Inside - Queensland Fire and Emergency Services

Transcription

A publication of the Department of Community Safety
October 2010
Inside:
Minister’s Awards for Excellence p6
Ambulance Week 2010 p12
Farewell Frank Pagano p16
Tour of Duty p23
From the Minister
Bushfire season gets underway
T
his year’s bushfire season is well and truly under way with a
number of vegetation fires igniting across the state in recent
weeks. Our Rural Fire Service volunteers, assisted by their Urban
and Auxiliary colleagues, responded swiftly to extinguish the fires
before too much damage could be done.
The memories of last year’s bushfire season are still fresh in
our minds with more than 4000 vegetation fires igniting across the
state in the space of a month, making it one of the most intense
bushfire seasons on record.
Thankfully the latest advice from the Bureau of Meteorology
indicates that this year’s season may be mitigated by the early
onset of spring rains, however, we need to remain vigilant to the
threat bushfires pose.
The QFRS has been working for months to have its bushfire
preparation arrangements up and running in time for the season,
and I am confident that the strategies in place will ensure
Queensland has another bushfire season where lives and property
are protected.
Aerial support complements firefighting resources
An important component of our bushfire season strategy is
the contracting of three water-bombing Helitack helicopters to
provide aerial support to firefighters on the ground. I was pleased
to join with QFRS Rural Operations Assistant Commissioner
Steve Rothwell recently to officially welcome these aircraft to
Queensland.
These helicopters have the capacity to drop more than 900
litres of water every three minutes if a water supply is within three
kilometres of the fire area.
In addition, there is also a register of ‘call when needed’
contracted aircraft of various types for air observation or water
bombing. This means extra aerial resources on short notice if
required.
These helicopters are another string to the bow of our
impressive firefighting capabilities, and I know Queensland firies
will make the best use of them during the season if required.
Storm season up next
Next challenge for our emergency services is the annual
progression from bushfire season to storm season. It was a
busy storm season last year as well, so Emergency Management
Queensland has been working proactively to put arrangements in
place to ensure the safety of Queenslanders in at-risk areas.
As I mentioned before, the advice from the Bureau of
Meteorology (BoM) is an early start to the spring rains and storms.
The BoM released its official Seasonal Outlook for Storm Season
on 4 October , which gives us a better idea of what we are in for
over the coming months.
In the meantime, it’s critically important that government
agencies, local governments and the community are well prepared
to respond to and recover from the impacts of storm, floods and
cyclones. And while we can’t plan for every possible scenario, we
have put in place the framework to respond quickly and limit the
potential for damage.
I once again want to thank all our hardworking emergency
services personnel and volunteers for their continuing good work
in keeping Queensland communities safe and secure, and I look
forward to working with them over this busy period of the year.
Neil Roberts MP
Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services
Emergency is published bi-monthly by the Queensland Department of Community Safety’s Media and Corporate Communications Branch. Articles, photographs and
feedback from emergency services personnel and volunteers are welcome. Editorial staff reserve the right to edit any contributions.
Address:
Web:www.emergency.qld.gov.au/publications
Emergency Magazine
Media and Corporate Communications Branch
Department of Community Safety
GPO Box 1425
Brisbane Qld 4001
Editor:
Peter Callaghan
Phone:
07 3247 8113
Facsimile: 07 3247 8779
Email:[email protected]
Editorial:
Peter Callaghan, Chantelle Rule, Lisa Grundy, Helen Ainsworth,
Peter O’Halloran, Elizabeth Buckler, Brodie Bott and Brad Muir.
Advertising: Leah Hornibrook
Graphic design:
DCS Design Studio
On the cover: QAS Thursday Island Advanced Care Flight Paramedic Deidree Whap treats a patient. Photograph by Michael Marston.
Emergency is available online at www.emergency.qld.gov.au
2
Emergency October 2010
www.communitysafety.qld.gov.au
QAS program targets
vulnerable patients
B
risbane paramedics are taking part in
a two-year pilot program designed to
enhance service delivery for vulnerable
clients.
The Vulnerable Clients Program
Initiative, launched on 3 September, aims
to enhance the understanding of QAS
paramedics and communications centre
staff and to assist vulnerable client groups
in the Queensland community.
This includes patients experiencing
domestic and family violence, longstanding mental health problems or
homelessness; children who are victims
of abuse; the elderly who are isolated
from support; Indigenous people who may
have complex social needs; people with a
developmental or cognitive disability; and
people who are experiencing bereavement
following the suicide or tragic death of a
loved one.
An initiative of the National
Partnership Agreement on Homelessness,
the program is funded by the Queensland
Government’s Prevention and Early
Intervention Incentives Pool.
QAS Commissioner David Melville
said the Vulnerable Clients Program
would provide QAS with an opportunity
to evaluate how the service delivers prehospital emergency care and transport
to people living with complex social
circumstances.
Mr Melville said QAS was mindful
of the complex issues that affected
the health and wellbeing of its clients,
however, the trial program would assist
in fine tuning how the service cared for
people in the community.
‘The specific target of the program
is to ensure ambulance paramedics
understand the challenges faced by some
of the more disadvantaged groups within
society.
‘QAS paramedics will now be inspired
to take a “second look” at the people we
care for,’ he said.
‘The initiative will assist QAS officers
in providing vulnerable clients with more
appropriate, effective and efficient access
to service information, with the goal of
delivering significantly better individual
patient outcomes.’
Mr Melville said QAS is working in
collaboration with other government and
non-government agencies as part of this
program.
‘It is hoped the study will open up new
networks and allow paramedics to provide
additional referral options to vulnerable
clients so they can access the full range of
services provided by government agencies
and community organisations.’
Mr Melville said paramedics would
also target the provision of passive referral
options for clients who did not require
transport to hospital and potentially offer
an ‘Information Card’ that could be left
with a patient who declined transport.
The Information Card may also be
given to patients who are transported to a
hospital emergency department and need
extra support from other government or
non-government agencies for their social
needs.
Keeping our mob climate safe
F
our Indigenous Disaster Management
Field Officers have been appointed
as part of the DCS Keeping Our Mob
ClimateSafe (KOMCS) initiative.
Part of the State Government’s
ClimateQ: toward a greener Queensland
strategy, KOMCS is designed to improve
community preparedness in coastal and
remote Indigenous communities which are
particularly vulnerable to the impacts of
extreme weather events such as cyclones,
storm surges and flooding.
KOMCS will deliver enhanced services
to at-risk communities and enhance the
safety of these communities, as well as
encouraging volunteers by providing
better training and support.
The Indigenous Disaster Management
Field Officers have been employed in
Cairns to work directly with Indigenous
councils and community organisations in
the Far Northern and Northern regions.
The officers – Daniel Mosby, Harry
Tamwoy, Tanya Davis and Mark Sarago –
will be trained in disaster management,
prevention, preparedness, response
and recovery concepts and principles to
help develop communities’ readiness for
disaster events.
EMQ Far Northern Regional Director
Wayne Coutts said the KOMCS initiative
would involve partnerships with local
government, Local Disaster Management
Groups, SES units and RFS brigades.
‘We know that climate change is
affecting the intensity and behaviour of
natural disaster events and this alters
the risk factors, particularly for remote
Indigenous communities,’ Wayne said.
‘To adequately respond to these risks,
communities need to be better prepared.
‘The activities undertaken by Field
Officers and community volunteers will
focus on disaster planning to ensure that
Indigenous communities in the Far North
and Northern regions are ready to deal
with natural disasters when they occur,’
he said.
From left, Emergency Services Minister
Neil Roberts, Parliamentary Secretary for
Emergency Services Betty Kiernan, Daniel
Mosby, Harry Tamwoy, Tanya Davis, Mark
Sarago, Minister for Local Government
and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Partnerships Desley Boyle and Member for
Mulgrave Curtis Pitt
3
Thanks for Ambulance Week
wish to extend my thanks to all the QAS
staff and volunteers who played such an
important and vital role in the organisation
and running of events during Ambulance
Week from 6-12 September.
Ambulance Week is a special and often
moving celebration of the dedication and
commitment of QAS paramedics, staff and
volunteers, and presents an opportunity
to showcase the valuable services they
provide to Queenslanders.
The annual Star Care Awards are
an integral part of Ambulance Week
celebrations, and I was honoured to
present awards at ceremonies in the South
Western, South Eastern and Brisbane
Regions to members of the QAS family
and the community in recognition of their
outstanding contributions.
October marks another important
event in the QAS calendar, with the
staging of the KJM Education and Research
Foundation’s Clinical Symposium and
Patron’s Dinner at the Royal on the Park
Hotel in Brisbane.
The event consists of two days of
significant professional and clinical
development for QAS managers and
educators on 27-28 October.
This year is themed ‘Hearts’, and the
formal dinner and awards ceremony will
be hosted by Foundation Patron, MajorGeneral John Pearn.
The KJM Foundation is a not-forprofit entity working to identify research
opportunities for QAS officers. Through
its annual grants scheme, the foundation
promotes pre-hospital care research and
professional development activities that
contribute to improving patient care.
Booking forms for the Clinical
Symposium and Patron’s Dinner are
available on the KJM Foundation page on
the QAS website or contact Althea Cleland
on 3247 8368 or [email protected].
gov.au.
I am delighted to announce the
establishment of the Queensland
Ambulance Service Retired Officers
Association Inc.
I strongly encourage all personnel,
including those connected with the
former QATB, to become involved with
the Association in order for it to realise its
goals and become the vibrant functional
organisation the executive intends it to be.
A call to action
ecord rainfall in late winter and early
spring this year has considerably
affected Queensland’s bushfire season.
The wet conditions early in 2010
provided exceptional growth in grassland
and woodland areas with the highest yield
of bushfire fuels for some years.
While these fuels are still present, the
La Niña event in the Pacific Ocean has
strengthened. This has influenced higher
than normal rainfall over large areas of
inland and coastal Queensland during
August and September, contributing to a
low to moderate bushfire season.
The La Niña conditions are expected
to continue into early 2011 and we
anticipate that the existing wet conditions
will continue into the storm and cyclone
season, further suppressing any increase
in bushfire season activity.
Though QFRS is being vigilant to
respond to any outbreak of bushfires, its
frontline operations are also preparing to
support disaster management operations
associated with the predicted increase in
major storm and cyclone events between
now and April 2011.
As we progress into the new financial
year it is worthwhile reflecting on our
workplace health and safety performance
for the previous 12 months.
Unfortunately, we were unable to
achieve our target of a 10 per cent
reduction in injuries and costs. This
occurred as a result of an extremely high
wildfire fighting activities from SeptemberNovember 2009.
We must take the lessons learned
and clearly remember our QFRS WHS
principles: getting the basics right; having
the courage to lead; and having the
courage to challenge.
These words are call to action for all
QFRS staff to ensure their workplace
remains free from injury.
The Fit For Duty consultative group
has progressed with the implementation
of both Alcohol and Other Drugs and
Medical Disclosure standing orders and
procedures completed.
This will develop further with
discussions on medical assessments
planned as the next stage.
This strategy is another positive step
forward in building on our goal of zero
workplace health and safety injuries.
Helping our Victorian colleagues
en staff members from Emergency
Management Queensland (EMQ) were
deployed to Victoria to assist with relief
efforts following the widespread flooding
that affected the state in early September.
The Incident Management Specialists
went south following a request by the
Victorian SES, whose resources had been
stretched by the flooding emergency that
arose after several days of heavy rain in
the state’s north.
EMQ personnel Daryl Camp, Libby
Davis, Glenn Bell, Peter Ruddick, Chris
Artiemiew, Michelle French, Dave
Mazzaferri, Mark Kelly, Andrew Wyatt and
Will Gretton were deployed to Shepparton,
Wangaratta and Bendigo.
While there, they assisted the Victorian
SES with operations and planning tasks,
including the monitoring of levee banks
and forward planning for regions that were
yet to be affected by the floodwaters.
As Australia’s most disaster-prone
state, Queensland has extensive
experience in dealing with flooding.
These 10 personnel represent the
enormous combined experience within
EMQ for responding to flood events, and
we were very pleased to be able to help
and support our Victorian counterparts in
their time of need.
