A publication of the Department of Community Safety
December 2010
Inside:
Safer Communities Awards p6
SES Week p10
Tunnel fire safety in focus p24
Thursday Island in profile p30
From the Minister
Leading the way
T
he State Finals of the Australian Safer Communities Awards
were held in Brisbane in October. These awards are an initiative
of Emergency Management Australia and recognise those in the
community who are leading the way in emergency management
and community safety.
I announced six Queensland projects as category winners and
named another four projects as highly commended.
Winners included:
State Government category – EMQ and the Australian Red Cross
for its Emergency Redi Plan, and QFRS Rural Operations for its
Flexible Learning for Volunteers: Taking us to the future project.
Local Government category – Townsville City Council for its
children’s cyclone awareness book, and Redland City Council for
its Seniors Emergency Response Preparedness project.
Private Sector category – ENERGEX for its Real Dangers summer
safety campaign, and QIT Plus for its Guardian Control Centre
software program.
Each of these winners were nominated for the National Safer
Communities Awards held in Canberra in November. The QFRS
Rural Operatons project was named as a winner in the Education
and Training category, while ENERGEX won the Private Sector
category. In addition, the EMQ-Red Cross Emergency Redi Plan
project and Redland City Council project were highly commended
in their categories. Congratulations to all involved with these
valuable initiatives.
SES Week
A number of outstanding volunteers from Queensland’s State
Emergency Service (SES) have also been recognised recently as
part of SES Week 2010.
SES week provides an opportunity for the community to
acknowledge the selfless and diligent work carried out by these
volunteers. It also gives us a chance to show our appreciation of
the outstanding contribution SES members make each year to
community safety.
Three very deserving state winners were drawn from this year’s
regional award recipients.
Diamantina SES Unit member Craig Hanley won the Minister’s
Cup for the 2010 Queensland SES Member of the Year. Craig was
recognised for his significant contribution to the recruitment and
retention of new SES volunteers in the region.
Winners of the Director-General’s Cup for Group of the Year
were Roma SES Group for their operational response during the
March floods.
And Balonne Shire SES Unit was awarded the Executive
Director’s Shield for Operational Response of the Year, also for
their work during the March floods.
Although the achievements of these award winners deserve to
be specially acknowledged, it is important we also remember that
in times of emergency a collective effort is provided by the 6800
members of 342 SES groups which operate across Queensland.
In fact, together these volunteers provided more than 70 000
hours of service in the last financial year alone.
I congratulate each and every award recipient, as well as the
thousands of volunteers across the state who dedicate their time
and effort to assist Queenslanders when they need it most.
Towards 2011
As this is the last edition of the year I’d like to take the
opportunity to thank you all for your hard work and unwavering
commitment during 2010.
The Department of Community Safety plays a vitally important
role in ensuring the health and wellbeing of Queenslanders
everywhere – something that would not be possible without the
thousands of dedicated staff who work each and every day to
provide these services to the community.
I extend my sincere thanks to each and every one of you for
your efforts, and congratulate you all on your many achievements
over the past 12 months.
I wish you all a very safe and very happy Christmas and holiday
season and look forward to working with you again in 2011.
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 3635 3413
Facsimile: 07 3247 8779
Email:Editor.EmergencyMagazine@dcs.qld.gov.au
Editorial:
Peter Callaghan, Chantelle Rule, Lisa Grundy, Helen Ainsworth,
Elizabeth Buckler, Kate Williams, Katie Hoy and Brodie Bott.
Advertising: Leah Hornibrook
Graphic design:
DCS Design Studio
On the cover: Queenslanders had the opportunity to thank the state’s 6800 SES volunteers during SES Week in November.
Emergency is available online at www.emergency.qld.gov.au
2
Emergency December 2010
www.communitysafety.qld.gov.au
Fire destroys Cleveland
Ambulance Station
In the early hours of 27 October, flames engulfed the Cleveland Ambulance Station and despite
the efforts of firefighters, the intensity of the blaze destroyed three vehicles and the station.
T
he alleged arson attack devastated
QAS personnel, their families and
the local community with staff forced to
farewell the station they had come to
recognise as their second home and look
towards the future.
QAS Assistant Commissioner for
Brisbane Region Leo McNamara praised
staff for their efforts with services not
once compromised throughout the ordeal.
‘This has been an extremely difficult
time for the entire Cleveland emergency
services team, but it’s time for us to move
forward and continue to build upon the
already high level of pre-hospital care
delivered within the community,’ Leo said.
www.communitysafety.qld.gov.au
‘Staff are now settled into a longterm temporary base at Enterprise Street
and will remain there until the station is
rebuilt.
‘The new location is great and meets
all the suitable requirements for a shortterm ambulance base with sufficient room
for an operational station, plenty of office
space and adequate parking.
‘Fisher and Paykel also kindly donated
whitegoods to the new location, which
were received with open arms by the
staff.’
In an effort to thank the community
for their support and raise awareness of
the ambulance service, personnel and
residents rallied together on Saturday
27 November at a community support
day at the Christian Reformed Church at
Ormiston.
The day was organised by the
Cleveland Local Ambulance Committee
and was a huge success packed
with entertainment and educational
displays.
‘It was a great opportunity for the
community to show their support for the
25 personnel based at the station and
for QAS to say thanks to the community
and local businesses for their support
during this difficult time,’ Leo said.
– Helen Ainsworth
Emergency December 2010
3
Building on excellence
n recent months we’ve had the happy
task of opening three new ambulance
stations – at Mitchelton and Springfield
in the south-east, and Yarrabah in the far
north of the state.
Mitchelton and Springfield stations will
serve growing communities in and around
Brisbane, while the Yarrabah station is
part of a shared facility with Queensland
Health known as the Gurriny Yealamucka
Primary Health Care Centre.
The QAS is an organisation committed
to achieving excellence in the provision
of emergency response and pre-hospital
care to Queensland communities.
New stations contribute greatly to
service improvements, meaning we can
do our jobs with even greater skill and
responsiveness.
It is encouraging to see that donations
continue to be received in support of
injured QAS paramedic Jamie Jackway and
his family.
Two significant donations have
been made in the months leading up to
Christmas: $45 000 from the Far Northern
Region’s Kokoda Trail Trek team and more
than $11 000 from the Western Cape York
Area LAC, also in Far Northern Region.
The community support and selfless
assistance that has followed Jamie’s tragic
accident has been remarkable and is
testament to the strong ties between the
community and its ambulance service.
I know staff continue to plan
fundraising activities for 2011, and I
encourage you to support them however
you can.
As we prepare for Christmas and the
New Year, I urge you all to consider your
safety and the safety of your family and
friends over this festive season.
Attending Christmas celebrations often
means travelling long distances to be with
our loved ones, and we need to remind
each other to heed the safety message
and take personal responsibility for our
welfare.
Don’t drink and drive, and don’t drive if
you are feeling fatigued.
Thanks to all staff for their efforts this
year. We’ve had many achievements,
and I look forward to 2011 being another
outstanding year for the QAS.
Meanwhile, let’s hope for a happy and
restful holiday period for us all, and a very
quiet time for our frontline officers.
Big benefits from new technology
ne of the Queensland Fire and Rescue
Service’s (QFRS) biggest information
technology projects, the Operations
Management System (OMS), has now
been fully rolled out across the state.
