May 2011
April saw a new Rural Fire Service Committee elected for the year at the AGM, with continued loyalty from valued volunteer members, back for more fun in the coming year.
Operations and training continue — soon with some new recruits we hope.
This month also saw KVRVBFB become “endorsed as a deductible gift recipient under Subdivision 30-BA of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997”.
In other words, thanks to Treasurer Ken Crocker’s hard work, any donation over $2 that you make to the brigade is tax deductible.
This is a national first — we are the first Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade in the country to be endorsed under the new provisions.
Operational positions
Brigade Captain – David (Dusty) Smart
Senior Deputy Captain – Neil Breeze
Deputy Captain – Bill Chittick
Deputy Captain – Mike Gorman
Deputy Captain – Ken Hanson
Deputy Captain – Norm Luscombe
Deputy Captain – Keith Nelson
Deputy Captain – Peter Wilson
Non-operational positions
President – David (Dusty) Smart
Secretary – Lorraine Mairinger
Treasurer – Ken Crocker
Training Officer – Neil Breeze
Call-out Officers –
David (Dusty) Smart; Lorraine Mairinger
Permit Officers –
Bill Chittick; Keith Nelson; David (Dusty) Smart
Equipment Officers –
Mike Gorman; Barry Ferrington
Station Officer – David Alexander
Publicity Officer – Currently not filled
We congratulate members on their election to these important roles in the brigade.
We also thank past committee members for their hard work, including Daniel Beale who has moved out of the area.
April call-outs
The first call-out was to a large oil spill on a hairpin bend on Barrengarry Mountain early one morning which the brigade attended and covered with oil absorbent powder to make it safe until the RTA could attend to complete the clean-up. It appears a vehicle had lost a 20 litre drum of oil from its load which burst on the road.
These sorts of incidents are the responsibility of the RTA but the brigade regularly gets called to lend assistance to make it safe until such time as the RTA attends.
The brigade responded to two very frustrating call-outs on consecutive nights, both at approx 11.30 pm, to illegal campfires at Bendeela campground, only to find very small smouldering campfires and a number of merry and bemused campers.
Both of these were complaints by other campers to the 000 emergency number, complaining about noise and the fires, which means that we were called to attend.Why this had to wait until 11.30, when the fires were clearly lit earlier, is the very frustrating part.
Did you know?
Unfortunately campfires at Bendeela campground are banned by Sydney Catchment Authority all year round, but this message is not very well signposted at the campground.
So, we have requested that they improve this signage and in future.
We have also requested that only Catchment Authority security, along with police, will be called to this sort of infringement – unless there is an actual danger to people or property.
News
Brigade members have also attended a number of beneficial training sessions over the last month to sharpen their skills. These included:
· A day at Shoalhaven Heads with representatives from Origin and Country Energy giving instruction on dealing with electricity at incidents and practical demonstrations on putting water on live power poles with electricity still connected (not something you should try at home).
· A Rural Fire Service Driving 4wd and response course.
· Compressed Air Breathing Apparatus (CABA) hot cell training for the brigade’s Breathing Apparatus Operators.
The hot cell training involves practical demonstration of a simulated house fire in a special hot cell with members wearing CABA gear, watching the spread of the fire and using various skills to extinguish it using as little water as possible to minimise damage. Temperatures in the hot cell reach in excess of 600°C, so it's a real eye-opener to experience this up close. Kangaroo Valley is one of only seven brigades in the Shoalhaven that carry this life-saving gear on their trucks.
Recently we have received two new Automated External Defibrillators to carry one on each truck for use in the event of a heart attack victim at any of the incidents that we might attend.
This is a most important life-saving device as we are regularly working in remote areas and alone and under stress, or are first to respond to a accident where we may not have the immediate support of other emergency services.
Guide to action: May
With the cooler weather the mind turns to bonfires.
Now is a good time to reduce potential bushfire fuel from around your property.
Planning a burn?
Permit Season has finished but you are still required to notify immediate neighbours and Shoalhaven Fire Control where and when the burn will take place (this may save us from being called out of bed for a controlled bonfire a well-intentioned person has reported).
Shoalhaven fire Control – (02) 4424 4424
If you have piles to burn or hazard reductions that you feel you may need assistance with, the brigade is happy to assist for a small donation. This can be a good opportunity for training.
Thinking of joining?
Come along for a look on our Wednesday training nights (1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month through winter, from 6.00 pm at the fire station).
It’s a great way to get out and participate in your community.
The brigade is open to anyone older than 16 years, the minimum age to become a firefighter.
We’re actively looking for new members as our numbers have dropped in the last 12 months with some active members moving out of the area.
We plan on conducting our next Basic Training course in April/May so if interested, please call in and make yourself known.
If you’d like to know more about the brigade
and what roles you can do
please contact Dave (Dusty) Smart on 0427 651718.