The deployment also gave EMQ staff
an invaluable opportunity to forge strong
working relationships with their Victorian
colleagues.
Lessons were learned and a great deal
of information was shared during the
deployment, and our personnel returned
home armed with a new understanding
of procedures and processes that could
be adopted and used to enhance EMQ’s
future emergency response operations.
The Victorian deployment was yet
another example of the camaraderie and
spirit that exists between emergency
services agencies throughout Australia.
Wherever disasters occur, emergency
services personnel are always willing
to lend a hand to their colleagues to
ensure the safety of people and help
communities get back on their feet.
My thanks go to the EMQ deployment
team members for the assistance they
provided to the Victorian SES, and for
the professionalism, dedication and
commitment they demonstrated.
I
R
T
David Melville APM
QAS Commissioner
Lee Johnson AFSM MIFireE
QFRS Commissioner
Bruce Grady
EMQ Acting Chief Officer
4
Central Queensland
Storm Heroes honoured
Volunteers from central Queensland were honoured for their
hard work in the wake of TC Ului and severe flooding when
the 2010 NRMA Insurance SES Storm Heroes Awards were
presented in late September.
S
ES stalwart Barry Denning received the
Individual Storm Heroes Award at a
dinner in Theodore attended by his family,
fellow SES volunteers, EMQ, QAS and
Queensland Police personnel as well as
Mayor John Hooper and councillors from
the Banana Shire Council.
The town of Theodore – population 470
– couldn’t be prouder of Barry, who was
recognised for his tireless efforts during
flooding in the area in March this year.
EMQ Rockhampton Area Director
Patrick Downing spoke about Barry’s
dedication to helping the community over
his 21 years as a SES volunteer.
‘Barry confided in me that he was a bit
embarrassed about the award. He was
unable to fulfil all of his duties, such as
flood boat and sandbag filling,’ he said.
‘I told him he was being presented
with the Storm Heroes award because of
his selfless service to the community of
Theodore throughout the floods early this
year and his unwavering support for the
SES and the general community.’
Barry graciously accepted his award,
saying that for every piece of praise or
appreciation given to SES members,
recognition should also go to their families.
NRMA Insurance representative Lee
McDougall said she was pleased the
award went to such a worthy recipient.
‘Barry’s reluctance to be named
as a hero only demonstrates just how
deserving he is of this award, she said.
The Storm Heroes Group Award went
to the Whitsunday Incident Management
Team of Mark Connors, Sue Connors,
Tony Hinschen, Andrew Sander, Sarah
Lethbridge, Helen Maynard-Turner,
Rebecca Yuskan and Jessica Yuskan for
their response to TC Ului, which struck
Airlie Beach in March.
Airlie Beach SES Group Leader Andrew
Sander also received the Individual Storm
Heroes runner-up award for his leadership
during the TC Ului response.
Whitsunday SES Controller Mark
Connors (pictured above, with NRMA
Insurance’s Sue Hawkins), said planning
had been key to their response.
‘We learned how devastating a cyclone
could be after TC Larry and used our
experience to improve our response.’
‘We knew it was important to coordinate with the council and other local
organisations and to set up points of
contact in more isolated areas.
‘We exist to help the community and
they appreciate what we do, so we worked
together – it was a true community
response.’
– Katie Hoy
Breathing new life into ambulance recruitment
Q
AS has amended its student
recruitment processes to focus more
on targeted recruitment in regional areas.
From 9 August, Student Paramedics
and Student Emergency Medical
Dispatchers (EMDs) will be recruited
through a campaign-based process rather
than the continuous recruitment system
that was previously in place.
QAS Operational Workforce Planning
and Recruitment Executive Manager
Tony Wain said the large number of
applications received in recent months
meant the service was no longer seeking
the same level of recruitment into the
Student Paramedic and Student EMD
programs as in the past.
‘The change in recruitment processes
will ensure that future recruitment of
Student Paramedics and Student EMDs
will focus on the more difficult to fill areas,
and ensure that the QAS maintains a
diverse workforce that reflects the broader
communities in which it operates.
‘Recruitment campaigns will target
potential applicants to work in nonmetropolitan regions and to encourage
applications from all sections of the
community.’
Tony said the amended process would
only affect Student Paramedics and
Student EMDs.
‘As before, qualified ambulance
officers and graduate paramedics will
still be recruited on a continuous basis,’
he said.
Any applications for the roles of
Student Paramedic and Student EMD
received prior to 9 August 2010 will
continue through the recruitment
process.
Recruitment campaign updates will
be detailed on the QAS website (www.
ambulance.qld.gov.au/recruitment)
along with updated information to reflect
the amended recruitment process.
5
Queensland Corrective Services performed strongly in the 2010 Minister’s Awards for Excellence in
Community Safety, winning awards in six of the seven available categories. The Minister’s Awards
for Excellence in Community Safety recognise and honour the creativity, innovation and dedication
of frontline and behind-the–scenes personnel from the Department of Community Safety.
I
n a ceremony at Parliament House on 19
August, the Minister for Police, Corrective
Services and Emergency Services, Neil
Roberts, awarded volunteers and staff
who demonstrated their commitment to
building a safer community through the
development of innovative campaigns
and initiatives.
Eight category winners for Excellence
in Community Safety and four highly
commended recipients were handed
awards under the Q2: Tomorrow’s
Queensland categories of Smart, Green,
Strong, Healthy and Fair.
Awards were also presented in
the Closing the Gap and ZEROHarm
categories.
Mr Roberts said the award winners
and nominees displayed the upmost
dedication, professionalism and resolve
to deliver the very best for Queenslanders.
‘They are the heroes of our community.
The roles they play on the frontline and
behind the scenes is something which
provides inspiration to us all,’ he said.
‘Whether it’s a firefighter conducting a
Safehome visit, an EMQ rescue crewman
winching an injured bushwalker to safety,
a paramedic reviving a patient or a
corrections officer contributing to prisoner
rehabilitation – all staff contribute greatly
to ensuring and enhancing community
safety in Queensland.
‘Nine of these Minister’s Awards have
also been submitted by the Department of
Community Safety for consideration in the
2010 Premier’s Awards for Excellence in
Public Sector Management,’ he said.
Mr Roberts also paid tribute to the
Queensland Police Credit Union, which
generously sponsored the awards for the
third consecutive year.
Strong
Smart
Fair
Winner: Brisbane Correctional Centre
(BCC) for their work in the commissioning
of the BCC Laundry Business Unit
A team of six BCC staff worked to
establish laundry operations for both the
Ipswich and Gold Coast general hospitals,
providing daily employment opportunities
for 72 offenders. The unit also provides a
linen service for all accommodation areas
within the centre and recycled 60-70 per
cent of all water used in their operations.
Winner: Lotus Glen Farm’s Inside Learning
for Outside Living Initiative
This initiative empowered offenders
to use skills gained in vocational training
in practical circumstances in work areas
on the farm. This has enabled greater
employment options when they return to
the community.
Winner: Darling Downs Correctional
Centre’s Offender Pathway Program
The team from this program worked
directly with offenders to ensure they were
adequately equipped to reach their parole
eligibility. Feedback from this program has
been extremely positive with encouraging
performance indicators.
Highly Commended: The Queensland Fire
and Rescue Service Volunteer Portal
This initiative has allowed the Rural
Fire Service to effectively communicate
with its 34 000 volunteers across the
state. The portal has ensured timely
distribution of information to the
volunteers across a range of interactive
mediums.
Highly Commended: Blackbutt SES
Group’s Stop, Revive and Survive Project
As a result of numerous road crashes
on the D’Aguilar Highway through the
Blackbutt Range, the Blackbutt SES
Group introduced a driver reviver stop on
weekends and public holidays to assist
with reducing accidents on the range.
SES crews have been based at the site to
enhance response capability in the area.
Highly Commended: Lotus Glen
Correctional Centre Carpenter Shop
Initiative
6
DCS innovation and
excellence recognised
by Minister’s Awards
Green
ZEROHarm
(Excellence in Safety Leadership)
Joint Winners: Borallon Correctional
Centre Recycling Project and the Arthur
Gorrie Correctional Centre Environmental
Management Strategy
The Borallon Correctional Centre
Recycling Project had a positive impact
on reinforcing a recycling mentality in
both staff and offenders. This project
involved the implementation of a recycling
program in which recycled cardboard,
plastic, aluminium cans and metals and
wood waste from the industries area
were re-used. A position of Sustainability
Coordinator was also established to ensure
the development and maintenance of all
sustainability programs in the centre.
Winner: The Queensland Ambulance
Service Situational Awareness for
Everyday Encounters (SAFE) Program
This course was created to be
immediately applied by paramedics
regardless of previous operational
experience, level of fitness or skill due to
its use of gross motor concepts and rapid
threat assessment strategy. Since March
2010, the course has delivered training to
660 frontline paramedics across the state.
The Arthur Gorrie Correctional
Centre Environmental Management
Strategy implemented green initiatives
for the support of staff, stakeholders
and the community. This program
provided ongoing support to a range of
stakeholders including the Brisbane City
Council and Habitat Brisbane in their
respective green projects. This assisted
in educating offenders by partnering with
Probation and Parole to provide labour
to plant seedlings in bushland near the
centre.
Winner: Borallon Correctional Centre
Catering Unit
A team of six from the catering
unit implemented major changes to
food services and production that
benefited offenders, streamlined waste
management and encouraged offender
involvement. The catering process at
the centre was redesigned to ensure all
offenders are fed nutritionally-balanced
meals and are encouraged to be
responsible for their own healthy meal
choices.
Healthy
Closing the Gap
Winner: The Minjerribah-Moorgumpin
Elders, for their work in association
with the Cleveland Probation and Parole
District Office
This partnership promoted and
facilitated reconciliation with Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander people
and their respective communities.
Elders have shared their insight and
experience into their culture with
people being supervised on reparation
orders since 2000, which has enhanced
understanding between groups. The
significant achievement of this project is
the continued development of the nature
trail and bush retreat on their lands.
Highly Commended: The QCS expansion
of program delivery into Far North
Indigenous communities
The QCS Probation and Parole Far
Northern Region Programs Team has
delivered 45 programs across the
region, and has been involved in several
initiatives that contribute to closing the
gap. The team has worked in conjunction
with other agencies to successfully deliver
programs targeting family violence, binge
drinking, substance abuse and general
offending.
7
Love
thy
neighbour
Q
ueenslanders were urged to look
out for each other over the coming
summer when DCS and NRMA Insurance
officially launched the 2010 Storm Season
at the New Farm Neighbourhood Centre on
21 September.
Police, Corrective Services and
Emergency Services Minister Neil
Roberts encouraged communities to get
connected, and stay connected, in order
to strengthen their abilities to respond to
those in need.
‘Whether it’s helping a stranger secure
their property before an event or offering
refuge to a neighbour during a severe
storm, I’ve seen and heard some great
examples of ways in which communities
look out for one another and help each
other through these unpredictable times,’
Mr Roberts said.
‘If residents are aware of vulnerable
persons living in their neighbourhood,
they can ensure their safety prior to a
severe weather event.
‘This type of safeguard leaves nothing
to chance and helps ensure the safety of
everyone in the community.’
Research carried out recently by
NRMA Insurance – the major supporter of
Queensland’s SES – showed more than
three-quarters of Queensland households
would be prepared to pitch in to help
their neighbourhood get ready for storm
season.
However, the survey also found that
only one household in five would be
willing to take the lead and organise a prestorm clean-up.
NRMA Insurance spokesperson Frank
Adler said there were practical and
social benefits to residents helping their
neighbourhoods become storm-ready.
‘We need to prepare our own
properties for storms but also help our
neighbours be ready.
‘Objects can become airborne missiles
in severe storms, so you may clean up
and prepare but still find your neighbour’s
debris damaging your property,’ he said.
Following the official proceedings,
launch attendees enjoyed a BBQ brunch
provided by the Salvation Army State
Emergency Services.
– Katie Hoy
Get Ready Guide
A
s part of the 2010 Storm Season
launch, Minister Neil Roberts
unveiled a storm planning tool that
EMQ hopes to see in every household in
Queensland.