OMS is an integrated web-based
reporting, planning and management
system for QFRS and replaces a number of
stand-alone systems previously in use.
OMS gives QFRS staff the ability to
access live data from any location, using
fixed or mobile internet services.
The system’s primary benefit is to give
QFRS a custom-designed program that
allows users to plan, conduct and record
their activities in a simple and accurate
manner.
The ability to share data with other
computer systems and to accurately
report across the entire organisation, in
real time, will also be of considerable
benefit to the QFRS.
Importantly, OMS is a business tool
that will be able to grow and evolve as the
QFRS grows and evolves.
Through the provision and
organisation of timely and accurate data,
OMS will enable QFRS to increase the
effectiveness of the services it delivers to
the communities of Queensland.
OMS has been a major technology
project for QFRS and a lot of effort has
been made to bring it to fruition.
The Business Systems Command
under the leadership of Madonna Day has
successfully guided the development,
training and implementation of OMS, and
I thank Madonna and her team for the
work they have put in.
My thanks also go to the end
users in QFRS, for their patience and
understanding during the conversion from
the old Station Management System to
OMS.
As 2010 draws to a close, I would like
to commend all staff and volunteers for
their outstanding efforts over the past 12
months, and wish everyone a happy and
safe Christmas and New Year.
Finally, I want to express my
appreciation to all those who will be
working over the festive season. While
this is a special time to spend with our
families, sadly demand for our help does
not take a break.
Generous with their time
very week SES volunteers are lending a
hand in some way.
In 2010, our volunteers have aided
their communities with their response in
the wake of Tropical Cyclone Ului’s impact
on the Whitsunday coast, flooding in the
state’s south-west in March, and flooding
in the south-east in February.
Our volunteers’ work in often
adverse and severe conditions and at
all times of the day and night is vital
in helping Queenslanders affected by
natural disasters, road crashes and land
searches.
It is for this selfless work that we
recognise our volunteers each year during
SES Week. After the extreme weather
events of the past year, the need for this
recognition and thanks was never more
apparent.
Concluding with the State Awards
ceremony at Kedron on 14 November, this
year’s SES Week celebrations were among
the biggest and brightest ever held, and a
worthy tribute to our volunteers.
Two highlights were the live radio
outside broadcasts held by Zinc FM in
Townsville to celebrate Wear Orange to
Work Day, and in Brisbane by Nova.
Both broadcasts drew great support
from members of the public, who
came out in force to say thanks to SES
volunteers.
We are grateful to the major sponsor
of the SES, NRMA Insurance, the
broadcasters involved and Boating
Camping and Fishing stores for their
support and assistance with these events.
Congratulations to all winners of
the State and Regional Awards that
were presented at ceremonies around
Queensland during SES Week.
These awards recognise outstanding
achievement and acknowledge the
commitment made by more than 6800
SES volunteers across the state.
SES Week gives us the opportunity
to give thanks not only to our SES
volunteers, but also to their families and
employers, who make their own sacrifices
in supporting our volunteers.
It is with those families, friends and
colleagues in mind that I urge everyone to
play it safe during the festive season.
Thank you to all EMQ staff and
volunteers for their efforts this year, and
I wish you all a happy, safe and secure
Christmas and New Year.
I
O
E
Russell Bowles ASM
Lee Johnson AFSM MIFireE
QFRS Commissioner
Bruce Grady
EMQ Assistant Director-General
Acting QAS Commissioner
4
Emergency December 2010
www.communitysafety.qld.gov.au
ABC Radio gives listeners an
insight to disaster response
T
he State Operations Coordination Centre
(SOCC) is used to high-level discussions
occurring within its walls to ensure the best
response occurs when disaster strikes.
But to mark the beginning of summer,
thousands of residents in regional
Queensland were invited in via ABC radio
to learn about the workings of the QFRS
facility and the larger Emergency Services
headquarters at Kedron.
ABC Regional drive time program
presenter Craig Zonca made the trek from
Toowoomba with producer Rob Blackmore
to broadcast from the facility to help
prepare their listeners for the upcoming
wet season, which has already struck
some parts of the state.
As well as educating their listeners who stretch from Queensland’s far southwest up to the Far North - about what to
do in a medical emergency, how to avoid
being swept away in floodwaters, the new
Disaster Management Arrangements and
everything there is to know about the
new Queensland Emergency Operations
Centre, they also received a special
insight into EMQ’s role in a cyclone.
With the assistance of EMQ Principal
Program Officer Michael Peach, simulated
Cyclone Irina was played out during the
broadcast to give listeners an idea of what
authorities are doing at each stage of a
big natural disaster event.
Listeners were taken on the journey of
what goes on in the preparation phase,
response phase and then the recovery of
such an event.
Craig said the two-hour broadcast was
an extremely worthwhile experience for
the ABC and their listeners.
‘As emergency broadcasters it gave us
a whole new outlook on the complexities
of managing a disaster and the immense
coordination required. It’s reassuring to
know we’re in good hands,’ he said.
DCS staff join ranks of Indigenous leaders
T
wo DCS staff members were among 22
Queensland Indigenous public servants
to take a big step in furthering their careers
when they graduated from the Wal-Meta
Leadership Program in October.
Human Resources Consultant Debra
Clayton from Brisbane and QAS Paramedic
Mick Farnham from Dalby completed 18
months of study and earned a Diploma of
Government as part of the program.
Debra and Mick joined Indigenous
colleagues from Cairns, Nambour, Mount
Isa, Rockhampton, Thursday Island and
Townsville for the graduation ceremony in
Brisbane on 22 October.
Mick Farnham said the program of
study had been immensely beneficial, and
had given him a greater understanding of
the Department’s business, policies and
procedures.
‘The course has opened some doors for
me into management with QAS, and this
is something I would like to explore in the
future.
‘This program has given me a
direction and options for my career with
the Department, as well as valuable
opportunities to network and connect with
other Indigenous people in the public
sector,’ Mick said.
www.communitysafety.qld.gov.au
DCS Human Relations Consultant Debra Clayton (second from right, front row) and QAS paramedic
Mick Farnham (third from left, front row) were among 22 Indigenous State Government employees to
graduate from the Wal-Meta Leadership Program in October
Wal-Meta Leadership Program trainer
Sonia Williams said this graduation
passed a milestone.
‘The Wal-Meta Leadership Program
started in 1993 and with this group it has
now passed 200 graduates, which is a
great achievement,’ Sonia said.
‘There are another 32 State
Government employees in two more
intakes of the leadership program working
towards their diplomas.
‘Wal-Meta also delivers the Council
Employee Accredited Training program,
which currently has 14 Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander local government
workers studying a Certificate IV in Local
Government Administration.’
The Queensland Government has
committed to employ 2800 more
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people as part of the Australian
Employment Covenant’s goal to place
50 000 Indigenous people in new jobs by
July 2013.
Emergency December 2010
5
Safer Communities
Awards recognise
the quiet achievers
QFRS Rural Operations was among 18 groups from around
the country honoured with prestigious Australian Safer
Communities Awards at the national ceremony in Canberra on
29 November.
R
ural Operations won an award in the
Education and Training category for its
‘Flexible Learning for Volunteers: taking us
into the future’ project, which involved the
development of a flexible learning strategy
for volunteers to suit their lifestyle and
community commitments.
