VICSES MEMBERS HONOURED ON AUSTRALIA DAY - VICSES celebrates pride at the Midsumma Festival - Victoria State ...
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AUTUMN 2020
EDITION 10
VICSES
responds
to summer
storms
ur
Neighbo
Dayarch22002020
M
Sunday 29
VICSES MEMBERS VICSES
HONOURED ON celebrates
pride at the
Midsumma
AUSTRALIA DAY Festival
FEATURE
Contents READ MORE ABOUT OUR STORM AND
FLOOD RESPONSE ON PAGE 7
Highlights from
the autumn edition January and
February storm
and flood response
AFRICAN MUSIC AND
CULTURAL FESTIVAL
While our members were busy supporting the fires
pg. 11 in January, our units were also busy responding to
serious storm and flood damage across the state.
Here are our request for assistance figures for
January and February this year:
VICSES members
10,436 Total calls
honoured on
pg. 04
Australia Day
879
Flood
2,967
Building
05
Damage
International
Women’s Day
08 Celebrating the life 5,062 1,528
of Des Sinnott OAM Trees Down Other
09 fter Action Review
A
– Lake Purrumbete
Most active units:
13 apturing
C
accurate records
1,147
Malvern Unit
for declared
537
operations
Upper Yarra Unit.
Manningham Unit
02
Emerald Unit. Bellarine Unit.
Requests for
Assistance
1 October - 31 December
Nillumbik Unit.
Total
8,224
Hailstorm in Warrandyte.
Metropolitan Fire Brigade and
VICSES working as one. Breakdown
16%
Building damage
7%
61 % Support other
Emerald Unit. agencies
7%
Tree down Rescue
2%
7%
Other
Flood
Corryong Unit responds to a
landslide on fire affected hillside.
03
FEATURES
VICSES members
honoured on
Australia Day Stawell Unit Deputy Controller, John Hooper (pictured second from right)
By Kath Jessop, Media Officer, VHO
Six VICSES members have been recognised as part of Australia Day celebrations,
including volunteering veterans from Stawell, Pakenham and Bright, a Unit
Controller from San Remo, and young guns from Craigieburn and Tallangatta.
C
raigieburn Unit Tallangatta Unit volunteer Coast Shire nominated Mick as Search and Rescue, and was part
volunteer Tegan Denny Nicole Peters was also awarded their ‘2020 Citizen of the Year’ in of important search efforts during
was awarded Hume Young Citizen of the Year from recognition of his leadership and the 2009 Victorian Bushfires and
City Councils ‘Young Citizen of the Towong Shire. Nicole has dedication to VICSES – especially Grampians landslides (2011), and
the Year.’ At 19 years old, Tegan given back to her community during his 6-day deployment to even flew to Greece in 2018 to
was the unit’s youngest member through a range of volunteering Omeo in East Gippsland. help with fire support efforts there.
when she signed up in 2019. Tegan experiences – including with John has travelled to numerous
expressed how her volunteering VICSES, Country Fire Authority Hats have also been tipped for countries to learn innovative
helped her feel more connected (CFA) and Girl Guides. Tallangatta long-standing volunteer of the rescue techniques, something he
to her community and fellow Unit was also awarded a certificate Pakenham Unit, Bruce Monro. has brought back to Victoria and
members, and actually looks of appreciation by Towong Shire Bruce has been a part of his local shared with fellow volunteers.
forward to her pager buzzing alongside the local CFA brigades. unit for more than four decades,
at 3:00am. Since attending and has participated in numerous Another Deputy Controller to also
her first road rescue, Tegan Another VICSES member that road rescues and storm-related call be recognised on Australia Day was
has been keen to take on more received a pat on the back was outs in his region. He was recently Graham Gales from Bright Unit,
leadership to contribute to helping San Remo Unit Controller Michael announced as a nominee for the winning the ‘Local High Achiever
her community. ‘Mick’ Kenny, who has been in the Cardinia Shire Council Senior of the Year’ award through Alpine
role for just 12 months. The Bass Citizen of the Year for 2020. Shire Council. Graham has been a
VICSES volunteer for more than 30
Stawell Unit Deputy Controller years, attending a huge range of
John Hooper received the events across the alpine community
nationally recognised ‘Emergency of Bright during this time. He has
Services Medal’ (ESM) as part also been instrumental in restoring
of the Australia Day Honours historical (colonial era) huts in
List – with the official investiture Victoria’s high country.