The SES Get Ready Guide is a
comprehensive resource which details
how residents can best prepare
themselves for the storm season and
includes information on cyclones, floods
and tsunamis.
The guide is magnetised and
designed to stick on household fridges
so it’s easy to read and residents will
know where to locate it at all times.
The guide includes practical tips for
residents on how to prepare a household
8
emergency plan, how to prepare
emergency and evacuation kits, how to
prepare your home and how to tune into
warnings.
It also contains key emergency contact
information for relevant government and
industry agencies.
There’s space for residents to fill in
additional numbers they might need to
access quickly in the event of a severe
weather event, and a section for families
to develop and fill in their own household
emergency plan.
The SES Get Ready Guide is available
online at www.emergency.qld.gov.au/
emq/css/publications.asp, or contact
your local SES Group for a hard copy.
From left: EMQ Acting Chief Officer Bruce Grady,
Minister Neil Roberts and NRMA Insurance’s Frank
Adler with the new SES Get Ready Guide
Sean goes for gold
O
n any given Thursday night, when
most teenagers are socialising at their
local shopping centre or glued to their
computers, Sean O’Dea can be found
putting his mind and muscles to the test
at a weekly Emergency Services Cadets
training session.
Sean, 18, joined the Emergency
Services Cadets five years ago following
a suggestion from one of his school
teachers, who was also a member of the
SES.
The Emergency Services Cadet
program provides young people with the
opportunity to develop life, leadership
and teamwork skills, while giving them
training that is transferable to emergency
services agencies such as the SES, QFRS
and QAS.
About 680 young Queenslanders are
Emergency Services Cadets, and their
experiences and training in the program
help to foster self-confidence, initiative
and a sense of place in their communities.
Sean said being an Emergency
Services Cadet has enabled him to make
some friends and gain valuable skills,
which he can apply to everyday life.
‘I have learned how to rescue people,
leadership and radio transmitting skills
and first aid,’ he said.
Sean’s dedication and commitment
to his training paid off on 1 August when
he travelled with his family to Parliament
House in Brisbane to receive a Duke of
Edinburgh Gold Award.
The Duke of Edinburgh Award program
has been running for more than 50 years
and now reaches young people in more
than 130 countries.
The awards provide an opportunity
for young people aged between 14
and 25 to participate in a range of
youth development and leadership
opportunities. These include skills
development, volunteering, adventurous
journeys and physical recreation
components.
Sean’s Emergency Services Cadets
participation ensured that the awards’
community service criteria were fulfilled,
while taking up karate allowed him to
satisfy the physical activity requirements.
Putting his mind to the test and
gaining a TAFE certificate in Geographical
Information Systems took care of the skill
component, before Sean completed the
adventurous journey with a four-day hike
across Hinchinbrook Island.
Sean’s final requirement for the Gold
Award was the residential project, which
involved being put through his paces at
an Emergency Services Cadet camp at
Mount Carbine.
‘I was pretty happy to get the award,’
Sean said. ‘It made everything I’d done in
the past 12 months really worthwhile.’
The Duke of Edinburgh Awards program
is administered by the Department of
Communities and a further 12 Emergency
Services Cadets have registered with the
program to try for a Bronze, Silver or Gold
Can you help?
Award due to the fact that many of the
activities can be cross-accredited.
Meanwhile, Sean plans to continue
and strengthen his association with the
emergency services.
‘The cadets are really good. Hopefully
I’ll join up with the SES in the future and
continue helping out and learning.’
For more information about the Duke
of Edinburgh Awards program, visit www.
communityservices.qld.gov.au/youth/
awards
– Madelene Flanagan
T
he Emergency Services Cadets program
is always looking for more adult
leaders, especially from an ambulance or
fire background, willing to volunteer their
time and pass on their skills.
Emergency Services Cadets is a wholeof-Department program with a focus on
youth development that teaches essential
life skills and provides training that
relates to the SES, QAS and QFRS.
The purpose of the program is to
introduce Queensland’s young people to
different forms of emergency servicesrelated training with the aim of better
equipping them for community life.
The program is supported by EMQ,
QFRS and QAS and each Cadet Group is
supported by EMQ Regional Staff. To find
out more about the Emergency Services
Cadet Program, visit www.emergency.qld.
gov.au/cadets or contact your nearest
EMQ Regional Youth Development Officer.
9
USAR flies high
Seventy-two members of the Queensland Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Taskforce took to the
skies in a Royal Australian Air Force C-17 Globemaster on 22 September as part of an exercise
designed to test the squad’s readiness to respond to a major disaster.
C
oming almost a year after the USAR
taskforce engaged in simultaneous
deployments to assist in rescue efforts
following the Samoan tsunami and
Sumatran earthquake, the exercise was
based on the scenario of a 7.2-magnitude
earthquake in the Canterbury region of
New Zealand.
The Queensland USAR Taskforce
is sponsored by QFRS and is a United
Nations-accredited ‘Heavy’ taskforce
trained to search for and rescue people
following building collapses, earthquakes
and other major disaster events.
With the taskforce scheduled to begin
its next stand-by rotation to respond to
disasters in Australia and the Asia-Pacific
region in October, the exercise provided
10
an ideal opportunity to practice a full
heavy configuration deployment.
The exercise began with the
mobilisation of the USAR Taskforce
members and their 16-tonne equipment
and supplies cache from the Special
Operations Command headquarters at
Cannon Hill.
Taskforce members and the cache
were then transported to RAAF Base
Amberley, where they were loaded on to
the C-17 for a short flight to the Sunshine
Coast and back, before unloading and
demobilisation commenced.
The Technical Rescue Unit initiated and
managed the exercise. Technical Rescue
Project Officer SO Chris Daniel said the
taskforce was a multi-agency group
made up mostly of USAR-trained QFRS
firefighters.
‘We also have six QAS paramedics,
two SES members, two doctors and two
engineers, as well as four canine handlers
with dogs trained to find live victims in
collapsed buildings.
‘The cache contains our technical
rescue equipment, Flexible Habitat
Capability equipment and enough
supplies to enable us to be self-sufficient
for 10 days.’
Chris said the exercise was initiated
to build on the lessons learned from the
Samoan and Sumatran engagements in
2009, and as a final test of the taskforce’s
ability to rapidly deploy on the C-17
aircraft.
Fast Facts >> C-17 Globemaster
“An exercise like this is critical
as it helps us define and refine
our operational procedures and
our arrangements with the RAAF.”
The RAAF has four Boeing C-17
Globemaster heavy transport
aircraft, operated by 36 Squadron
from RAAF Base Amberley.
With three times the
carrying capacity of the C-130
Hercules, the C-17 allows the RAAF
to rapidly deploy troops, combat
vehicles, heavy equipment and
helicopters anywhere in the world.
The C-17 is large enough to
transport the M1A1 Abrams tank,
Black Hawk , Seahawk or Chinook
helicopters, three Tiger armed
reconnaissance helicopters or five
Bushmaster infantry vehicles.
Manufacturer >> Boeing
Crew >> Two pilots and a loadmaster
Engines >> Four Pratt and Whitney F117-PW-100
turbofans (40 440lbs thrust each)
Length >> 53m
Height >> 16.8m
Wingspan >> 51.7m
Weight >> 72 500kg payload
Speed >> 800km/h (cruising speed)
Range >> 4500km
‘An exercise like this is critical as it
helps us define and refine our operational
procedures and our arrangements with
the RAAF.
‘It’s also an excellent chance to get
the team together and give them further
experience of the mobilisation set-up. The
only difference between this exercise and
the real thing is that today they had plenty
of notice.
QFRS Technical Rescue Manager
Inspector Steve Smith said the taskforce
mobilisation process and the relationship
with the RAAF had been built up over time
by the hard work of a dedicated team of
people.
‘This exercise was the culmination of
that work and a real opportunity to test
(Source: www.airforce.gov.au)
our plans and arrangements in a real-time
environment.
‘The exercise ran very well with our
processes being validated, our working
partnership with RAAF strengthened and
our USAR Taskforce further exposed to the
requirements of rapid deployment.
‘This sort of pre-incident planning
places the taskforce in a very good
position to rise to any challenge that it
may be tasked with,’ Steve said.
‘My thanks and congratulations to
everyone involved, with a particular
thanks to the personnel of the Air
Movements Section and 36 Squadron at
Amberley Air Force Base and Headquarters
Air Command.’
– Story & photos by Peter Callaghan
11
A week to celebrate and
P
Paramedic of the Year Bernadette Carnes with QAS
Deputy Commissioner Russell Bowles (left) and
Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Services
Betty Kiernan (photo by Anthony Scarsi)
Young Hero of the Year Grace Spinks (centre)
celebrated her award with her family
aramedics and staff who work behind
the scenes to ensure the safety
and protection of Queenslanders were
recognised during Ambulance Week
celebrations from 6-12 September.
A selection of frontline personnel,
volunteers, triple zero call-takers and
young heroes were labelled the best
in Queensland at Star Care Award
ceremonies, while ambulance stations
threw their doors open and invited the
community to see the ins and outs of how
the service operates.
Colleagues also paused to remember
fallen officers at memorial services in
Gladstone, Mt Isa, Townsville, Cairns, and
Brisbane.
said the week was a time to stop and
think about the tremendous contribution
ambulance officers and staff make to their
communities and award those who had
exceeded their duties.
‘There are more than 3100 highlytrained paramedics working across the
state who respond to about 750 000
incidents every year, which equates to
about one response every 42 seconds,’ Mr
Melville said.
‘Officers can find themselves
in situations which other medical
professionals may never encounter, from
comforting an elderly woman whose
husband has just passed from a cardiac
arrest in their family home to stabilising a
patient severely trapped in the wreckage
of a motor vehicle.
‘All of these incidents are handled with
confidence and bravery, and demonstrate
the utmost clinical standards.’
Mr Melville said he was delighted to
award the Commissioner’s State Star Care
awards to recipients from as far north as
Cairns and as far south as Runaway Bay.
In Central Queensland, six-year-old
Grace Spinks of Biloela was announced as
the state’s Young Hero of the Year after her
quick thinking and extraordinary bravery
saved the lives of her mother, sister and
little brother after their car veered off the
road and down a 15m embankment on the
Bruce Highway at Miriam Vale in June.
‘Grace assured her mum she would get
help, grabbed her two-year-old brother
who had a fractured femur, carried him
up the embankment and signalled a truck
driver over for help.
‘When emergency help arrived Grace
led them to the crash scene and relayed
all her details to the paramedics,’ Mr
Melville said.
In the state’s north Karen Beattie of
Cairns was named Emergency Medical
Dispatcher (EMD) of the Year, while
Paramedic Bernadette Carnes, based at
South Townsville Station, took out the title
of Paramedic of the Year.
‘Karen is the calming voice people can
rely on in an emergency situation.
‘She has a unique ability to calm
and direct an anxious caller, relay vital
lifesaving advice and also has the
patience to mentor and guide fellow
colleagues, making her a worthy recipient
of the EMD of the Year award.
‘After 15 years of service as both an
Advanced Care Paramedic and Peer
Support Officer, Bernadette shows the
same professionalism, passion and
dedication for her job as she did on her
first day on road,’ Mr Melville said.
‘Her performance ensures ambulance
services across North Queensland remain
at the highest standard.’
Wendy Lowes received her Support Officer
of the Year award from Minister Neil Roberts
and QAS Commissioner David Melville
(photo by Johanna H Studios)
William Wood from Jandowae was
named LAC Achiever of the Year
Karen Beattie of Cairns was
recognised as the EMD of the Year
Runaway Bay Ambulance Station
received the award for Station of the Year
(photo by Main Street Studio)
12
remember our Ambos
Volunteers from south-western
Queensland and the South Burnett were
also among the State recipients.
William (Bill) Wood of Jandowae was
awarded the Local Ambulance Committee
State Achiever of the Year, while Philippa
Ann Mayson of Yarraman First Responder
Group was named the state’s Honorary
Ambulance Officer of the Year.
In Brisbane, Brendan Maher of Nathan
Ambulance Station took out the State
Patient Transport Officer of the Year award
for always putting his patients first and
thinking outside the square.