Also among the winners was ENERGEX,
which took out the award in the Private
Sector category for its Real Dangers
Summer Safety campaign to educate
Queenslanders about the storm season
preparedness.
Two other Queensland projects
received Highly Commended awards at
the national ceremony.
EMQ and Australian Red Cross were
recognised in the State and Territory
Government category for their Emergency
Redi Plan initiative to help people with
a disability prepare their households
for emergencies and disasters, while
Redlands City Council was acknowledged
6
Emergency December 2010
in the Local Government category for its
Seniors Emergency Preparedness project.
The four Queensland projects
recognised at the national Australian Safer
Communities Awards were also winners
in their categories at the state finals
announced at the Kedron Emergency
Services complex on 29 October.
The state awards were presented by
the Minister for Police, Corrective Services
and Emergency Services Neil Roberts,
who said they were an excellent way to
recognise the ‘quiet achievers leading the
way to a safer Queensland’.
‘Any initiative which can prevent
incidents that have the potential to result
in injury or death should be applauded.
‘The Australian Safer Communities
Awards program is one such initiative,
designed to improve not just the way we
react to events, but how we can prevent
them from occurring – which is the
ultimate achievement.’
The awards, an initiative of Emergency
Management Australia, cover all
aspects of community safety in the
context of emergency management
including risk assessment, research,
education and training, information and
knowledge management and prevention,
preparedness, response and recovery.
There were six winning teams across
three categories in the state finals, while
four projects received highly commended
awards.
Mr Roberts applauded the work of all
entrants and particularly the winners at
this year’s awards.
‘Anyone out there doing their bit to
prevent incidents which might cause
injury or even death to Queenslanders
deserves to be recognised.
‘I congratulate the work of these
organisations and individuals who have
recognised a need and acted upon it.’
– Kate Williams
www.communitysafety.qld.gov.au
State Government
Private Sector
Queensland
Winners
Local Government
Trish Sharpe from EMQ and Carolyn Parsons from
the Australian Red Cross accept an award from
Minister Neil Roberts for the Emergency Redi Plan
project
Nathan Hatch and Kathryn Ryan from ENERGEX
Limited accept an award from the Minister for the
Real Dangers Energex Summer Safety Campaign
initiative
Joint Winner: Emergency Management
Queensland and the Australian Red Cross
for their Emergency Redi Plan. Redi Plan
is a community initiative developed to
help people with a disability as well
as their families and carers to prepare
their households for emergencies and
disasters.
Allen Morris from the Townsville City Council
accepts an award from the Minister for the When
Bully-Wind Bob Comes to Town children’s cyclone
awareness book
Helen Keen-Dyer accepts an award from the
Minister for the ‘Flexible Learning for Volunteers:
taking us into the future’ project
Joint Winner: Townsville City Council for
its When Bully-Wind Bob Comes to Town
children’s cyclone awareness book. The
book was produced after stories emerged
of young children in Innisfail feeling
traumatised after Cyclone Larry hit in
2006. The project centred on providing
information to children aged 5-7 years.
Joint Winner: Redland City Council for
its Seniors Emergency Preparedness
Project. The project encourages, supports
and assists seniors to be prepared for
potential emergencies or disasters.
Joint Winner: Queensland Fire and
Rescue Service – Rural Operations for its
‘Flexible Learning for Volunteers: taking
us into the future’ project. The project
developed a flexible learning strategy for
volunteers that best suits their lifestyle
and community commitments.
Daryl Rush from QFRS accepts an award from the
Minister for the ‘VE Commodore – an exercise in
technique evaluation’ project
Highly Commended: Queensland Fire and
Rescue Service for its ‘VE Commodore
– an exercise in technique evaluation’
project. This crash simulation assessment
tool is designed the evaluate QFRS’ postcrash techniques to ensure equipment
and practices are up to date and at a high
level.
www.communitysafety.qld.gov.au
Highly Commended: Townsville City
Council for its ‘Get Ready for Cyclone
Season’ brochure. The illustrated
storybook brochure provides nonEnglish-speaking people with the basic
information on what to do to get ready for
cyclone season.
Rocki Taia and Saga Selsby from the Mooroobool
Focus Group accepted the award for the Cains
West Community Safety Patrol initiative
Highly Commended: Cairns Regional
Council, the Department of Communities,
the Queensland Police Service, the
Mooroobool Focus Group and James Cook
University for the Cairns West Community
Safety Patrol. The community worked with
the police to identify causes of and prevent
incidences of anti-social behaviour.
Joint Winner: ENERGEX Limited for its
Real Dangers Summer Safety Campaign.
The campaign encourages residents to
prepare for storm season and stay away
from fallen powerlines.
Chris Madsen and Phil Glindemon from QIT
Plus accept an award from the Minister for the
Guardian Control Centre initiative
Joint Winner: QIT Plus for its Guardian
Control Centre software program. The
program was designed to enhance
disaster management through improved
data collection and has resulted in faster
resource deployment to the community in
emergencies.
Education,
Training and Research
Shirley Russell from the Queensland University of
Technology accepts an award from the Minister
for the Online General Evacuation Induction
project
Highly Commended: Queensland
University of Technology for its Online
General Evacuation Induction Program.
The program was designed to ensure the
QUT community would know what to do
and how to evacuate quickly and safely in
the event of an emergency.
Emergency December 2010
7
Cadet Ann honoured for leadership
E
mergency Services Cadet leader Ann
Webster has been recognised for her
dedication to her South West Brisbane
cadet group with an award from the
Queensland Youth Alliance (QYA).
Ann, a former Emergency Services
Cadet who now serves the organisation as
an adult leader, received her QYA Award
for Excellence for Leadership from Her
Excellency Governor Penelope Wensley AO
at Government House on 21 October.
‘It is very nice to be nominated and to
win the award, but it also came as quite a
big surprise,’ she said.
The Queensland Youth Alliance
is a group of the state’s major youth
organisations committed to cooperation
and collaboration with each other and the
government to enhance the delivery of
services to young Queenslanders.
The Emergency Services Cadets is a
member of the QYA, along with 15 other
organisations including Australian Red
Cross and Guides Queensland.
The QYA Awards recognise outstanding
achievements and commitment to young
people for individuals aged 18-28 within
the alliance’s member organisations.
The awards are offered in three
categories: Leadership Excellence,
Inspiration and Community Service.
Ann first joined the South West
Brisbane Emergency Services Cadet group
as a 13-year-old school student in 2005.
Ann said she loved learning new skills
and taking on challenges during her time
as a cadet, and it was an easy decision to
remain with the group as an adult leader
when she turned 18.
‘I enjoyed everyone taking the time
to teach me when I was a cadet, so
becoming an adult leader was a great way
to give something back and pass on my
experience to the current cadets.’
As Cadet Coordinator, Ann helps to
teach, supervise and organise activities
for about 20 cadets.
Youth Program Support officer Monisha
Breay said Ann was an example of the
growing number of Emergency Services
Cadets who are choosing to volunteer as
adult leaders once they turn 18.
‘At the last two state adult member
workshops, 20 per cent of the adult
member participants had progressed
through the program as cadets.
‘This is a great success story for
leaders like Ann, and for the program as a
whole, because we have these dedicated
people continuing to volunteer and
educate Queensland’s youth about the
emergency services,’ Monisha said.