to be held later in the year. John
has been part of the Stawell Unit Congratulations to all of our
for more than 40 years, during members and units who received
which he has specialised in road awards, and for your continued
crash rescue as well as search and dedication to VICSES and
rescue operations. John has also the community. n
gained a qualification in Urban
San Remo Unit Controller, Michael Kenny (pictured middle)
04
Craigieburn Unit volunteer, Tegan Denny
International
Women’s Day
By Gabi Barkmeyer, Corporate Communications Officer, VHO
International Women’s Day
A
t VICSES we have many
amazing women who
takes place on 8 March each contribute significantly to our
year, as a celebration of the organisation and their communities. We
Bright Unit Deputy Controller, Graham Gales are proud of our commitment to promoting
social, cultural, economic diversity and working toward a more
and political achievements of gender balanced workplace, with 33%
of our membership currently represented
women across the globe. by women across Victoria.
When we think of equality, we think
of how we can make our workplace
more inclusive, harmonious,
Pakenham Unit volunteer, Bruce Monro
generous, and a better organisation
to be part of. As a member of the Male
Champions of Change, I hope that my
leadership helps all of us tackle the issues of bias
and leads us to a more inclusive workplace. All of
us should take time out to think about our roles in
eradicating gender bias and celebrating the great
achievements of women in all walks of life.”
VICSES CEO, STEPHEN GRIFFIN
From all of us at VICSES, thank you for all that you
Tallangatta Unit volunteer, Nicole Peters do every day! n
05
FEATURES
VICSES celebrates
pride at the
Midsumma Festival
By Gabi Barkmeyer, Corporate Communications Officer, VHO
This year VICSES once again participated in the annual
Midsumma Pride March and Midsumma Carnival,
celebrating its 25th year running!
E
stablished in 1996, VICSES is a long-time supporter Midsumma Pride March! Our
the Midsumma Pride and participant of the Pride members marched proudly in
March is an annual March, as an event that reflects VICSES orange, waving the
celebration of the lesbian, the diversity within both the rainbow flag and handing out
gay, bisexual, transgender, communities we serve, and our pride-themed freebies to those
queer and intersex community; own organisation. cheering the march on.
embracing diversity, and
uniting thousands every year On 19 January our members Chris Welsh, State Headquarters
in solidarity toward equality. rallied together to take part in Unit volunteer and Pride and
Midsumma Carnival – a family- Diversity Events Co-ordinator
friendly event that celebrates the at VICSES, spoke on the
Midsumma Festival. The carnival importance of our involvement
provided our organisation in this great event.
with the opportunity to host a
stall alongside our colleagues “The community response this
in emergency services, and year was amazing, with tears
to engage with community coming from some members
members to promote over the amazing level of
recruitment and diversity within support,” said Chris.
our organisation. Handouts “We are looking forward
included badges, wristbands, to participating in further
and recruitment cards with QR Midsumma events in 2021 to
codes that scanned through to once again show our diversity,
our website. inclusivity, acceptance and
Sunday 2 February was the pride as part of VICSES.” n
grand finale – the awaited
06
Flooding in Stratford
and surrounds
By Gabi Barkmeyer, Corporate Communications Officer, VHO
Parts of Wellington Shire were amongst the worst
affected by torrential rain and flash flooding when a
severe cold front passed across Gippsland in January.
S
tratford, Briagolong surrounding floodwaters.
and surrounding areas
received more than 100 “This amount of rain in such a
millimetres of rain in only a few short amount of time has certainly
hours, causing flooding of roads, caught some people by surprise,”
houses, and building damage. said VICSES Community Resilience
Co-ordinator, Jane Fontana.
Some houses were damaged by
rain entering through missing or “It’s a really good time for people
damaged roof tiles, flood water to be thinking about what they
entering front and backyards and need to do to prepare themselves
an elderly person even became and their properties for these types
isolated in her house due to of situations.” n
Drone technology brings VICSES
and MFB together after storms
M
By Kath Jessop, Media Officer, VHO FB uses the cutting-edge Images from the drones revealed damage
technology at a wide variety on numerous buildings – ranging from
of events, from bushfires 100 year-old townhouses to modern
On 22 and 23 January, VICSES volunteers and floods to police incidents. VICSES apartment buildings. Home owners were
and Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) Duty Officer David Baker was the brainchild told to contact tradespeople and insurance
behind the idea to use drone technology companies to lock in permanent repairs.
fire fighters teamed up in storm-affected to survey storm-affected homes. Within an
MFB’s specially trained RPAS Pilot, Leading
Melbourne, using MFB’s Remote Piloted hour of raising the suggestion, volunteers
Firefighter David Rylance, said that MFB
from Malvern Unit and 20 MFB firefighters
Aircraft Systems (RPAS) technology to were on the ground, setting up for a day of was pleased to be able to provide this aerial
intelligence to support VICSES in response
scour Glen Iris for building damage. Rapid Impact Assessments (RIAs).
to this incident.