Wendy Lowes was named the Support
Officer of the Year for ensuring the
smooth operation and human resource
management of the Brisbane Region.
Finally, in the south-east, Runaway
Bay was named the Ambulance Station
of the Year for the support it provides to
student paramedics and for delivering a
remarkable level of service to the local
community despite ongoing population
growth in the area.
Each of the State award recipients also
won the same category in their respective
region’s awards.
– Helen Ainsworth
Photo by Johanna H Studios
A time to reflect and honour fallen officers
‘We will remember them for their passion, commitment and unswerving call to
help others each and every day. They served with bravery, integrity, diligence,
professionalism and will never be forgotten….’
Q
AS Commissioner David Melville
shared these moving words at a
memorial service led by QAS Chaplain
Neale Proellocks and Parish Priest
Father Dave Austin at St James Church in
Coorparoo on Friday 10 September.
Ambulance personnel both serving
and retired, volunteers, dignitaries, and
families and friends of fallen officers
gathered as 32 candles were lit to
represent each brave officer who has lost
their life in the line of duty.
The procession of the colour party and
QAS piper Brian May of Brisbane set the
tone for the occasion and the remarkable
sound of vocalist Milica Ilic and words
shared by guest speakers and dignitaries
reminded people of the lives and
contributions made by some truly amazing
and dedicated people.
Mr Melville said the loss of an
officer was a shock to the service and
community and recognised the bravery
and determination paramedics take
to the frontline to serve the people of
Queensland.
‘These officers are esteemed
colleagues and mentors; they are a
mother, a father or perhaps a friend and
today we reminisce collectively with
anecdotes and stories which serve to
remind us of how special they all were
to so many people in so many ways,’ he
said.
‘We are privileged to honour these
officers whose legacy now lies safely with
the current generation of paramedics,
patient transport officers, emergency
medical dispatchers and volunteers.’
- Helen Ainsworth
13
All change for Bryan Evans Memorial Lecture
C
hange and the future were the hot
issues at the second annual Bryan
Evans Memorial Lecture held on 5 August
in the Kedron Park Complex auditorium.
The lecture is held in honour of Bryan
Evans, a respected DCS staff member who
commenced with the Department in 1996.
This year’s topic was ‘Change: A
Vision for the Future’ and the format
was modelled on ABC show Q&A, with a
moderator, a panel of speakers and a high
level of audience interaction.
I was asked by event organiser, QAS
Senior Project Officer Ian McCulloch, to
join the panel as the Gen Y representative,
along with the following speakers:
Michael Thomas – a QPSU representative
discussing the role of the union in the
workplace;
Yolande Yorke – Policy and Legislative
Reform Branch Executive Director, offering
a forward-thinking management view on
the workplace of the future;
Paul Scully – QAS Staff Support
Coordinator, with a humanistic perspective;
Andrea Hall – providing a young mum’s
approach to balancing family and career,
and;
Chris Fisher - the panel’s IT futurist.
Journalist David Margan performed
the role of MC with great skill and
humour, expertly provoking the panel and
audience without allowing us to stray too
far from the forum’s theme.
We debated a variety of topics
including the quest for work-life balance,
the need for flexibility, how best to
manage ever advancing technologies, and
the role of the union in 2010 and beyond.
There were some fascinating
conversations about where changing
technologies are leading us, and Chris
Fisher made some very interesting
remarks about the death of the 9-5
workplace and what it means for
managers.
Having only been with DCS for about
six months, I was pleased to have had the
opportunity to participate in the forum
and have my voice heard among a crosssection of my colleagues.
It was particularly special to do so
in honour of Bryan Evans, and in the
presence of Yvonne Evans, who said on
the day that it had been a fitting event to
honour her husband’s memory.
– Katie Hoy
New green focus for DCS
D
CS has sharpened its focus on
environmental sustainability with the
appointment of Jayne Rice (pictured left)
as the Department’s new Environmental
Coordinator.
Jayne has been tasked with
spearheading efforts to minimise the
Department’s impact on the environment
and meet the challenge of reducing climate
change.
Both the State and Federal
Governments have released policies
designed to reduce carbon emissions,
energy consumption and water use which
directly affect DCS planning and its day-today operations.
Jayne said it is her role to contribute to
environmental management practices to
ensure DCS is compliant with these policies
and any relevant legislation.
‘Our main priority at the moment is
the development of a DCS Environmental
Policy, which will focus on four key areas:
carbon emissions, energy, water, and
waste management,’ Jayne said.
‘The Environmental Policy will provide
the future direction by setting out how DCS
intends to manage its social and legislative
responsibilities towards the environment,
14
and laying a foundation for the improved
management of our facilities.
‘For each key component, a strategic
management plan is being developed
to ensure compliance with existing
government policy.’
Jayne said one of the key components of
her role will be to show DCS staff how they
can contribute directly to the Department’s
environmental management practices.
‘Many people are environmentally
aware at home, through measures such
as recycling, water tanks and fitting lowvoltage lighting, and it’s important we give
DCS staff an understanding of how they can
make a difference in the workplace too.
‘For example, the simple act of turning
off your computer screen when you leave
the office reduces energy consumption and
emissions.’
‘The money saved by lowering
emissions and consumption of energy
and water could then be spent on more
equipment or resources, which benefits
individuals and branches by enabling them
to do their jobs more efficiently,’ Jayne
said.
‘Saving energy doesn’t use energy – it’s
easy to do.’
ICS apprentices support technology infrastructure
From left: Apprentice Communications Technicians Ashley Edwards, Josh Wicks and Nick Wilkinson with
QFRS Commissioner Lee Johnson and QAS Commissioner David Melville
I
ncreased support, performance and
availability are top priorities for the
latest members of the Information
and Communications Systems (ICS)
Technician Apprenticeship program.
In July 2010 Ashley Edwards, Josh
Wicks and Nick Wilkinson were selected
from more than 60 quality applicants to
be trained in technologies associated
with the Department’s emergency triple
zero call-taking and dispatch systems.
Under the guidance of skilled ICS
staff the young men will receive specific
training in alarm telemetry systems,
radio and mobile data networks and
infrastructure, paging equipment,
station turnout systems, the triple zero
telephone service, and communications
centre voice-logging and recording
equipment.
A major milestones for the apprentices
will be participating in the ICT equipment
installation, commissioning, and support
programs for the Department’s new
state-of-the-art Queensland Emergency
Operations Centre.
Ashley Edwards said he was drawn
to the apprenticeship opportunity by his
keen interest in the functionality and
capability of radios.
‘The job definitely offers a lot of
versatility and I hope to one day become
a fully qualified radio tech with the
Department.
‘Ultimately I am looking forward to the
chance to help others with the skills and
knowledge I gain through this training,’
Ashley said.
The apprenticeship is a four-year
program comprised of formal tertiary
qualifications and on the job training.
Upon completion of the program,
Ashley, Josh and Nick will receive
a Certificate III in Electronics and
Communications and will qualify to apply
for Senior Communications Technician
positions in the Department.
Systems Support Services Manager
Garry Kerr will be one of the apprentices’
mentors.
‘The growth in emergency
communications infrastructure has been
enormous over recent years,’ Gary said.
‘This program will ensure we are
delivering the highest quality support
capacity to the critical ICT services of the
Department.’
Ashley, Josh and Nick are the first
Apprentice Communications Technicians
to be employed by DCS since Todd
Eggleton was recruited by the then
Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade
in 1987.
Todd stayed with the Department and
is now a Regional Communications Officer
for EMQ.
A further two apprentices will be
recruited in July 2011.
– Nicole Smith
QFRS scoops AFAC innovation award
Q
FRS received the Motorola Knowledge
Innovation Agency Award at the joint
conference of the Australasian Fire and
Emergency Service Authorities Council
(AFAC) and the Bushfire Cooperative
Research Council (CRC) earlier this month.
More than 900 fire managers and
researchers gathered for the annual
conference held in Darwin from 8-10
September.
The AFAC and Bushfire CRC awards
recognise outstanding endeavours in the
fire and emergency services sector.
The Knowledge Innovation Award was
presented in recognition of the QFRS
Knowledge Management Unit’s efforts to
enhance the service’s growing knowledge
management culture.
QFRS’s winning initiative is the
Knowledge Management Framework and
the Knowledge Management Model, which
were formed in response to a recognised
need for improvement in knowledge
management.
QFRS Operations and Business
From left: Sharon Hadlow, Superintendent Noel Harbottle, Ross Theis, Madonna Day, Sarah Rooke, Bruce
Budge and Lauren Jenkinson from the QFRS Knowledge Management Unit with their AFAC award
Strategy Executive Director Russell
Neuendorf said the award recognised
the Knowledge Management Unit’s
demonstrated commitment to ensuring
knowledge management is an accepted
and valued management practice.
‘It’s a smart initiative and it’s great to
see it get recognised,’ he said.
The award consisted of a perpetual
trophy to be displayed in the AFAC office
and an agency trophy which will be
displayed at the Kedron Park Complex.
15
Frank Pagano
bids farewell
After a career in the
emergency services that has
spanned 35 years, retiring
Emergency Management
Queensland Chief Officer
Frank Pagano called it a
day on 17 September.
Frank joined EMQ’s predecessor, Counter Disaster and Rescue
Services (CDRS), as Executive Director in 2005, and led the
division during a period of unprecedented natural disasters in
Queensland.
Prior to his appointment to CDRS/EMQ, Frank served for three
decades with the QFRS, beginning as a firefighter in Mount Isa
in 1975 and concluding as Deputy Commissioner.
Along the way he has collected numerous awards and accolades
including the Australian Fire Service Medal, the Emergency
Services Medal and an Australia Day Achievement Award.
E
mergency caught up with Frank before
his retirement to take a look back
over an outstanding career and gauge
his thoughts on the future of emergency
management in Queensland. Thirty years
in the fire service and a variety of postings
meant Frank was accustomed to moving
around, but his biggest career shift was
set in motion when he was on leave.
‘We (Frank and his wife Debbie) went
on holidays to Europe in 2005 and while
I was away Alan Brunner, the Executive
Director of CDRS, left,’ Frank explained.
16
‘At the time the then Director-General,
Michael Kinnane, asked me to act in that
position over at CDRS – and you never say
no to the D-G.’
Upon starting Frank was asked
to undertake a review of CDRS. His
recommendations were accepted and he
was formally appointed to the position of
Executive Director in November 2005.
‘Up until then I didn’t have an interest
in that side of the business. CDRS was this
quirky little division that nobody knew
much about.
‘It was a quiet place – until I arrived.
At the time I was appointed to CDRS
(which became EMQ in April 2006) I said I
needed a year to bed the place down.
‘We didn’t get a year – we got until
March 2006 when all hell broke loose with
Tropical Cyclone Larry.
‘That was the beginning, and it was
followed up by TC Monica, then by floods
and it’s been non-stop ever since.’
Natural disasters like floods and
cyclones weren’t the only challenges
Frank was forced to deal with as the head
of EMQ. He said the division’s small size
– about 200 permanent staff back then
– took some getting used to after many
years in the large QFRS family.
‘Then there was the diversity of the
division. Even though there are a lot of
components and factors associated with
the fire service, basically it deals with fire
or special operations.
‘In EMQ at the time, we were
responsible for disaster management,
the SES, the VMR and Helicopter Rescue.
It was this little division with all of these
disparate businesses that really had
nothing much to do with each other, and
getting my head around all of that was a
challenge,’ he said.
Another major challenge was
the increased attention on disaster
management operations in the wake of
the 9/11 terrorist attacks and Hurricane
Katrina in the USA and the Boxing Day
tsunami in 2005.
‘I think the defining moments were
Hurricane Katrina and 9/11 when the
media were on the spot,’ Frank said.
‘All of a sudden we went from
emergency services being partially
immune to any form of scrutiny to being
totally scrutinised – and not only being
scrutinised after the event, but during the
event.
‘Things happened much quicker and
the need to do things instantaneously to
resolve people’s hurt and suffering was
uppermost on the agenda, and that was
pretty daunting stuff.’
‘The compression of timeframes from
responding to what’s happened and
getting information on what’s happened is
also becoming a really big challenge.’