ENERGEX grants program wraps up
R
ural Fire Service (RFS) brigades in
south-east Queensland have received
the last of the equipment provided by
ENERGEX through its 2010 grants program.
Since the program was launched in
June, 25 brigades from the Brisbane,
North Coast and South East regions
have shared in almost $90 000 worth
of equipment after ENERGEX generously
committed more than $10 0000 on top of
the original $75 000 agreement.
8
Emergency December 2010
The most recent brigades to receive
equipment were Stanmore and District,
Karragarra Island, Stoney Creek, Mothar
Mountain, Ripley Valley and Tamborine
Mountain.
Volunteers from each of the brigades
attended handover events in their
regions, and Brisbane Region Rural
Operations Manager Bernie Trembath
said the latest pieces of equipment
would be used by the brigades in a
number of situations.
‘These items, in addition to equipment
the brigades have already received
through the program, have greatly
increased the volunteers’ ability to
respond to any number of callouts.
‘These include hazard reductions
and wildfires, community education
campaigns, as well as supporting other
agencies and brigades,’ Bernie said.
ENERGEX spokesperson Terry
Nodwell attended the presentation of
the equipment to the Brisbane Region
brigades, and said ENERGEX had a
strong bond with the RFS in south-east
Queensland.
‘The grant comes after ENERGEX
entered into a Memorandum of
Understanding with the Queensland Fire
and Rescue Service in 2007,’ Terry said.
‘Paid and volunteer firefighters do
a magnificent job working alongside
local councils and property owners in
protecting their local communities from
the threat of bushfires.
‘Hopefully funds and equipment from
the new grants program will make that job
just that little bit easier.’
– Katie Hoy
www.communitysafety.qld.gov.au
Jackson is living
proof of Fight
Fire Fascination
success
A Gold Coast family has been recognised by the QFRS for
its work with the Fight Fire Fascination (FFF) program.
I
n 2007, the Cassidy family sought help
from QFRS when their son Jackson, who
suffers from autistic spectrum disorder,
developed a dangerous fascination with
fire and began unhealthy fire play.
Senior Firefighter and FFF Practitioner
Ken Bennett worked side-by-side with
Jackson and his family over many months
to help him develop an awareness of fire
dangers and the importance of fire safety.
The Fight Fire Fascination program has
helped more than 2500 families since
2000 and aims to support parents in their
efforts to educate their children about fire.
It is based on a belief that children and
young people can learn skills to remain
safe from fire.
Ken said Jackson took ownership of his
behaviour and made a real commitment to
change it.
‘When I first met Jackson, I went to his
house and we sat down at his kitchen
table where I got to know him.
‘We worked together to develop skills
that would help Jackson to learn fire safety
and assist him in his role of Home Fire
Safety Officer.
‘When I visited him for the final time,
it was clear he had come a long way and
had demonstrated a marked change in his
thinking in regard to fire,’ he said.
Jackson’s mother Kelly praised the
QFRS for its commitment to her family.
‘The firefighters involved in the FFF
program are heroes; they saved our lives
by helping us. We couldn’t see a way
forward without them,’ Kelly said.
‘They never gave up and stood by us
through it all. They gave expert advice
and were so friendly. I can’t thank them
enough.
Jackson’s work with QFRS was featured
in an internationally acclaimed book
Kids’ Skills in Action by Ben Furman,
a psychiatrist and trainer of solutionfocused therapy.
From left: Senior Firefighter and FFF
Practitioner Ken Bennett, Stephen Cassidy,
Bailey Cassidy (front), Jackson Cassidy, Kelly
Cassidy and South East Region Assistant
Commissioner Peter Beauchamp
The book is one of a series written
by Ben on helping children overcome
behavioural and emotional problems.
The inclusion of the Fight Fire Fascination
program and Jackson’s story in the book is
seen as high praise and endorsement of
the successful program.
Ken said Jackson’s story reflects the
success achieved by FFF participants.
‘In a survey of FFF participants, there
has been an overwhelming positive
response, with 98 per cent of respondents
having a positive reaction,’ Ken said.
‘Not only did 91 per cent of
respondents state that the FFF program
stopped fire setting behaviour in their
child, 49 per cent of these respondents
said the program had also improved their
child’s behaviour in other ways.
‘Changes in behaviour include better
interaction with family members, displays
in responsibility at school and changes in
overall confidence.’
Fighting Fire Fascination
C
hildhood fire fascination which leads
to firesetting is not just a phase.
Curiosity about fire is common, but
fireplay or firesetting can be deadly and
can even develop into adult arson.
The Fight Fire Fascination Program
is designed to tackle the firesetting
problem with young people and
children.
The FFF program is based on
education, with trained firefighters
visiting children and their families at
home to promote an awareness of fire
safety.
The statewide program has
achieved excellent success and has
the potential to save dozens of lives,
www.communitysafety.qld.gov.au
significantly reduce fire-related injuries
to young children and save millions of
dollars in damage to property and the
environment.
Over an average period of six months,
the firefighter develops trust and
understanding with the child and explains
the consequences as well as the benefits
of fire, showing that fire is a tool not a toy
and must be respected.
By incorporating goals into the FFF
program, QFRS is able to turn a negative
into a positive and stop childhood fire
fascination at an early age.
To find out more about the FFF
program, call 1300 369 003 or contact
your local fire station.
Emergency December 2010
9
SES Week
celebrations
hit the
airwaves
‘Hearing first-hand from
the people we helped
two years ago how
important we were to
them, especially during
SES Week, was really
very rewarding’
During SES Week both Townsville and Brisbane paid an extra special thanks to their SES
volunteers with outside radio broadcasts.
I
n Townsville on Wednesday 10
November, Zinc FM hosted its afternoon
drive show from Townsville’s Boating
Camping and Fishing (BCF) store.
Local residents shared in Coca-Cola
giveaways and the BCF Emergency Kit
prize pack competition, while taking the
opportunity to give their SES heroes a big
pat on the back as they prepare for a busy
summer season.
It was Brisbane’s turn on Friday 12
November with a Nova Bloc Party at The
Gap, a suburb in Brisbane’s west which
was devastated by one of Brisbane’s worst
storms in living memory nearly two years
ago.
Nova’s Meshel, Tim and Marty hosted
10
Emergency December 2010
special guests including the Minister
for Police, Corrective Services and
Emergency Services Neil Roberts,
Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman,
DCS Director-General Jim McGowan,
EMQ Assistant Director-General Bruce
Grady, Brisbane Lion Jonathan Brown,
actor Stephen Curry, and Channel 9
personalities Andrew Lofthouse and
Gary Youngberry.
Along with BCF giveaways, a hearty
free breakfast, jumping castle and
petting zoo, SES volunteers were treated
to a special performance from the band
Operator Please.
Travis Bell from the Brisbane City SES
Operations Group said many residents
at the Bloc Party had very strong
memories of the storm that devastated
their suburb and equally strong memories
of how SES volunteers came to help.
‘Many of the residents were very keen
to share their stories of the storm, how
they were affected, and how we came to
help them in the hours, days and weeks
that followed.
‘Hearing first-hand from the people
we helped two years ago how important
we were to them, especially during SES
Week, was really very rewarding,’ Travis
said.