The technology allowed VICSES crews to
stay on the ground instead of inspecting “Having our RPAS on scene to provide
roofs themselves, making the operation an aerial overview increases safety
much safer and up to 90% faster. According for firefighters and other emergency
to Malvern Unit Controller Phil Munslow, a responders, as we can see what hazards
standard RIA set-up on a roof takes between and situations our crews may be exposed to
30 and 45 minutes – not including the time in advance,” said David.
it takes to actually find building damage and Following the successful operation, Malvern
assess whether it requires an emergency Unit members expressed their keenness to
response. During this operation, drones work alongside MFB in the future to serve
were up and inspecting a home at each their local communities. n
location within 3-4 minutes.
07
GENERAL
New Snowmobile
Operator Course
NEWS By Keith Mitchell, Projects Officer –
Learning and Development, VHO
Celebrating
the life of
Des Sinnott OAM
CELEBRATING By Maffra Unit, East Region
DES SINNOT OAM
In November, VICSES members said farewell to Maffra Unit member
Des Sinnott OAM, forming a guard of honour at his funeral service The Learning and Development
held at the Boisdale Public Hall. team has released a new
Snowmobile Operator course
A
long serving member with the His efforts have contributed to the local flood (National Competency PUASES015
Maffra Unit and Boisdale Country information guides issued by VICSES today.
Fire Authority (CFA), Des has been Operate Over-snow Vehicle)
Des was a very astute money manager
involved in the emergency services sector for
and fund raiser. He ran a raffle just before
in readiness for the next
more than 45 years.
Christmas for many years and applied for snow season.
T
Des was born and raised in Maffra, and after many grants available to the unit, with
attending agricultural and teacher’s college, funds being used towards the purchase of he course is specific to VICSES
he returned to Maffra to teach at Maffra equipment, vehicles and a major extension members from units with an agreed
High School. Des was a total outdoors man, to the LHQ. role in the use of snowmobiles in an
enjoying hunting, fishing and bushwalking, alpine environment within Victoria’s Emergency
and soon had school students hiking in the His leadership of Maffra Unit and efforts in the
Management arrangements, and is tailored to
high country to the north of Maffra. wider community led to Des being awarded
be conducted within the Falls Creek area of
a VICSES Long Service Medal (45yrs),
operation.
Des joined the Maffra Civil Defence in 1971, National Medal (First and Second Clasp),
also joining the CFA around this time. Des and the Order of Australia in 2000 for his Snowmobiles are typically used to supplement
became Unit Controller of the now VICSES work in the emergency services sector. This is Alpine Search and Rescue (ASAS) operations
Maffra Unit in 1980, and remained Controller fitting recognition of his tireless work, and his at Falls Creek in:
until 2008. He brought Maffra Unit to legacy will not be forgotten.
• Reconnaissance
the forefront of bush/alpine search and
rescue operations, with his professionalism Des is survived by his wife Trish and son • Hasty search
recognised by the Victoria Police Search and Aaron. We acknowledge their vital input to • Evacuation
Rescue Squad who continue to utilise and Maffra Unit alongside Des, and thank them
for allowing us the privilege of knowing Des. • Supporting ASAS teams with supplies
train with the Maffra Unit to this day.
Des was also heavily involved in flood May he rest in peace. n During the snow season, it is common for
operations for major flooding events in VICSES volunteers to practice skills activities with
the Thompson, Macalister and Avon river similarly equipped members of Victoria Police,
We understand that Country Fire Authority and Ambulance Victoria.
systems since the 1970’s. He implemented
this is a difficult time for
a flood warning telephone line for these Many thanks to North East Regional Trainer
our members and peer
rivers which was installed in the Maffra Rob Johnstone and Falls Creek Unit Controller
support is available to
Unit Local Headquarters (LHQ). Des also Craig Moegel, who have greatly assisted in the
anyone who feels they
recognised the value of educating the local development and piloting of this course. Now all
would like to have a
population in understanding flood warnings we need is snow! n
chat. The number is
for local rivers and what impacts could occur.
1800 899 927.