Frank believes the increased pressure
on agencies like EMQ to deliver immediate
and relevant information to decisionmakers and government representatives
while still responding effectively to
disaster events will eventually lead to a
need for new resources on the frontline.
‘Where we have been very focused on
response, there’s no doubt we have to
continue with that, but we’ve also got to
fill a supplementary role,’ he said.
‘I think we’re almost at the stage
where we need to put other people on
the ground to provide instantaneous
information – they’re like trained
observers or roving reporters whose
only commission is to work across the
divisions and be the eagle eyes that tell us
exactly what’s going on.’
‘I certainly believe we should also
monitor social networking sites like Twitter
and Facebook and over a period of time
we’ll build up a bank of reliable sources.
‘If we’re clever, we’ll recruit the public
and they’ll become our eyes and ears, and
we’ll actually know by use who and where
the reliable resources are.’
Frank said he is immensely proud of
the efforts of EMQ staff and volunteers
over the last five years – not only in
preparing and responding to disaster
events, but in working tirelessly to
improve the division’s efficiency and
community reach.
‘There have been some massive
changes: we changed the helicopter fleet;
we became more involved with local
government; we set a path for the SES so
it was one organisation.
‘The boss can’t do anything but set the
path and inspire the staff to follow, and
they did. What EMQ staff have done in the
last five years has been quite amazing.
‘Clearly they believed in where we
were going and what they were doing,
“I’m just an ordinary
bloke who has had
some extraordinary
opportunities
and worked with
wonderful people.”
otherwise they wouldn’t have been able to
achieve what they did.
‘An enormous amount of work has also
been done in creating and maintaining
relationships with other organisations. We
knew we were doing it right when CEOs
would ask for our advice, or would say ‘we
want EMQ to do this’.
‘I’m very proud of the achievements of
the division, because if anything marks
the last five years, it’s been that our
operational activities swing for longer.
‘We’ve had storm season coming in
September and finishing up on the tail
of floods in Brisbane in June. It’s been
unpredictable and people have put in
monster efforts and huge amounts of
hours and dedication.
‘And we certainly couldn’t carry
out our role without the support of the
Department because it’s through the QAS
and QFRS and the public service agencies
where we get the assistance to make
things happen,’ he said.
For all the broad-brush organisational
changes, Frank said there have been many
operational instances in which EMQ and
its staff and volunteers have risen to the
challenge, no matter how unusual.
The coordination and deployment
of flood barriers to Charleville within 24
hours in 2008 is one highlight, as is the
organisation of a potable water plant for
flood-stricken Karumba in 2009.
‘One that stands out in my mind during
TC Larry was the request for portable
milking machines,’ Frank said.
‘We got those in south-west
Queensland and flew them in to the
Tablelands through Amberley because the
cows were getting mastitis and had to be
milked, and there was no power.’
Looking back on his 35 years with the
emergency services, Frank said his only
regret is the amount of time he spent away
from his family.
‘Retirement for me means doing all the
things I want to do: spending more time
with my family, reading for enjoyment,
going on holidays, cooking and gardening.
‘At the time, I’ve thought every job I
had was the best job on the planet. What
drove me personally was that I saw or felt
that things could be done, and if I could
get myself in a position to do them, then
that was a good challenge.
‘I’m just an ordinary bloke who has
had some extraordinary opportunities and
worked with wonderful people.’
‘As I have often said: our job is simple,
but our environment is complex.
‘I know it’s a well-worn cliché to
support the people at the frontline.
But truly, if every decision is based on
the question ‘will this make a positive
difference on the ground?’, then it
becomes very easy.’
17
COMPLIMENT
or
COMPLAINT?
DCS is all ears for public feedback
D
CS is launching a campaign to
promote the agency’s feedback and
complaints management system.
The new Compliment or Complaint?
We’d like to hear it campaign will make it
easier for the public to give feedback to
DCS about its services.
DCS Director-General Jim McGowan
said the improvement of departmental
feedback management processes is
important because feedback, both good
and bad, represents an opportunity for
continual business improvement.
‘We are guided by a whole-ofDepartment policy in relation to receiving
and resolving complaints.
‘I want to ensure, however, that
our system is visible, accessible and
responsive,’ he said.
‘Improving the way we receive,
track and resolve complaints about our
services is important because an effective
complaints management system provides
an opportunity for DCS to identify areas for
improvement, to address the concerns of
the public and to enhance our reputation
as a transparent and accountable agency.’
The Compliment or Complaint?
We’d like to hear it campaign is a new
approach to feedback management
for DCS, providing a greater focus on
positive feedback.
Mr McGowan said this new approach
was influenced by the positive
comments currently received by DCS,
praising the work of staff and volunteers.
‘Our frontline officers do tremendous
work in difficult and stressful situations,
be it emergency response, care or
support and this can mean a great deal
to the people who need our help,’ Mr
McGowan said.
‘We would like to give the public
an easier way to say thanks and
acknowledge these efforts.
‘This will allow us to recognise
the outstanding work of our staff and
volunteers,’ he said.
The Information Rights Unit receives
complaints and feedback and works
with the divisions to ensure issues are
resolved within designated timeframes,
and that positive feedback is passed on
to individual officers.
Be a leader
in health
management
We’d like to he
a
r it
Would you like
to
thank a param
edic,
a firefighter, a
corrective
services officer
, an emergenc
y
service worke
r or a SES volunt
eer?
Tell
us about it so
that we can recog
nise our heroes.
Or are you unsa
tisfied with some
aspect of our servi
Tell us so we can
ce?
do better.
Send a complimen
t or complete
our online comp
form on our webs
laint
ite www.communi
tysafety.qld.go
v.au
Department of
Com
munity Safety
Or write to us:
Compliments
or Complaints
Information Righ
ts Unit
Department of
Community Safe
ty
GPO Box 1054
Brisbane 4001
Email: feedback@
dcs.q
ld.gov.au
Information Rights Unit Director
Samay Zhouhand said DCS is moving
towards implementing a single complaints
management system.
‘Ultimately we will have a process in
place where complaints are registered and
tracked in a single database,’ he said.
A Complaints Management
Improvement Committee, made up of
divisional representatives, has been
established to steer the Department
towards the integrated system.
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18
Spotlight on volunteers during SES Week
W
ork done by volunteers during times
of emergency such as the Charleville
floods will be highlighted during the 2010
National State Emergency Services Week.
Emergency Management Queensland
Acting Chief Officer Bruce Grady said
Queensland volunteers will be honoured
at a series of regional award ceremonies
to be held during the week, which will run
from 6-14 November.
‘SES volunteers have responded
magnificently to a number of events over
the past year,’ he said.
‘They answered the call in the wake
of Tropical Cyclone Ului’s impact on the
Whitsundays, the massive flooding in the
state’s south-west in March, February’s
heavy rain event and flooding in the
south-east and numerous searches for
missing people.
‘We can be proud of the diligent
work SES crews have done in all sorts
of situations and SES Week gives us the
chance to acknowledge their efforts.’
SES Week celebrations will be
launched in conjunction with EMQ’s South
Western Region’s awards ceremony in
Roma on Saturday 6 November.
Regional award ceremonies honouring
the Member of the Year, Unit or Group
of the Year and the Regional Operation
Response of the Year will be held across
Queensland during the week.
Meritorious Service medals and up
to 10 SES Week certificates may also be
presented at regional award ceremonies.
The SES Week 2010 State Awards will
be presented during a ceremony at the
Emergency Services Complex at Kedron on
Sunday 14 November.
The awards include the Minister’s
Cup for the Queensland SES Member of
the Year, the Director-General’s Cup for
the Queensland SES Unit or Group of the
Year and the Chief Officer’s Shield for the
Queensland SES Operational Response of
the Year.
A Celebratory Service to thank
volunteers for their commitment to
Queenslanders will also be held at Kedron
on 14 November.
SES volunteers will be encouraged
to wear their uniforms to work or
other activities they are involved in on
Wednesday 10 November for Wear Orange
to Work Day.
The day will give members recognition
of their efforts from their peers and
increase public awareness of the SES.
DCS staff, local councillors and the
public are encouraged to wear orange
on the day to show their support for SES
volunteers.
Individual SES groups will also
conduct events such as open days,
demonstrations and community displays.
Details of all SES Week events are
available from EMQ regional offices or
online at the SES Volunteer Portal.
– Brad Muir
QFRS remembers fallen
colleagues around the state
Q
FRS paid tribute to firefighters who
have lost their lives in the line of duty
at commemorative services around the
state on October 10.
Flags flew at half-mast at fire stations
across Queensland and firefighters
paused for a minute’s silence to
remember their fallen colleagues.
‘Firefighters worldwide regard
themselves as being part of a family and
the death of any firefighter affects crews
very deeply,’ QFRS Commissioner Lee
Johnson said.
‘The firefighting family considers it
particularly important that we take the
time to remember the contributions of
the fallen and honour their commitment
to saving the lives and property of others
each year.’
This year, sadly, QFRS added another
firefighter to the honour roll. Volunteer
firefighter Kortney Watts passed away in
September after collapsing at a hazard
reduction burn.
He will be sadly missed by his family
and the volunteers of the Toremeo Rural
Fire Brigade.
Kortney was the 48th Queensland
firefighter to be added to the honour roll
since 1877.
Mr Johnson said the services were
also an opportunity to remember retired
firefighters who had passed in the
previous year.
19
Thousands of Indigenous jobseekers
flock to FOGS expo
R
ecruitment representatives from the
QAS, QFRS and Queensland Corrective
Services participated in the largest ever
Former Origin Greats (FOGS) Indigenous
Employment and Careers Expo at Suncorp
Stadium on 15 September.
QAS HR Consultant Tina Tucker said
more than 3500 Indigenous jobseekers
attended the event.
‘The expo was an ideal opportunity
for us to connect with Indigenous job
seekers,’ Tina said.
‘The extra bonus for those who
attended was that they got to meet a host
of former State of Origin heroes.’
Tina said support from players such as
Wally Lewis, Steve Walters, Gene Miles,
Gary Belcher, Sam Backo and Kerrod
Walters added extra star power to the
event.
‘Former Origin players have shown a
strong commitment to seeing Indigenous
Australians fulfil their potential through
bridging the education and employment
gap between Indigenous and nonIndigenous Australians.’
More than 1000 employment and
training opportunities were on offer at the
expo, and DCS representatives reported
receiving an enormous amount of positive
interest in their operational roles.
‘Along with the other divisions, QAS
is committed to increasing the number
Former Origin Great Wally ‘The King’ Lewis and Acting QAS HR
Consultant Tina Tucker at the FOGS Indigenous Careers Expo
of Indigenous appointments to our
operational roles,’ Tina said.
‘As such, our participation in initiatives
such as the FOGS Expo is instrumental in
us achieving this.’
The expos also provide an opportunity
to showcase volunteer roles across QFRS,
QAS and EMQ, particularly in the rural and
remote areas where volunteer roles can be
a stepping stone to a new career.
The 2010 FOGS Indigenous Employment
and Careers Expos have been held on the
Gold Coast and in Cairns, Rockhampton,
Mount Isa, Mackay and Brisbane.
In total, the FOGS expos have
attracted more than 10 000 Indigenous
Queenslanders.
DCS is a Bronze Sponsor of the FOGs
Indigenous Employment and Careers Expos
for 2010 and 2011.
EMQ aids Victorian flood response
A
contingent of EMQ staff were deployed
to Victoria to assist with response
efforts in the wake of the severe flooding
that affected the state in early September.
The 10-member incident management
team from across Queensland headed
south on 6 September following a request
from the Victorian SES.
Daryl Camp, Libby Davis, Glenn
Bell, Peter Ruddick, Chris Artiemiew,
Michelle French, Dave Mazzaferri, Mark
Kelly, Andrew Watt and Will Gretton were
deployed to coordination centres in
Shepparton, Wangaratta and Bendigo.
20
EMQ Far Northern Region Area Director
– West, Daryl Camp, was stationed in the
Shepparton Incident Coordination Centre.
‘I worked with the Victorian SES in the
planning section, assisting with situation
reports and incident action plans.’
Daryl said the flooding was very
different to what he was used to in Far
Northern Queensland.