Both events were made possible by
the ongoing support of Queensland SES
major sponsor NRMA Insurance.
www.communitysafety.qld.gov.au
NRMA
Insurance
joins the
orange
crush
S
ES major sponsor NRMA Insurance
got right behind SES Week this year
by hosting two events designed to
promote the work of volunteers.
On Monday 8 November, SES
volunteers joined NRMA Insurance
promotional staff at train stations in
Nambour, Helensvale and Brisbane to
give away branded gardening gloves
specially designed to spread the storm
season message of ‘clear your gutters’.
The gloves were snapped up by
commuters along with copies of the
SES Get Ready Guide, which is a
comprehensive resource detailing how
residents can best prepare themselves
for the storm season and includes
information on cyclones, floods and
tsunamis.
On Wednesday 10 November NRMA
Insurance employees got into the spirit
of Wear Orange to Work Day in a big
way, hosting a competition among staff
to see who could come up with the
most creative costume.
SES volunteer Nathan Bolger judged
the competition and said he was
impressed by the amount of effort the
staff had put into the day.
‘It’s encouraging to see the NRMA
Insurance Staff so supportive of SES
Week,’ Nathan said.
‘They certainly were imaginative in
showing their support – some went to a
lot of effort, which was great to see.’
www.communitysafety.qld.gov.au
Emergency December 2010
11
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.
SES Week awards honour
our state’s orange angels
O
utstanding work by Queensland’s SES
volunteers during the past year was
recognised during SES Week, held from
6-14 November.
Awards for the Regional Unit or
Group of the Year, Regional Operational
Response of the Year and Regional
Member of the Year were presented
during ceremonies in each of EMQ’s seven
regions.
State awards for the Unit or Group of
the Year, Operational Response of the Year
and Member of the Year were presented
during a ceremony at the Emergency
Services Complex at Kedron on Sunday 14
November.
EMQ Assistant Director-General Bruce
Grady said SES Week acknowledged
the selfless and diligent work of SES
volunteers.
‘These men and women are truly
local heroes who give up time with their
families to help their community,’ he said.
‘Whether they are responding to a
natural disaster or assisting in the smooth
running of a local event, SES volunteers
give their unpaid time and skills making
an important contribution to community
safety.
‘This year’s winners reflect the
outstanding work of all SES volunteers
and we can be proud of their efforts.’
State awards
Minister’s Cup for the 2010
Queensland SES Member of the Year
Craig Hanley, Bedourie SES Group
Director-General’s Cup
for Group of the Year
Roma SES Group
Executive Director’s Shield for
Operational Response of the Year
Balonne Shire SES Unit
Region
Regional Unit/Group of the Year
Regional Response of the Year
Regional Member of the Year
Brisbane
Redland City SES Unit
Brisbane City SES Unit
Danny Armstrong, Brisbane City SES Unit
South Eastern
Logan City SES Unit
Gold Coast City SES Unit
Bill Kruger, Gold Caost SES Unit
South Western
Roma SES Group
Balonne Shire SES Unit
Ron McMellon, Roma SES Group
North Coast
Caloundra SES Unit
Gin Gin SES
Cameron Sage, Bundaberg SES Group
Central
Marlborough SES Group
Theodore SES Group
Graham Sharps, Marlborough SES Group
Northern
Townsville City SES Unit
Taskforce Alpha Northern Region
(Townsville and Burdekin SES Units)
Craig Hanley, Diamantina SES Unit
Far Northern
Cairns SES Group
Far North Taskforce Alpha
Bill Tofler, Mission Beach SES Unit
www.communitysafety.qld.gov.au
Emergency December 2010
13
KJM Foundation grant winner
targets road accident care
A
project to find the best extrication
techniques for patients injured in road
accidents has been awarded the 2010
KJ McPherson Education and Research
Foundation’s $15 000 Patron’s Research
Grant.
The grant was awarded to the QAS South
West Region entrant, Oakey Officer-inCharge Brad Setch.
Brad’s project aims to reduce the time
spent on the management of road crash
patients at the scene.
He plans to conduct a series of
relocation and controlled-roll techniques
on vehicles with mannequins to recreate
several extrication scenarios, and have the
techniques and conduct agreed to by QAS
paramedics as the best practice approach
for those types of incidents.
This research can be conducted at the
Queensland Combined Emergency Services
Academy, and the results from these
evaluations would benefit QAS and QFRS in
improving their road crash response.
QAS and QFRS also work with the
Australasian Road Rescue Organisation
(ARRO). ARRO can communicate the results
of these findings and practices broadly
across Australasia and through further
rescue networks into the World Rescue
Organisation.
As well as improving patient care, Brad’s
project is breaking new ground in the road
crash rescue field.
There are no reliable figures available
to validate the extrication techniques, so a
primary intent of the research project is to
facilitate evidence-based practice in road
accident rescue.
The KJ McPherson Foundation’s Patron’s
Research and Education Grant is aimed at
encouraging innovative research relevant to
clinical practice, education, or operational
14
Emergency December 2010
systems, which aligns directly with the
current QAS research agenda.
Brad said winning the grant provided
him with an opportunity to work within a
multi-disciplinary team on research that
was potentially valuable not just to QAS,
but to ambulance and fire services around
Australia and overseas.
‘This is going to benefit patients that
the QAS cares for, and then I can prove
that techniques like this will work and
then share that message widely.’
‘Certainly without the support of the
KJM Foundation I would not have been
able to conduct the research,’ he said.
The Patron’s Research Grant is
sponsored by Medtronic Australasia Pty
Ltd and was among five grants considered
for presentation at the KJ McPherson
Education and Research Foundation’s
Patron’s Dinner, held in Brisbane on 27
October.
The LHMU Student of the Year Grant of
$1000 was awarded to North Coast Region
paramedic Ralph Wilkinson.
Ralph is a popular officer who is
positive, confident, intelligent and
respectful of his peers and displays a
positive work ethic.
He has demonstrated his ability to be
a strong role model, and was instrumental
in developing and facilitating a student
network for the North Coast Region.
The $2000 ACAP Student Scientific
Grant for University Student Paramedics
who produce the best poster or paper on
a clinical or ambulance operational topic
was hotly contested.
Queensland University of Technology
(QUT) student Elspeth Eeles was awarded
first prize for her paper, ‘Are medicolegal practices in Australian ambulance
services adequate: documentation of
patient refusal of transport’, while two
other QUT students Ruth Hosking and
Cathryn McManus received second and
third prizes respectively.
First place for the poster prize was
awarded to Bridget Campbell, Kate Bradley
and Gavin Atherton for their work on Septic
Shock – a Case for Pre-Hospital Antibiotics.
Second prize went to Kerri-Anne Tweedie,
Alana Turnbull and Chris Wilson.
The new $5000 Dr Peter Stephenson
Grant for overseas study was awarded
to ACP Joanne Plant from QAS Mossman
Station.
The grant provides the financial
assistance to attend an overseas clinical
conference or similar educational activity.
It was established in recognition of the
professional clinical care rendered by QAS
to Dr Peter Stephenson, a Brisbane medical
specialist seriously injured in a farming
accident.
Since joining the QAS in 2005, Joanne
has expanded her practical experience with
relief positions in rural locations such as
Mt. Isa and Normanton.
