SUPPORT 48: YOUTH 50: GENERAL 55: SPAM 56: HONOURS 60: MUSEUM 62: CFS FOUNDATION 64: OBITUARIES p22: DEW Tasmania 66: RETIREMENTS 67: CONTACT DETAILS Volunteer Yearbook is an annual publication which captures significant CFS activities and incidents from the past 12 months. The views and opinions expressed through the contributions in this publication are not necessarily those of the SA Country Fire Service or the Government of South Australia. Editorial Team Alison Martin, Brett Williamson and Simone McDonnell CFS Media Line: (08) 8115 3531 Photos: CFS Promotions Unit – www.fire-brigade.asn.au/gallery If you have any feedback about the CFS Volunteer Yearbook or any of our communications, or would like us to cover a story you think should be included, please email CFS.CorporateCommunications@ sa.gov.au p29: Salisbury Celebration 3 Welcome who provide unwavering support to all of our members as they are called to GREG NETTLETON AFSM incidents. Thank you also to the employers of our members who allow them time CFS CHIEF OFFICER away to support the community and fellow colleagues. I’m privileged to visit many of our brigades throughout the year for birthday Welcome to the annual CFS Volunteer Yearbook – my final as Chief Officer. celebrations, award ceremonies and other events. I’d like to congratulate you This opportunity is not only a great time to pause and look at the variety of our all on achieving these significant anniversaries and acknowledgements, it’s achievements over the past 12 months, but personally for me to reflect on the wonderful to showcase our community in this way. past eight years. Looking forward, the Emerald project continues to be rolled out. This continues As I conclude my time in this role on July 5, I’d like to acknowledge the work of to enable our members to record their achievements and keep record of any our many volunteers, both in operational and non-operational roles. You all do changes. The rollout of the second set of Personal Protective Clothing (PPC) a wonderful job and contribute to the CFS culture, safety and make-up of your finishes at the end of this financial year. It’s been a big project and it’s satisfying community. I’m always proud to visit brigades throughout the year to meet new to see volunteers being fitted out with the latest protection. members, reconnect with those I know, and celebrate in your achievements. The Fire Safety System retrofit continues, with more protection also provided to Thankfully we have had no significant fires this Fire Danger Season, but that our older fleet. This has given us an opportunity to ensure all of our vehicles are doesn’t mean we haven’t been busy. maintained properly so they provide adequate safety for our crews. Brigades have attended 8153 incidents (up until the end of May) and provided Project Renew has provided additional funds for CFS to upgrade its brigade services to the community, not just in grass fires but structure, road crash, facilities. We haven’t had such funding in the past so it’s good to see both major hazardous materials and assisting other agencies. I’d also like to acknowledge and minor changes happening at brigades around the state to improve facilities the hard work of staff throughout the year. for our members. CFS continues to make its mark both interstate and internationally. In June 2018, CFS is leading the social research into the new National Fire Danger Ratings we had our aviation specialists in the Northern Territory helping our neighbours project. By being at the forefront of this research, CFS is able to ensure that improve their aerial capabilities. We sent firefighters to California in the United South Australians will be well equipped with information going into future fire States and Incident Management Personnel to British Columbia in Canada. We seasons. also held training in the Federated States of Micronesia and Kiribati! We are also working with SAFECOM, SES and MFS to plan for a new State Nationally, we participated in three deployments, first in Queensland in December, Headquarters. A main priority for the new headquarters will be access to where their Rural Fire Service had one of their worst fire years in history. In volunteers. There will be onsite parking and it will provide an opportunity for our January and February, we sent Incident Management Teams (IMT) and specialist members to visit regularly to see the work being done to assist you at a brigade remote area firefighters from the Department for Environment and Water (DEW) level and in the field. to Tasmania to assist. So as I sign off, I’d like to thank you again for your support over my time as CFS Finally after a spate of fires across Victoria, CFS supplied vehicles and strike Chief. Thank you for your commitment to the safety of your community, and most teams to assists for three deployments. The ability to deploy large scale resources importantly to the safety of each other. in a short amount of time shows our flexibility and adaptability in emergencies. I have had so many interstate colleagues congratulate me on the professionalism Look after yourselves, and come home safe. of our crews and I’d like to pass on their thanks for your support. Greg. I’d also like to acknowledge the families of those who have been deployed, and 4 HON. COREY WINGARD ANDY WOOD EMERGENCY SERVICES MINISTER PRESIDENT, CFS VOLUNTEER As the Minister for Emergency Services, I would like to thank everyone for their ASSOCIATION efforts over a long and extended Fire Danger Season in South Australia. This season, I have visited brigades around the state, meeting the hard-working Once again as another year slips by we find ourselves reflecting on the year just and dedicated volunteers. I have been truly humbled by the commitment of every gone. Whilst we would like to report that the CFSVA has achieved all it set out to, single volunteer I have met. we find that much of the Association’s valuable time and resources have once again been used to respond to reviews that lead to nowhere; and “proposed” For this and your continual commitment over the past several months - I thank changes that don’t eventuate but cause distractions and unsettles volunteers. you. I have no doubt your commitment and dedication will continue into and beyond winter. No matter how many reviews are undertaken, the conclusion is the same. The emergency service sector is grossly underfunded, and if not for the generosity of Our election promise to provide $5million over two years to upgrade CFS stations 13,500 CFS volunteers, over 90 per cent of South Australian communities would is well underway. I have visited brigades where the funding has been used to be left vulnerable and exposed. It is time to stop the reviews and focus on the upgrade flooring or kitchen and catering facilities, re-sheet some brigades, and in providing more funding for the sector and increasing support services for CFS some cases provide extensions. volunteers. Recently, we welcomed a new Chief Executive of the South Australian Fire The CFSVA is acutely aware that it exists to represent your best interest, protect and Emergency Commission, Mr Dominic Lane. Mr Lane has over 35 years’ your welfare and be the voice of all CFS volunteers. It is only with your trust and experience in emergency services, beginning as a volunteer firefighter. I will be support that we can continue to represent you with honesty, dignity and integrity. working closely with Mr Lane to conduct a nation-wide search to find the best possible candidate to be the Chief of the CFS. Thank you for the privilege of being your State President and allowing me to represent so many truly generous and amazing CFS volunteers. I can assure you all that both Mr Lane and I will be seeking a Chief who has a strong focus on volunteers. I would also like to thank our outgoing chief executive Greg Nettleton for his dedicated and selfless work over the past eight and-a-half years. We wish him well in his future endeavours. It is reassuring to know that our CFS volunteers in South Australia are always ready to help their communities and beyond, whenever the need arises. Your efforts are true acts of selflessness. 5 REGIONS ROUNDUP Region 1 1: Amy Cure encouraged race attendees to plan ahead of attending the race 2: SA Country Fire Service representatives in Melbourne for the annual Stair Climb. Photo: Courtney Orrin Photo: 1: TOUR DOWN UNDER by Simone McDonnell With some of the world’s best cyclists riding around our state’s regions during days of Total Fire Ban, this year’s Tour Down Under (TDU) was one of most high risk events for our CFS crews.