‘We have a lot of flash floods and
things can happen quickly, but in Victoria
the situation was more predictable.
‘The Victorian response effort was very
pro-active and well planned.
‘They have a really good idea of how
far the rivers will rise given a certain
amount of rainfall, and they held regular
community meetings to inform the public
downstream how high the floods would
be and what infrastructure would be
affected,’ Daryl said.
EMQ Brisbane Area Director Dave
Mazzaferri was deployed to the
Wangaratta ICC for five days.
‘It was good to be able to lend a hand
and gain some experience in preparation
for our further responses.’
(Photograph courtesy of Victorian SES)
Emergency October 2010www.communitysafety.qld.gov.au
Monto makes it a
‘three-peat’ at
State Championships
F
irefighters from Monto and Marburg will
represent Queensland at the biennial
Australasian Firefighter Championships
in Port Macquarie, NSW, this month
after they finished winner and runnerup respectively at the State Firefighter
Championships held in Townsville from
5-7 August.
It was the third consecutive state title
win for the Monto team of Martin Harm,
Justin Hiscock, Steve Avis and Brad
Baldwin (pictured below right), who won
eight of the 10 championship events and
finished second in another.
Justin Hiscock also took out the
individual Champion Firefighter award.
‘We've been together for the last three
years, and we've been lucky enough to
win the last three state titles,’ Monto team
captain Martin Harm said.
‘It's a team event and it's down to the
support of the whole brigade, really.’
Twenty-one teams from across
Queensland and NSW took part in the
State Championships, which marked
the culmination of a competition season
that drew more than 100 QFRS station
and RFS brigades to demonstrate their
operational firefighting skills, teamwork
and leadership.
The State Championships and the
accompanying Safe Communities Expo,
which showcased QFRS community fire
safety and other interactive displays
and operational capabilities, attracted
more than 5000 Townsville residents and
schoolchildren over the three days it was
held.
‘That’s a tremendous effort for the
hosts of this year’s championships,’ QFRS
State Firefighter Competitions Committee
Chairman Peter Beauchamp said.
‘We have already started planning
next year’s Firefighter Competitions,
including the Regional Championships
and the Queensland Firefighter
Championships and Safe Communities
Expo which will be held at Rockhampton
in August 2011.’
‘I wish both the Monto and Marburg
teams the best of luck for the Australasian
Firefighter Championships, however they
have already done us proud,’ Peter said.
Results – 2010 State Firefighter Championships
Champion Team – Monto (North Coast Region)
Team members: Steve Avis, Marty Harm, Justin Hiscock, Brad Baldwin
Second Place – Marburg (South East Region)
Team members: Steve Foote, Glen Looker, Brad Dance, Nick Doyle
Third Place – Caboolture (Brisbane Region)
Team members: Ashley Newson, Stephen Kranenburg, Greg Gault, Michael McDowell
Championship Encouragement Award – Brookfield (Brisbane Region)
Team members: Anthony Hawkins, Clinton Squire, Joel Gorman, Paul Brandon
21
QFRS crews relish
the challenge at
iRescue 2010
ARRO iRescue 2010
Challenge Results
ARRO 2010 iRescue Champions
1. CFA Werribee
2. NZFS Morrinsville
3. QFRS Cairns
QFRS crews have once again done their service proud, taking
out a number of events at the Australasian Road Rescue
Organisation’s (ARRO) iRescue 2010 Challenge.
T
he Cairns and Lowood QFRS crews were
among 15 teams of rescue workers,
some from as far away as Hong Kong,
who competed at the challenge held in
Melbourne from 23-27 July.
Both teams made that cut after
successfully competing in the state
challenge earlier this year.
The iRescue 2010 Challenge pitted
firefighting teams from across Australia
and the Pacific region against each
other in a range of events that tested
competitors’ skill levels in realistic road
crash scenarios.
Both the Cairns and Lowood teams
faced stiff competition from teams from
New Zealand, Western Australia and
Victoria, across three rescue scenarios
including Immediate, Entrapped and
Controlled Rescue challenges.
Lowood Team Acting Captain Murray
Thomas said both Queensland teams
were successful at the iRescue Challenge.
‘The Lowood team had a great three
days of competition,’ Murray said.
‘We got third in the Entrapped scenario
and finished seventh overall, while the
Cairns team came first in the Entrapped
scenario and third overall.’
The iRescue 2010 Challenge may have
been mentally and physically draining for
the competitors, but it was also educational
with teams taking part in a VE Holden
Commodore workshop to learn more about
cars and extrication techniques.
Crews cut, crunched and crushed their
way through more than 60 Holdens that
had been purpose-built for the challenge’s
crash scenarios.
‘The workshop was great and we took
a lot of information away with us,’ Murray
said.
‘We hope to be able to compete again
next year.’
Immediate Rescue
1. NZFS Morrinsville
2. NZFS Whitianga
3. FESA Dunsborough
Entrapped Rescue
1. QFRS Cairns
2. CFA Werribee
3. QFRS Lowood
Controlled Rescue
1. NZFS Greytown
2. NZFS Whitianga
3. CFA Werribee
Best New Tool or Innovation
CFA Werribee
Spirit of the Challenge
Hong Kong Fire Service
Best Technical Team
NZFS Morrinsville
Best Medical Team
CFA Werribee
Best Team Leader
CFA Werribee
ARRO SES Director’s Shield
NSW SES Coffs Harbour
IF DAY
Motivate your workplace on Friday, October 29
Injury Free Day is a national safety awareness campaign that promotes the importance of injury
prevention in the workplace and the community. Participating is simple, fun and eﬀective. If
you’re passionate about safety, simply register for a Workplace IF Day Kit online at ifday.com.au
or call us on 1300 734 733.
22
QFRS steps
up to the
Tour of Duty
Challenge
Q
FRS firefighters Rob Frey and Leon
Colbert have completed the journey of
a lifetime, taking part in the 7400km Tour
of Duty run across the USA to honour those
who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Rob and Leon joined firefighters from
the USA and Australia in the emotional
event, which began on 12 August in Los
Angeles and ended in New York City on 11
September.
From start to finish, the runners were
greeted by hundreds of well-wishers,
firefighters, police, media and officials,
who came out to pay their respects to the
2976 victims, including the 411 emergency
services workers, whose lives were taken
on that tragic day nine years ago.
Rob Frey said the pair was honoured to
take part in such a run of remembrance.
‘We represented all operational
Robert
McDermant
honoured
T
and non-operational staff including
their families to pay our respects
and demonstrate the strong culture,
cameraderie and mateship that is alive
between firefighters from our two great
countries,’ Rob said.
Local support for the run was just as
strong. More than 310 QFRS staff, family
and friends signed up for the Wellness
Program’s Tour of Duty 10 000 Steps
Challenge to get behind the cause.
With the goal of collectively doing
enough steps to go the same distance
as the Tour of Duty runners, participants
wore a pedometer and recorded their daily
steps on the 10 000 Steps website.
Leon and Rob thanked everyone
for their support and passed on their
congratulations to all who participated in
the Tour of Duty 10 000 Steps Challenge.
New group for retired
ambulance officers
I
t’s been a long time coming.
Two years in fact.
But it was worth the wait for those who
attended the inaugural general meeting
of the QAS Retired Officers’ Association in
Brisbane on 23 September.
It has long been recognised there was
a need for an inclusive group for retired
ambulance officers and over the past
two years the QAS has worked with an
enthusiastic steering committee of retired
officers to establish the association.
The inaugural AGM attracted more
than 50 former paramedics, staff and QAS
dignitaries, who were there to pay tribute
to the service and how it has changed
since its humble beginnings.
Former QAS Assistant Commissioner
Barry Malone is President of the
association, supported by Executive
Committee members Ken Browning
(Secretary/Treasurer), Paul Reedman (Vice
President), Ken Proellocks, Ken Bedford,
Fred Cox and Les Wilson.
The QAS Retired Officers’ Association
aims to provide a forum for former
and serving QAS officers to maintain
friendships and support each other,
particularly in cases of sickness and
bereavement.
It is envisaged that the association
will continue to expand with the aim of
representation in all regions of the QAS.
Full-time QAS staff are eligible
for associate membership, as are
LAC members and other individuals
associated with the QAS.
For more information, visit
the association’s website at
www.ambroa.com.au.
he QAS has honoured a retired officer
who helped shape the service into
what it is today.
presented Robert McDermant with the
Distinguished Service Medal at the
inaugural annual general meeting of
the Retired Officers’ Association on 23
September.
Commissioner Melville said Robert
had a long and distinguished career
with the QAS, serving for more than four
decades.
‘Bob worked for the then Queensland
Ambulance Transport Brigade (QATB)
in both operational and senior officer
roles. In 1973 he was appointed training
officer and later chief training officer for
the QATB State Council Training School
for a period of 12 years before he retired
in 1985,’ he said.
Commissioner Melville said Robert
was largely responsible for introducing
training which led to the introduction
of a mandatory pass/fail recruit level
training.
‘He worked tirelessly to bring the
QATB in line with standards set by
the National Ambulance Education
Committee.’
‘I am especially pleased to award
Bob the Distinguished Service Medal for
his commitment to remarkable service,
extraordinary vision and inspirational
determination.’
From left: Les Wilson, Ken Browning, Ken
Bedford, Barry Malone, Paul Reedman and
Fred Cox. (Absent: Ken Proellocks)
with Robert McDermant
23
We’re
volunteering
a discount
to the SES.
At NRMA Insurance, we recognise the value of your tireless
efforts helping the community. Whether helping people through
a natural disaster, accident or search and rescue mission, you
are there when the community needs you most. So to show our
appreciation, we’re offering all active QLD SES volunteers a
‘Hero Discount’, which includes:
$40 off Comprehensive Car Insurance*
$20 off Home Buildings Insurance #
$20 off Home Contents Insurance.#
Call 1300 266 762 during business hours.
Offer available for a limited time only. To qualify for the offer, you or your spouse must provide your SES group name and SES volunteer ID number when taking out the policy. The issue of a policy is
subject to NRMA Insurance’s underwriting guidelines. On existing policies, discounts apply from the date of next renewal. *The insured vehicle must be registered in the name of the SES volunteer
or their spouse living at the same address. #The insured home must be the SES volunteer’s main residence; other family members living at the same address are ineligible for the discount. Insurance
issued by Insurance Australia Limited trading as NRMA Insurance. When making decisions about a product you should consider the Product Disclosure Statement available from NRMA Insurance.
Backyard blitz eases David’s return home
‘Are you sure you brought
me to the right house?’
T
hese were some of the first words
uttered by injured QFRS Station
Officer David Galvin as he was welcomed
home after 10 months of recovery and
rehabilitation in the Princess Alexandra
Hospital.
The reason for his surprise was the
amazing transformation of his Samford
home by an army of willing volunteers.
With the assistance of the Nine
Network’s A Current Affair and other
sponsors, 250 serving and retired
firefighters, Firecom staff, senior officers,
neighbours and friends laboured for 10
days to improve the access around his
home for David, who is confined to a
wheelchair after suffering a severe spinal
injury while on holiday in September last
year.
QFRS Community Education Manager
Inspector David Sutch said David Galvin’s
QFRS mates initiated the renovation
project after realising the access issues
he faced during several overnight visits
home.
‘At first we approached Channel Nine’s
Backyard Blitz program, but they had
already finished their filming schedule for
the year.
‘Then A Current Affair expressed
an interest in helping out and became
involved in undertaking the project.
‘Sponsors were approached to assist
with the cost of the alterations, and just
11 days before David was due to arrive
home permanently, the army of volunteers
commenced work on 30 July,’ David said.
The transformation included the
construction of a large deck at the rear of
the Galvin family home, with pathways to
an outdoor gazebo area complete with a
fireplace and views from Samford to the
mountains.
The deck and pathways allow David
access to all areas of his home in either
his wheelchair or his bed, and in the
few months since his return he and his
family have said the additional access has
already proven invaluable.
A feature story on the transformation
and David’s homecoming will be
broadcast nationally on A Current Affair.
‘He was completely unaware of
anything happening at his home, as his
last visit was a few days before work
began,’ David Sutch said.