She is currently studying a Master of
Health Science with QUT.
The $1000 QAS Professional
Development Grant, sponsored by
Laerdal, and the $3000 QAS Research
and Development Grant, sponsored by
Spectrum Data Systems International, were
not awarded this year. The Foundation did
not have successful applicants who were
able to meet the criteria for these grants
this year.
The Patron’s Dinner followed the annual
Patron’s Day clinical symposium.
Themed ‘Hearts’, the symposium gave
QAS staff an opportunity to update their
clinical knowledge and network with other
industry professionals.
www.communitysafety.qld.gov.au
Mo Bros in abundance
as DCS backs Movember
Each year Movember is responsible for the sprouting of
moustaches on thousands of men's faces in Australia and
around the world, with the sole aim of raising vital funds and
awareness for men's health, specifically prostate cancer and
depression.
D
CS got into the swing of Movember
this year, with several male staff
members – or Mo Bros – nurturing hairy
growths on their upper lips and raising
money in the process.
To celebrate the conclusion of a month
of macho moustaches, The Great DCS
Movember Shave Off was held at the
Emergency Services Complex at Kedron on
30 November.
Hirsute candidates from all sections
of the Department came forward to have
their lip warmers critiqued by a panel of
experts and vie for awards including Best
Mo and Highest Fundraiser.
The expert panel of Noel Harbottle
(QFRS), Glenn Carthew (CSD) and Katie
Hoy (MACC) decided that the title of Best
Mo belonged to David Young, while Keith
Alcock nabbed the awards for the Most
www.communitysafety.qld.gov.au
Groomed Mo and the Highest Fundraiser
($950 raised) and Brodie Bott scored the
Lame Mo award.
With the judging out of the way, the
Movember Bros then took turns to have
their facial fuzz removed by Minnie from
the Col Nayler Barber Shop at Newmarket,
while staff enjoyed a morning tea and
prize giveaways thanks to Café Delmarche,
the Cheesecake Shop on Stafford Road,
The Coffee Guy and the Kedron Park Hotel.
Several thousand dollars has been
raised and pledged by DCS staff for the
Movember cause, including more than
$3500 raised by the Mo Bros of the EMQ
Emergency Momanagement Team: James
Douglas, Mark Wallace, Keith Alcock,
Michelle Snell, Aldo Lo Presti, Daniel
Hooley, Peter Twomey, David Mazzaferri,
Danielle Carroll and Will Gretton.
Emergency December 2010
15
From left, Matt Adams, Jake Carseldine, Will Cooper,
Ryan Kropp, Reece Lister, Krystal Mayhew, Jarrod
Morrissey, Melanie West, Rural Operations A/Assistant
Commissioner Paul Adcock and Brigade Training and
Support Officer Graham King
(front)
School program brings new blood
to Kilcoy’s Rural Fire ranks
V
olunteer firefighter ranks in Kilcoy
have been boosted through an
innovative collaboration between the
Rural Fire Service (RFS) and Kilcoy State
High School.
Eight seniors from Kilcoy High
graduated with a Certificate II in Public
Safety (Firefighting Operations) at a
recent awards night held at the school.
The students had completed an
eight-month pilot program which
provided them with a valuable
vocational learning opportunity, as well
as a much needed increase in junior
volunteers for the local brigade.
QFRS Caboolture Rural Operations
Brigade Training and Support Officer
Graham King helped develop the pilot
program and said it was a win for both
the RFS and the students.
‘The service benefits greatly from
having young volunteers in its ranks, as
they bring a great level of enthusiasm
and new ideas.
‘They also benefit greatly by
learning new skills, gaining a certificate
qualification and giving back to their
community by volunteering their time in
the service,’ Graham said.
‘I previously worked for the high
school as an agricultural assistant and
I saw first hand how great vocational
learning was for students.
‘After I joined QFRS, I began to see
opportunities for vocational learning for
students, which enabled us to boost our
young volunteer ranks too.’
Graham said the pilot program had
been a great success and thanked the
students and local brigades for their
commitment.
‘All of the students who have
undertaken this program have exceeded
our expectations.
16
Emergency December 2010
‘They’ve really put in a great effort in
regard to their study and their practical
skills development and this has really
shown in their acquired skills sets,’ he
said.
‘They can really be proud of their
achievements in advancing their
education and skills base while providing
a great service to their community.’
To gain their certificate, each student
was required to join a local brigade and
complete theory and practical training
in the areas of wildfire response, team
work, community education, workplace
health and safety, fire investigation,
communications systems and pump
operation.
‘Building our young
volunteer ranks in a
way which can benefit
students while they
complete their schooling
is truly a win for all’
‘As part of completing practical
components of their course work, the
students assisted experienced brigade
members with community education at
various events.
‘This type of liaison plays a vital
role in promoting community safety
and really gives them a feel for the core
educative work of the service,’ Graham
said.
“On behalf of QFRS I’d like to thank
the school and this dedicated group
of students for their commitment
to themselves, the service and the
community.’
QFRS Rural Operations Assistant
Commissioner Steve Rothwell presented
the students with certificates of
achievement at Kilcoy High in late
October and said the success of the pilot
program meant a state-wide roll-out
would occur in 2011.
‘The Rural Fire Service is delighted
to be able to roll out this program to
interested schools across the state,’
Steve said.
‘Our Rural Operations Area Directors
are currently reviewing their capacity
and that of their local Rural Fire Brigades
to replicate this program within their
own areas and in partnership with their
local schools and respective principals.
‘This is a fantastic opportunity for
both the students and the brigades, and
its success is based on developing and
maintaining these strong partnerships.’
‘Graham and the students involved
have proven how productive and
beneficial partnerships between the
service and young volunteers can be.
‘Building our young volunteer ranks
in a way which can benefit students
while they complete their schooling is
truly a win for all.
‘Graham has been instrumental
in making this venture possible, and
his hard work and ingenuity is greatly
appreciated. People like Graham
help take the service from strength to
strength.
‘I congratulate him and the students
on their success. I would also like to
thank his counterparts in the Caboolture
area office and volunteers in the Kilcoy
and surrounding rural brigades for their
support,’ Steve said.
– Liz Buckler
www.communitysafety.qld.gov.au
Dan equal to Hawaii ironman challenge
QAS paramedic Daniel Collins
(pictured right) has passed
one of sport’s sternest tests
by finishing the Ironman
World Championships
triathlon in Hawaii.
D
aniel, who is based at the Norwich
Park Mine site in central Queensland,
completed the gruelling 4km ocean swim,
180km bicycle ride and a 42km run in a
time of 10 hours and 9 minutes.
‘The whole event was an awesome
experience. Of the 1800 competitors I
came 545th which, among the world’s
best triathletes, I was pretty happy with,’
Daniel said.
‘My swim was hectic and I was
swimming among other people the whole
time, which made it very hard for me to
gauge how fast I was going.
‘I felt much more in control on the bike.
As I approached halfway I thought we
might get lucky and make the turn on the
bike before the winds picked up, but we
didn’t and they did. Big time.
‘One minute we were rolling strongly
towards the hills of Hawi and the next
we were up on the pedals at 15km/h
and doing our best not to become a
tumbleweed, blown off the road and
across the fields of lava.
‘Shortly after it rained and it was only
then I thought I was finally getting a taste
of what the race was famous for.