08
After Action Review
– Lake Purrumbete
By Jacob Riley, Senior Advisor Public Information and Warnings, VHO
were delayed. This may have
Camperdown and surrounding areas were impacted by a slowed down the arrival
severe thunderstorm on 1 May 2019, resulting in significant of extra support.
• At similar multi-agency events,
damage to the Lake Purrumbete Caravan Park. crews should remember to
ensure they’re sharing relevant
T
information with anyone who
his event saw severe (AAR) to discuss what worked • Crews provided information
may need to know, and that
and widespread well and what could be improved. directly to members of the
other agencies are doing
damage to structures, Some of the key highlights are public on scene, helping
the same. This could include
including trees down, destruction as follows: the caravan park owner and
people who are not on scene,
to cabins and caravans and residents to make decisions and
such as senior decision-makers,
overturned boats. First responders What worked well? stay safe.
other agencies or media teams.
identified leaking gas bottles and
• VICSES command and overall
downed powerlines as hazards
control of the incident was
What could The Lake Purrumbete Storm
upon arrival. VICSES, Victoria Event was a localised, severe-
Police, Country Fire Authority largely in place. be improved? impact weather event, which
(CFA), local government and • Crews worked well to • Notifications to regional saw a significant multi-agency
other agencies were involved in ensure the safety of the personnel and other agencies response. While some lessons
the response. public, provided relief and generally occurred in line have been identified for all
reduced the risk of further with SOPs, however, some agencies for future events, our
Due to the rare and significant damage to property. members should be proud of their
notifications within other
nature of the event, VICSES held a efforts. Well done to all involved in
agencies did not occur or
multi-agency After Action Review this significant event. n
AFL Emergency
Services Match
By Gabi Barkmeyer, Corporate Communications Officer, VHO
VICSES will be participating in the upcoming
AFL Emergency Services Match between Hawthorn
and Collingwood at the MCG on 4 April.
T
he Emergency Services This year we will again be seeking
Match is an annual event volunteers to get involved in this
played in recognition fantastic opportunity, both for on-
of emergency services personnel ground celebrations and as part of a
from across the state, and includes community engagement opportunity
other organisations such as Victoria before the game outside the grounds.
Police, Country Fire Authority, More information on this event is
Metropolitan Fire Brigade and coming soon, so stay tuned! n
more alongside VICSES.
09
COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT
Working as
one to build
community
resilience
By Susan Davie, Manger Community Connections, VHO
agencies can continue to build
community capacity.
“Alone, we “We have a strong relationship
can do so with the SA SES Community
Resilience team. Working with Liz
little; together, and Oshanna, we are looking to
share our community engagement
we can do training for our members so that
so much” they can increase their skills and
confidence in engaging with
the community. We will use a
AUTHOR,
blended learning approach to
POLITICAL ACTIVIST,
Neighbour
provide training, with the goal
AND LECTURER
of creating action steps towards
HELEN KELLER
emergency preparedness with our
communities,” Hannah said.
Day 2020
O
ne of our VICSES staff The two agencies will continue
members, Dr Hannah to work closely in the community
Macdougall, got to visit resilience space, sharing resources By Stephanie Makin, Senior Advisor,
our colleagues across the border at and collateral, ideas and support, Corporate Communications and Brand, VHO
the South Australia (SA) SES when as well as fostering connections
she competed in the 2020 Santos with Red Cross through the use
of RediPlan and the Get Ready
This year VICSES will once again
Tour Down Under Para Wheel
Race. Hannah met with Liz Connell app. A big thank you to the SA partner with the Red Cross to
and Oshanna Alexander to talk all SES for hosting Hannah, and
things community resilience and we look forward to our future celebrate Neighbour Day.
engagement, and how the two endeavours together. n
10African Music
and Cultural
Festival
By Malvina Tsecoutanis, Community Resilience Coordinator,
Central Region
On Saturday 14 December, VICSES attended the
African Music and Cultural Festival to engage with
the African community alongside Metropolitan Fire
Brigade (MFB) and Victoria Police.
M
embers from the Australian community by the wider
Greater Dandenong Australian community. The festival
and Northcote also created opportunities for all
Units participated in the event community members to better
to promote VICSES, talk to the connect and engage with each
community about volunteering other.
opportunities and provide a
general awareness of who we Our members displayed a rescue
are and what we do. vehicle at the event, which
proved to be an effective tool for
The key objective of the African engagement and a useful way to
Music and Cultural Festival is educate the public.
to contribute to community
cohesiveness, and breakdown The festival was a great opportunity
barriers to social and cultural for VICSES, and we look forward to
understanding of the relatively building our relationship with the
new and emerging African African Community. n
N
eighbour Day is To help start the conversation,
Australia’s annual VICSES units will be supplied with
celebration of VICSES Neighbour Day teabags
community, encouraging us that promote the tagline, ‘Connect
to connect with others in our over a cup of communitea’.
neighbourhood.