‘So, as you can imagine, he was
shocked, awed and overwhelmed by the
changes that had been made and the
hundreds of people who turned out to
welcome him home.
‘David and his family have also
expressed a wish to convey their
sincerest thanks to everyone who has
been involved in supporting, fundraising,
and helping in so many ways since his
accident,’ he said.
‘They are truly overwhelmed and
humbled by the generosity and kindness
that they have been shown.’
South East Region sends off distinguished firie
S
outh East Region firefighters bid
farewell to a great workmate and
distinguished firefighter Ric Rutherford at
the Surfers Paradise Fire Station in early
September.
South East Regional Development
Director Superintendent Peter Dawson
praised Ric’s dedication to service
throughout a career spanning 41 years.
‘Ric originally started as a firefighter
with the then South Coast Fire Brigade
and worked at stations throughout the
Gold Coast.
‘One of the original operators of the
Turntable Ladder appliance located at
the old Surfers Paradise fire station, Ric
was instrumental in training many other
firefighters in using this specialist piece of
equipment,’ Peter said.
‘Ric then progressed to the officer
ranks, becoming the South East Regional
Aerial Training Officer. He also contributed
to fire scene investigation during his
career.’
Peter spoke highly of Ric’s natural
ability to mentor personnel and fondly
recalled how the two came to know each
other.
‘When I joined the Fire Service I was
posted to Surfers Paradise Station as a
recruit in 1980. Ric was already a senior
firefighter and the shift’s aerial appliance
driver.
‘He was such a great support to me
in terms of helping me settle into the
service and was always ready to share his
experience and to teach me new skills.
‘Ric is a real character and has the
ability to make people feel very at ease
and welcome.
‘His son Greg now works out of the
Surfers Paradise station as a Senior
Firefighter and no doubt is inspired by the
work of his father.
‘To honour the Rutherford family QFRS
tradition, Ric’s last official duty was to
present Greg with his epaulets on passing
his Senior Firefighters Professional
Development Program, which was a really
great gesture,’ Peter said.
25
Seniors Fire Ed to roll out across the pond
E
mergency services all-rounder Kevin
McIntosh has devoted his life to
helping others.
He’s worked in safety advisory roles in
fire and ambulance services throughout
the country, from Weipa in Far North
Queensland to Mt Tom Price in Western
Australia.
Kevin’s also had a long and
distinguished career in the New Zealand
Fire Service, clocking up 23 years service.
All of his experience has been put to
great use in his current role as a Seniors
Fire Education presenter in Emerald,
where he’s been helping seniors to
empower themselves to stay safe.
‘Since retiring I’ve got a great deal of
enjoyment in presenting these workshops.
‘Teaching seniors about fire dangers is
something I’m really passionate about,’
Kevin said.
‘Houses can be dangerous places,
especially for the ageing population
which is why the Seniors Fire Education
presentations are so important.
‘During a presentation we go over a
number of useful tips and also do some
practical demonstrations like how to use a
fire blanket safely.’
Late last year Kevin was invited to a
firefighters’ reunion in NZ where he spoke
to brigades about the success of the
program.
‘The brigades back home have always
wanted to run a program like this, and
they were very impressed by the success
of what the service does in Queensland.
Based on our model, a roll-out of the
program in NZ will occur.
‘It was great to be back in the homeland
and it was made even better as I could help
improve their service by borrowing from
ours,’ Kevin said.
Central Region Seniors Fire Education
presenters gathered in Rockhampton
recently to workshop strategies for the next
12 months of the Senior Fire Education
Program.
Central Region Community Safety
Operations Manager Wayne Smith said the
workshop was very productive and some
great ideas for promoting the program were
developed.
‘We have a wonderful team of six
presenters who are very passionate about
educating the community about fire safety.
‘Some of the new presenters to join us
in the last 12 months include Alan Titman
and Gerard Brimmell, two well known
firefighters who have recently retired.’
Anyone wishing to join the ranks of
Seniors Fire Education presenters can
contact the Central Region Community
Safety Operations Command on 4938 4718.
– Liz Buckler
Stars come out in Weipa
I
n November last year, we were saddened
to hear about QAS paramedic Jamie
Jackway’s fall from a rescue helicopter in
the Torres Strait.
News of Jamie’s accident and the
serious injuries he received sent shock
waves through everyone involved in
community safety, and reminded us of the
importance of being able to return home
to our families at the completion of a shift.
Members of the Western Cape Local
Ambulance Committee (LAC) and the crew
at QAS Weipa wanted to lend their support
to Jamie and his family so ideas for a
fundraising event were tabled.
In our small community the LAC works
closely with the four permanent and
two volunteer staff at Weipa Ambulance
Station, and we all shared the same
enthusiasm for the idea of raising money
for the Jamie Jackway Fund.
A range of ideas were discussed before
we decided on a Weipa Academy Awards
Night to be held on 4 September.
A black tie event, the night would
involve the handing out of mainly mocked
up awards as well as some serious
presentations for community service.
About 100 people attended the event
and, in keeping with the Academy Awards
theme, they were met by a phalanx of
26
paparazzi as they arrived at the Albatross
Hotel and walked the red carpet.
The night opened with a news clip of
Jamie and some heart-wrenching words
from our MC Ziggy, which brought home
the true meaning of the event.
The support that we received to host
the event was exceptional. The Albatross
Hotel closing its dining area for the
evening and allowed the LAC volunteers to
deck out the entire room Academy Awards
style, including a stage and lights.
Couran Cove Island Resort, Goodline
and Qantas Link supplied the prize for the
major raffle drawn on the night, while a
barramundi fishing kit supplied by Andrew
Ettingshausen proved a very popular
second raffle prize.
It was great to see so many people,
from doctors and miners to the
management of the Albatross Hotel
getting behind such a great cause.
All up, the event raised $11 277 for the
Jamie Jackway Fund.
The Western Cape LAC and QAS Weipa
would like to thank everyone involved
with the event, including Rio Tinto Alcan,
and those who freely gave their time
and services help make the evening the
success that it was.
– ACP Mark Ward, QAS Weipa
QAS volunteer Bec
Howell displays one
of the items for the
evening’s auction
QAS Weipa OIC
Denis O’Sullivan
and his wife
Rachel make their
appearance on the
red carpet
Major prize winner Gary
Blocksidge is presented
with his holiday by Weipa
ACP Mark Ward
Air operations training
strengthening QFRS
QFRS is rolling out air operations training to
Urban and Rural fire staff across the state to
bolster response capacities during bushfires.
Q
FRS Air Operations Manager Wayne
Bates said the training ensured
personnel could effectively respond to
fires and would complement the existing
firefighting arsenal.
‘The QFRS is committed to enhancing
the practical skills base of our personnel
– that’s why we’ve developed a
comprehensive air ops training system to
ensure communities are better protected
from the threat of fire,’ Wayne said.
‘Throughout the state there are almost
150 rotary and fixed-wing aircraft available
for use during significant fire events.
‘These aircraft can be used for water
bombing or air operations, including
surveillance and intelligence gathering,
through a ‘call when needed’ register of
aviation operators.
‘The service also has access to three
contracted water-bombing helicopters
based at Archerfield airport in Brisbane.’
QFRS North Coast Rural Operations
Regional Manager Peter Hollier said the
recent air operations training held in
Kingaroy greatly assisted more than 30
people from the Rural and Urban fire
services to build their skills.
‘Personnel learned how to actively
support aircraft at an established air base.
‘Specifically, they learned how to
manage the replenishment of supplies to
aircraft, how to marshal aircraft on the
ground and in the air, and developed
skills in communicating with aircraft and
ground crews,’ he said.
‘They also learned how to establish
and make use of a portable water supply
to support aerial water-bombing activities.
‘Overall the training day was very
successful.
‘Our personnel gained significant
practical experience, which built on their
theory competencies.’
Eudlo Rural Fire Brigade firefighter
and Group Officer for Maroochydore
South, Hamish Murdoch, said the training
allowed him to expand his knowledge
base, while developing closer ties with his
Urban and Auxiliary counterparts.
‘I’ve always had a keen interest in
aviation so I was really looking forward to
the training.
‘On the day I learned many new skills
which will be of great benefit in defending
our communities against fire.
‘The training was very hands-on and
I learned a great deal about integrating
aspects of air operations into incident
management plans.
‘Overall the training allowed us to build
our skills in controlling a major incident
with air support,’ Hamish said.
“I joined the Rural Fire Service to give
something back to my community and it’s
great the service is supporting us so well
to develop specialist skills.’
The roll-out of training has occurred in
the Central and North Coast regions and
will continue in remaining regions in the
coming weeks.
Police, Corrective Services and
Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts
also announced the provision of six
new heavy support tanker appliances to
be located with brigades based on an
assessment of seasonal conditions.
‘The Government’s ‘Supporting Our
Heroes’ election commitment provides
funding of $2.52 million over four years
for the construction of the appliances,’ Mr
Roberts said.
‘These six will be deployed to brigades
at Warwick, Birnam, Elliot Heads,
Cawarral, Ravenshoe and Bowen.’
The 14-tonne vehicles seat three
crew members and are equipped with
a 6000-litre water tank, fixed diesel fire
fighting pump and hose reel.
The tanker appliances also feature
heat-reflective curtains for crew
protection, a generator and lighting as
well as stocks of respirators, goggles,
personal protection blankets and
firefighting gloves.
– Liz Buckler
27
Farewell to QAS hero Fred Mellish
Q
AS has
honoured
the life and
contributions
made by Buderim
Officer-In-Charge
Fred Mellish, who
lost his battle
with cancer in early September.
QAS North Coast Assistant
Commissioner Chris Broomfield said
Fred’s dedication and commitment to the
service and community was unwavering
and served as an example to everyone.
‘Fred served as OIC of Buderim station
for more than 26 years. During this time
he built an incredibly strong relationship
with the community he served and
mentored many paramedics,’ Chris said.
‘Fred was a selfless individual who
serves as an example to us all. He
had many friends in the service and
community, and worked tirelessly to
promote community safety.
‘Officer Mellish contributed so much to
the QAS and his family can take comfort in
knowing his legacy will be respected by all.
‘On behalf of the QAS community, I
offer my sincere condolences to his wife
Val, who is a member of the Buderim Local
Ambulance Committee, and his two sons
and grandchildren.’
paid tribute to Fred’s memory,
acknowledging he will be sadly
missed by all who knew him.
‘Fred made a significant contribution to
the Buderim community and the Sunshine
Coast in general throughout his many
years in the area.
‘He was appointed as the OIC of
Buderim in 1984. Prior to this Fred served
in the Royal Australian Navy and the
Ambulance Service of New South Wales,’
Mr Melville said.
Tragically, Fred passed away the very
same week he was due to be presented
with the Distinguished Service Medal.
To commemorate Fred’s diligent and
distinguished service to the QAS and the
community of Queensland, Mr Melville will
bestow the Distinguished Service Medal
posthumously, with the award to be
accepted by his family.
Remembering Rural firefighter Kortney Watts
T
he Rural
Fire Service
paused to honour
the memory of
Taromeo Rural
Fire Brigade
Second Officer
Kortney Watts,
who passed away on 5 September.
North Coast Rural Operations Regional
Manager Peter Hollier said the loss of
such a valuable and dedicated volunteer
would be felt for some time.
‘Kortney was a highly respected
member of the RFS, he was diligent in his
service to the community and was a great
support to his fellow officers.
‘His energy and enthusiasm will be
sorely missed,’ Peter said.
‘Kortney was well known for his sense
of humour and funny nature.
‘His legacy is one of which his partner
Karen and nine children can be very
proud. Our thoughts are with Kortney’s
family during this sad time.’
Rural Operations Assistant
Commissioner Steve Rothwell paid
tribute to Kortney’s memory, highlighting
his selflessness and dedication to the
service.
‘Kortney was a dedicated family
man and a mate to many. He was also
an officer who gave a great deal to the
service.
‘He had a considerable passion for
encouraging members of the community
to join the service and was highly
regarded among his peers,’ Mr Rothwell
said.
‘Kortney’s enthusiasm and dedication
will be remembered in the hearts and
minds of the service.
‘His name is bestowed on the QFRS
Honour Roll, commemorating his
commitment to service.’