‘The run was probably the most
enjoyable part for me, as it usually is. The
first half, along the coastline and through
the crowds, was a pleasure.
‘There were plenty of drink stations
www.communitysafety.qld.gov.au
and people with hoses and I felt like I
was carried along in the flow of athletes,’
Daniel said.
‘The last kilometre to the finish was
fantastic, like landing on the moon.
‘The crowds were welcoming, we
could see the water and hear the race
announcer calling the finishers over the
line.
‘Crossing the finishing line was a
fantastic feeling.
‘My dad, who was there with other
members of my family and my coach,
passed me an Australian flag moments
before the line.
‘Hundreds of people cheered the
last racers over the finish line up until
midnight, at which point the 17 hour cutoff point was reached and any athletes
remaining on the course were collected.’
Daniel earned his spot in the world
championships when he finished 59th
overall out of about 1500 competitors at
the 2010 Australian Ironman Triathlon
titles in March.
It was Daniel’s first attempt at the
world championships, and he said he
would love to have another go, but not for
some time.
‘I am on a promise to spend time with
the family again, and I certainly owe them
some time.
‘Many thanks to all those who
supported me along the way including
my family, coach Toby Coote, financial
support from BMA and equipment from SC
Saw and Core.’
– Peter Callaghan
Emergency December 2010
17
Dog Squad
visit gives
students
paws for
thought
Six high school students received an insight into a different
side of Queensland Corrective Services’ (QCS) operations when
they toured the Dog Squad facility at Wacol on 21 October.
T
he students are part of the Education
toward Employment (E2E) Scheme
supported by DCS, and the Dog Squad
visit was one of a range of activities
designed to familiarise them with aspects
of the Department’s business.
The E2E Scheme aims to help
promising and motivated Queensland
Indigenous youth to achieve their goals
and aspirations by investing in their
careers and future.
DCS sponsored 10 Indigenous Year
10 students in 2010, with the students
encouraged to complete their schooling
through to Year 12 and then to progress
to tertiary education, training and
employment.
Along the way they receive assistance
with educational expenses, supervision
and mentoring, and at least 10 days
each year of work experience within their
sponsored divisions in the Department.
18
Emergency December 2010
The students’ visit was hosted by Dog
Squad trainer Nev Yunker, who spoke
about the various roles of working dogs
within QCS and their training techniques.
Nev explained that QCS has two
types of dogs: General Purpose (GP)
dogs trained to track and search and to
calm volatile situations through their
presence, which work with their handlers
predominantly within the perimeter of
correctional centres; and Passive Alert
Drug Detection dogs, which are trained to
locate contraband people are attempting
to smuggle into a correctional centre.
As well as meeting some of the Dog
Squad handlers and their dogs, the
students watched the GP dogs go through
their training exercises, which included
searching for a suspicious package
and dealing with a potentially violent
‘offender’.
Following the Dog Squad tour, the
students visited Wacol’s QCS Academy,
where they learned about the training
given to QCS staff who work within the
state’s correctional centres.
Strategic Policy Division E2E Scheme
Contact Officer Jennifer Epps said the Dog
Squad tour was enlightening for both the
students and the staff who accompanied
them.
‘It was very impressive to see the
amount of training these dogs receive
before they are put to work in the
correctional centres.
‘Just as impressive was the incredible
bonds these dogs have with their
handlers. They live with them and become
part of their families, and this close
relationship between the handler and
their dog is vitally important for their
effectiveness inside our correctional
centres,’ Jennifer said.
– Peter Callaghan
www.communitysafety.qld.gov.au
Photo by Melanie Grant
Trio scoots across the outback for charity
T
hree intrepid adventurers have raised
more than $11 000 for the Winton Local
Ambulance Committee and the Royal Flying
Doctor Service by riding scooters from
Winton to Boulia.
Winton LAC Vice-President Butch Lenton
teamed up with Roy Smith and Buddo
Grant to ride two 100cc scooters and a
110cc Honda postie bike more than
360km across bumpy tar and red dirt
for the fundraising trip.
The trio left Winton at 7.30am on 6
November and made it safely into Boulia
late in the afternoon.
Along the way, they had to detour
around roadworks, dodge potholes and
cattle, and deal with the plentiful wildlife
that can make outback motoring potentially
hazardous.
QAS Winton paramedic Heather Mumme
said the journey was made even more
challenging by the fact that cattle were very
curious about the scooters, and would
often come closer for a look as the trio
rode by.
‘It was a very successful charity event
and the Winton LAC was presented with
a cheque for $5587 at a ceremony at the
Winton Hotel a few days later.
‘In fact, the ride was so successful Butch
said they might do something similar next
year and make it even more challenging by
including more dirt roads,’ Heather said.
Volunteering inspires young leaders
T
wenty-two Year Seven school captains
from Capricorn Coast schools visited
Rockhampton in October to learn about
the importance of volunteering.
These upcoming leaders were given
the opportunity to discover the value of
volunteering not only for themselves, but
for the community at large.
Representatives from the Rural Fire
Service, SES, Coast Guard and the RACQ
Capricorn Rescue Helicopter Service
discussed the role their respective
agencies played in emergency and
disaster situations and highlighted the life
skills gained from volunteering.
www.communitysafety.qld.gov.au
Emu Park State School Principal and
Auxiliary Captain of Emu Park Fire Station
Wayne McMurtrie said the educational
visit enabled the students to gain
awareness of the benefits of volunteering.
‘Today’s educational trip gave our
students an opportunity to pay tribute to
our current volunteers as well as identify
areas of personal interest. It would be
great to see these students in a few years
time volunteer their services to some of
these great agencies.’
Wayne said the visit inspired the
young leaders to raise funds for the RACQ
Capricorn Rescue Helicopter Service.
‘In early December the leaders will
meet again in Rocky to officially donate
funds raised throughout each school. The
students have been busy holding various
activities such as free dress days, raffles
and movie nights to raise money for this
agency.
‘We know how important the sentiment
of giving back to community is and I’m so
proud of the children for being involved.
No doubt their resolve now will continue
throughout their lives.
‘As a father of three young children,
I know how important it is to ensure
this continues. Between my role as an
auxiliary captain and being principal, I like
to undertake volunteer work through the
school. I’ve seen first-hand the benefits of
this and encourage everyone to give it a
go,” he said.
‘Everyone has something to give,
whether it’s time, skills or funds and the
benefit to the community is enormous.’
Central Region Rural Operations
Manager Superintendent John Fisher said
the initiative was a great way for students
and the community to understand the
importance of volunteering.
‘I’d like to thank Wayne for his
commitment to his local community
through arranging this important
initiative. His influence will no doubt
positively influence future generations,’
John said.
– Liz Buckler
Emergency December 2010
19
Better service delivery
the key for new ICS chief
Glenn Walker believes technology is not the main
game, but should be thought of instead as a
facilitator to better business and service delivery.
I
t’s an interesting sentiment for the
Department’s Executive Director of
Information and Communication Services
and Chief Information Officer (CIO) to
express.
But with service delivery a key role of
DCS, it is one that holds a lot of water in
the context of community safety.
‘I’m a CIO who believes there is no
such thing as a technology project,’ Glenn
said.
‘If we are running pure technology
projects, we are not actually making
strategic investments in the organisation.