This Neighbour Day 2020,
VICSES is challenging For more information on
members to connect with their Neighbour Day, including
neighbours over a cup of tea on, tips and safety instructions for
or around, Neighbour Day on engaging with neighbours,
29 March 2020. head to the general news
section on the Hub.n
11MEDIA
Social media highlights from storm and flood response
FACEBOOK TWITTER
Reach: Post clicks: Impressions:
15,554 952 20,561
Media
Reactions, comments and shares:
engagements:
179 1,410
Corryong Unit responds to the sudden Total engagements:
opening of a sinkhole caused by a
thunderstorm.
1,658 Upper Yarra Unit responds to a large tree
down on a property in Millgrove.
Impressions:
Reach: Post clicks: 34,548
11,488 567 Media
engagements:
Reactions, comments and shares: 1,607
142 Total engagements:
Nillumbik Unit respond to storm damage and 2,008
a tricky carport collapse in Eltham.
An Emergency Warning - Thunderstorm issued for parts of Central Victoria
in January.
Impressions:
34,034
Reach: Post clicks: Media
17,942 1,227 engagements:
1,983
Reactions, comments and shares:
Total engagements:
459 2,711
Our volunteers responded to 559 trees down Action shots capturing our Emerald, Essendon and Narre Warren Units
over a weekend in February. responding to damage after powerful storms passed through Victoria in January.
INSTAGRAM LINKEDIN
Impressions: Impressions: Clicks:
1,984 2,345 376
Reach:
Reactions, comments and shares:
1,537 45
Comments, likes
and saves: Corryong Unit attended a landslide that
Bellarine Unit responds to a large tree
127 down on a property. occurred after heavy rain fell on a fire
affected hillside.
12INFORMATION
SERVICES (IS) Capturing
UPDATE accurate records
for declared
operations
By Ross Elford, Manager Information
Security and Governance, VHO
Ensuring services As VICSES continues to
work for members
provide invaluable assistance
to other emergency service
on deployments
organisations in responding
to the devastating bushfires in
the North East, Gippsland and
Alpine regions, and with a spate
You have heard me say many times that working at of recent storm-related events
thrown into the mix, you could
VICSES is something that I am very proud of. I say it
be forgiven for thinking good
once again, and will continue to do so. record keeping is probably the
last thing anyone has time to
T
he support for fire connectivity and capacity in out if there is anything else think about.
operations has those working environments. we can support, especially if
been incredible – we are making a trip to a site.
I and my team feel privileged Collaborating with the Moe The recent announcement, however, that
to be able to support in any Office for the Traralgon ICC, So if you’re in need of the Inspector General for Emergency
way we can. we implemented what we support across a few areas, Management (IGEM) will lead an inquiry into
now call the ‘ICT Kit’, which feel free to let us know in IS Victoria’s preparedness for and response
And, we have been learning is also being trialled now in when you put a request in – to the bushfires has highlighted the need
a lot from you all. Bairnsdale and Benalla. So we’ll be here to assist you. to capture a full and accurate record of our
far the feedback has been actions and decisions when in a Declared
One of the more interesting promising, and if it goes well Operation. This shouldn’t be an afterthought
things we have been we will collaborate with the but something that is an integrated aspect of
learning and getting a State Operations team to fine responding to an emergency event. In fact,
better appreciation of is tune and standardise it. as a recent news item on the Hub detailed,
some of the constraints there is a number of existing VICSES and EMV
when operating from a A lot of work is also going protocols in place to ensure that this is so. It’s
Regional Control Centre on in the background to vitally important that all members involved in
(RCC) or Incident Control support you all – making a Declared Operation are aware of these and
Centre (ICC) managed by sure that services are adhere to them.
other agencies. working well, and keeping
an extra special eye on Simply put, having records available to
In fact, Tom Wright (our any requests that come in evidence our actions and decisions will
Field Information and which are directly related ensure that VICSES is in the best position
Communications Officer) to operations and ensuring Silvia Silverii possible to improve how we prepare for
and the team used the that they are attended to. Chief Information Officer, and responds to Declared Operations and,
information they were Wherever possible we have VICSES in turn, better protect the communities
learning to come up with been calling people, not just we serve. n
a solution to improve about IS matters, but to find
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