Patient thanks his ‘true angel’
F
ive years ago, Scott Kovacich and his
best friend were riding a motorcycle in
Innisfail when they collided with a ute.
The crash claimed his mate’s life and
left Scott without his right arm and with a
right leg people thought he’d never walk on.
Now, at 26, Scott’s recovery has
astounded medical professionals as he
pursues his dream to compete in the fivekilometre run at the Paralympic Games.
He was also determined to say thank
you to the paramedic who saved his life.
After years of searching, Scott and
Paramedic Clive Seymour, who is now
at Cleveland Ambulance Station, were
reunited on 26 August.
Clive said he had not forgotten such
a traumatic incident and after nearly 20
years with the QAS he was delighted a
patient had tracked him down to say a
special thank you.
‘I recall finding Scott in the middle of
28
the road. His arm was completely gone,
and he was conscious but confused.
‘I was able to communicate with him
the whole time while stabilising him and
stopping the bleeding,’ Clive said.
Five years on, Scott still finds it difficult
to talk about the day of the crash.
‘It was a bad accident, and not
something I can remember much of.
‘I lost a really good mate that day and
while lying in a hospital bed for weeks
after I never thought life could be as
enjoyable as it has been,’ Scott said.
‘Medical professionals told me my leg
would never work again and there was a
high risk of infection.
‘I was headstrong and have now have
regained the use of my leg despite people
telling me I couldn’t.
‘Paramedics are true angels in this
world and I really wanted to be able to
thank Clive for being there.’
Signs are
right for
vertical
rescue
training
T
ravellers on the Warrego Highway and
Wallumbilla residents were recently
treated to the sight of a pair of orangeclad ‘spidermen’ scaling the sheer sides
of the local grain silo.
SES volunteers and vertical
rescue specialists David and Graham
York climbed the silo to place signs
advertising the 2010 National Chainsaw
Championships, which were held in
Wallumbilla, 35km from Roma, on 1-2
October.
David and Graham York are used to
climbing water towers, silos and sheer
cliffs to practice rescuing injured workers
and climbers, and the signage job was
an ideal chance to further polish their
skills.
The brothers anchored their climbing
ropes to the top of the 41-metre silo and
lifted the heavy signs using the latest
descender equipment in the same way
they lower injured patients who are
strapped into stretchers.
‘We were happy to have a go at putting
up the signs on the Wallumbilla silo,’
Graham said.
‘It was our regular training day and
we’re used working at this height, but this
was a challenge.
‘It’s the first time we have lifted
something so large and awkward off the
ground and secured it in place.
‘The equipment we use for vertical
rescues is very sophisticated and
expensive so we’re happy to support the
Chainsaw Championships at Wallumbilla
as the SES will benefit from the event by
raising funds towards new gear,’ he said.
Wallumbilla SES Local Controller
Rohan Taylor said the task was a good
opportunity for the group to put its vertical
rescue skills and equipment to use.
‘Wallumbilla has seven vertical rescue
specialists in our 18-man squad and there
are a lot of high structures and sheer cliffs
out here where knowledge of the latest
rescue techniques is crucial,’ he said.
Latest innovations at
Fire Australia 2010
P
rotecting our assets will be the focus of the Fire Australia 2010
conference on the Gold Coast in November.
It will be the largest non-fire service conference event on
the Australian fire calendar and will attract international guest
speakers and delegates.
The joint conference hosted by the Fire Protection Association
Australia (FPA Australia) and the Institute of Fire Engineers (IFE) will
be held from 10-12 November, and will focus on ‘Communities &
Infrastructure – Protecting our Assets.’
The Fire Australia conference will continue the quality
information and education gleaned from the AFAC conference in
September.
QFRS Brisbane Region City West Area Commander Graeme Thom
said keynote speakers would discuss firefighting intervention and
fire safety for heritage-listed buildings, land use planning and
bushfire risk, leading edge technologies in reducing fire fatalities
and sustainable development of buildings in bushfire-prone areas,
as well as protecting assets versus personal safety.
More information about the Fire Australia 2010 conference can
be found at www.fireaustralia.com.au
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29
Enquiries
Prior to lig
hting fires,
a check sh
local fire
ould be ma
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whether a
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Before lig
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Information
and a ran
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local Rural
ailable
Operations
contacted
area office
on the nu
who can be
mbers on
the back of
this broch
ure.
Contact U
s
Signs point to greater safety
for furthe
r informat
ion
Barcaldin
e
Bundaber Area Office
Ph: 4651
g
11
Caboolture Area Office
Ph: 4153 3290
Cairns Area Area Office
Ph: 5420 44
Of
fic
e
1333
Caloundra
Ph
Ar
:
40
ea
39 82
Office
Charters To
Ph: 5420 40
7517
Cloncurry wers/
Ar
Emerald Ar ea Office
Ph
ea
:
47
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Innisfail Ar
Ph
ea Office
: 4982 00
Ipswich Ar
01
Ph: 4061
ea
0650
Mackay Ar Office
Ph: 3381
ea
7122
Maryborou Office
Ph
: 4965 66
Rockham gh Area Office
41
Ph
pt
Toowoom on Area Office Ph : 4190 4839
ba
: 4938 47
Townsville Area Office
Ph: 4616 36
Area Offic
19
e
Ph: 4796 51
9082
www.rural
Lighting
Fires
in Queens
land
Informatio
and how n on fire permits
to obtain
them.
fire.qld.go
v.a
u
Community education and mitigation activities across the state
are being boosted by the roll-out of new bushfire danger rating
signs to enhance awareness of the new ratings system.
T
he signs feature the new fire danger
ratings which have been adopted
nationally, stemming from the Victorian
Bushfires Royal Commission. The
signs include the addition of two new
categories, ‘severe’ and ‘catastrophic’.
Northern Regional Rural Operations
Manager Supt Ken Beasley, said a new sign
had been erected on the Bruce Highway at
Bluewater, near Townsville, and would be a
great aid in communicating danger ratings
to residents.
‘These signs are a valuable tool in
educating residents – they complement
the mitigation and education activities the
brigades carry out through consultation
with landowners.
‘Unlike most of the country,
Queensland is in bushfire season now,
so it’s important the community are well
informed, which is why these signs are so
useful,’ Ken said.
‘In addition to updated signage,
Queenslanders can also obtain the
recently revised Lighting fires in
Queensland brochure through their local
rural brigade which discusses information
on fire permits.’
QFRS Rural Operations Director Paul
Adcock said the revised brochure clearly
explained the Commissioner’s declaration
of the fire danger period and related
topics.
‘This brochure easily explains
information residents need to know about
lighting fires in Queensland.
‘It details how to obtain a permit to
light fire, the fire danger period, fires that
do not require a permit, breaches and fire
emergencies.
‘It also has contact information for Rural
Fire Service area offices across the state as
well as listings of the Rural and Urban fire
websites.
‘In short, it’s a very useful resource
which will help residents understand their
responsibilities this season. Brochures like
these build on the groundwork our Rural
and Urban brigades undertake in terms of
educating the community,’ Paul said.
– Liz Buckler
Tomara Spreadborough
Senior Project Officer
Strategic Policy Division
Two minutes with…
30
Location: Kedron Park Complex
Length of service: Before commencing
with the Department’s Strategic Policy
Division in January 2010, I was with
Queensland Corrective Services for nine
years.
Best part of job: Being able to work on a
range of projects has helped me learn so
much about the whole Department and
the fantastic work each of our divisions
do. So far this year I have worked on
the Words@Work series, the Estimates
Project Team and now the Complaints
Management Improvement project.
Favourite read: I am on the third book of
Stieg Larsson’s Millennium series. All
three have been addictive.
Favourite movies: I am more of a TV addict.
I have been known to devote hours to
the odd box set: Arrested Development,
Entourage, Californication…
the list goes on!
Favourite music: I have two daughters
under three so right now it’s anything
that keeps them entertained, such as
the Wiggles or the Fairies.
Favourite pastime: I do love the odd
Sunday arvo BBQ and champers.
Favourite sports team: I have two – whoever
beats Collingwood and whoever beats a
NSW-based rugby league team.
Dream weekend? When? Count me in!
Station profile:
Aramac Ambulance Station
QAS Aramac Officer-in-Charge Adam Russell
proudly describes his ambulance station as
being in the heartland of the real outback.
L
ocated 68km north-west of Barcaldine,
Aramac was originally sheep country
but cattle are now the area’s agricultural
mainstay along with a burgeoning
kangaroo meat industry.
The ambulance service has a long
and proud history in the town, with
Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade
operations first commencing in 1949.
The station is staffed by two
paramedics: Adam, (pictured above left)
who has been in Aramac for four and half
years; and Advanced Care Paramedic
Garry Baxter, who moved to the area from
Brisbane 14 months ago.
They operate from a station constructed
in 2008, which incorporates a large
two-bay plant room and well equipped
casualty treatment room as well as
separate self-contained two-bedroom
quarters for relief officers.
Adam and Garry routinely operate
alone and often call on assistance from
volunteer emergency drivers.
‘Our response area takes in hundreds
of vast pastoral stations, many larger than
the average urban suburb, and the folk out
this way are as tough as nails,’ Adam said.
‘It is not uncommon for a single
incident to extend over more than eight
hours owing to distance and accessibility.
‘The added challenges here are not
uncommon to the rest of the far west and
include limited back-up options, patchy
mobile phone coverage, very few sealed
roads, predominately blacksoil country
that makes wet weather movement
impossible, routine flood isolation and the
elements in general.
‘Out on the roads we’re dodging all
sorts of animals – kangaroos, sheep,
cattle, horses, emus, camels, goannas,
feral pigs, echidnas and huge birds of prey
on every case.
‘We don’t leave the car in the dark
without a torch in our hands to ensure
we’re not stepping on a snake, and if
you’ve ever wondered where all the
insects are bred, it’s here and we’re
bracing for another locust plague shortly.’
There’s a strong thread of community
involvement with Aramac’s paramedics
attending about 10 local sporting events
each year, such as race meetings, rodeos,
campdrafts and polocrosse.
‘Many of these require two or three
days coverage and the attending
paramedic is often required to camp out
on site, which can be a little different for
new players,’ Adam said.
‘Our relationship with the local hospital
is outstanding and as we do not have a
permanent doctor we can often be the
most senior clinicians in town, routinely
becoming part of the continued treatment
team following handover.’
Adam and Garry also have a close
working relationship with Aramac’s QFRS
Auxiliary firefighters, who often assist with
patient lifting and handling, as well as
Health and Community Care personnel,
Barcaldine Regional Council and the Royal
Flying Doctor Service.
‘Our operational responsibilities also
include the support and supervision of
service delivery in Muttaburra, located
85km north-west of Aramac,’ Adam said.
‘A QAS 4WD ambulance is stationed at
the Muttaburra Primary Health Care Centre
and is staffed by Queensland Health
Registered Nurses and local emergency
drivers, all of whom are fantastic to work
with.
‘We are very fortunate to have the
support of an active Local Ambulance
Committee in Aramac and Benefit
Committee in Muttaburra whose tireless
efforts have seen many improvements in
both service delivery and staff conditions
over the years.
‘A recent example of their valued
assistance was the commissioning earlier
this year of a new Lifepak 12 defibrillator
for the Muttaburra vehicle.
‘This was a community project which
involved a variety of fundraising activities
capturing some significant corporate
support and the production of a cheeky
2010 calendar featuring local Muttaburra
identities,’ he said.
‘It was an outstanding effort by a small
community, which shows just what can
be achieved by a supportive and focused
team.’
Despite the isolation and the
sometimes testing conditions, Aramac’s
paramedics say the positives of bush life
far outweigh any disadvantages.
‘For a paramedic, servicing the
outback is the same job, but with different
challenges,’ Adam said.
‘If you can handle trading off some
of the urban conveniences for a genuine
lifestyle improvement, I can’t recommend
working in the bush enough.
‘When many of my peers are stuck in
yet another traffic bottleneck at shift’s end
today, I’ll be admiring the silhouette of
my Harley and horse against the beautiful
outback sunset.’
31
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Inside - Queensland Fire and Emergency Services

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