‘Technology is just the facilitator – it’s
got to be about business improvement
and achieving business strategy and
business objectives.’
Prior to his appointment as ICS
Executive Director and CIO in August,
Glenn has seen all sides of the technology
field since beginning his career with
the Department as a student on work
experience 10 years ago.
He commenced in technical and
engineering roles before moving to project
management, with involvement in the
QFRS State Operations Coordination
Centre and several ICT infrastructure
enhancement programs.
Glenn also served as the ICT Project
Director for the Queensland Emergency
Operations Centre (QEOC) – a project that
represents one of the Department’s main
business objectives.
‘The QEOC is extremely critical, and
just to put it into context, a third of the
budget for QEOC is related to ICT.
‘In terms of our flagship projects over
the next 12 months, QEOC is right at the
top of that list,’ he said.
With implementation activities well
underway, Glenn’s focus with the QEOC
is the transition of staff to the soon to be
completed building.
‘Two of the biggest new capabilities in
this building are better facilities for people
to access their information systems,
and improved information access for
external agencies to achieve much better
coordination during large-scale incidents.
20
Emergency December 2010
‘An increased ability to provide the
right information at the right place and the
right time will give us what I believe will
be the most contemporary emergency and
disaster management facility in Australia.’
Glenn believes the ultimate success of
the QEOC will depend on the people who
will soon be making use of its state-of-theart array of technology.
‘We have an obvious focus on the
technology within QEOC, but we are also
focused on the organisational change
aspects and the impact on the people
who will be moving over to this facility.
‘Technology is just the
facilitator – it’s got
to be about business
improvement and
achieving business
strategy and business
objectives’
‘It’s a paradigm shift for people moving
across because you’re relocating people
from an environment they’ve been very
comfortable and familiar with, and moving
them into something new.
‘This is also relevant to the way ICS
approaches any business improvement
project enabled through ICT. It’s about
engaging people on the journey so they
have ownership and participation in it, so
that when we undertake the transition, it
feels natural and there are no surprises.’
Information sharing to ensure a rapid
and coordinated response to emergencies
will be a crucial aspect of the QEOC’s
operations, and it’s also one Glenn is
passionate about in the broader sense of
community safety.
‘One of our strategic objectives at
the moment is on developing joint
capabilities across the public safety
cluster – ie, Queensland Police Service,
DCS and Justice and Attorney-General,’
he said.
‘It’s also about fostering much closer
relationships with local government and
other bodies which are critical to the way
in which we deliver services.’
The Public Safety Network project,
which recently picked up a Premier’s
Award for Excellence (see p27), and the
Public Safety Communications Program,
which includes joint radio networks
and other technology such as in-vehicle
mobile data access, are two of the main
projects aimed at delivering improved
capabilities between state agencies.
Glenn is also enthusiastic about
extending these joint capabilities to a
federal level.
‘Providing access to information both
within our jurisdiction and across borders
enables a more effective response to
incidents and gives better levels of service
to the community.
‘I’m working through the various state
and federal committees to open the door
to sharing experience, information and
systems across government.
‘We have found everyone to be
receptive to the concept and have
had numerous offers to share existing
information and information systems.
‘It’s a step in the right direction
in ensuring we maximise taxpayer
investment and minimise duplication.
‘It’s also allowing us to move from a
reactive point of view to a point where,
because we’ve got access to better
information systems across government,
we are able to more accurately target our
response to large-scale emergencies and
disasters,’ Glenn said.
– Peter Callaghan
www.communitysafety.qld.gov.au
Technology delivers real-time
emergency response control
W
hen a major fire breaks out, it
is crucial that the response is
efficiently managed to ensure resources
are deployed to the fireground as quickly
and as safely as possible.
Technology has come to the fore in
this instance, with the QFRS rolling out its
Electronic Incident Command and Control
(ECC) management system to organise
emergency response and resources.
The ECC project is managed by the
QFRS State Operations Branch. It serves as
an alternative to, and an enhancement of,
the current QFRS paper-based command
and control management system.
Central to the ECC is a computer-based
Electronic Incident Action Plan (eIAP)
which gives operational officers the ability
to access and input information in real
time to effectively manage incidents
Originally conceived by Melbourne’s
Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB), the
eIAP has been further developed in a
collaborative effort between QFRS, the
MFB, the New Zealand Fire Service and the
Northern Territory Fire Service.
Inspector Paul Smeath of the State
Operations Branch has been managing
the implementation of the ECC project.
He said Queensland’s involvement
with the development of the eIAP began
with a limited trial on several QFRS
command vehicles between August 2007
and March 2008.
www.communitysafety.qld.gov.au
‘The trial proved that the eIAP
solution did support QFRS operations
and significantly enhanced the efficiency
and safety of personnel on the incident
ground,’ Paul said.
‘The solution has been successfully
used at several major incidents including
the Index Self Storage fire at Sherwood
and the Santos Oil Pipeline Leak at
Algester in 2007, the Victory Hotel fire in
2008, the Bundaberg wildfire last year,
and the Yatala factory fire in February.’
Paul said the eIAP acts as a template
for the incident management process,
allowing access by multiple users,
including officers at the fireground and
those operating remotely.
‘The eIAP, coupled with the ECC
support system, provides greater
control of our people and their safety by
formalising a recorded decision-making
process which is documented in real time.
‘It documents the dynamic safety
assessment, allows for the accurate
tracking of resources, clearly displays the
command and control structure, provides
effective planning tools and includes an
interface that enables rapid access to
other support software and the internet.
‘This information is streamed live
to anyone who has a need to know
about what’s going on at the fireground,
including QFRS management, the State
Operations Coordination Centre (SOCC)
and regional operations coordination
centres,’ he said.
‘The eIAP also allows multiple users
in remote locations or within the same
environment to update information as it
becomes available from the fireground.
‘This multi-user ability further relieves
the pressure on the incident management
team by sharing the workload.’
Thorough training is essential to
ensure QFRS staff can use the ECC and
eIAP solutions to their full capacity, so the
State Operations Branch has managed
a controlled roll-out of the systems
throughout the regions. The roll-out has
been supported by Brisbane Region,
which supplied specialised staff to assist
with training.
Staff from the ICS Field Operations
unit have also helped by setting up the
infrastructure to host ECC and eIAP and
training their Regional Information Officers
to become familiar with the systems.
Paul said 255 QFRS personnel have so
far completed the ECC training package.
‘The ECC system is implemented into
all QFRS incident management levels
including the SOCC, regional operational
coordination centres and many Incident
Control Centres.
‘The system is also installed on laptops
used by senior officers, which allows
mobile command and control from an
Emergency Response Vehicle,’ he said.
Emergency December 2010
21
Teamwork the key
to climber rescue
T
he rescue of an injured climber from
Mt French near Boonah has illustrated
the close cooperation between QAS
paramedics and SES volunteers.
On secondment as Acting Officer-InCharge at Boonah Ambulance Station,
Russell Pavey attended the call-out with
a local paramedic, Paul Tiffany, on 6
November.
‘We were dispatched to attend to a
rock climber who had fallen about 10
metres down a rock face at Mt French,’
Russell said.
‘After a scenic drive to the mountain,
we arrived at the carpark. Guided by the
patient’s daughter, we trekked into the
bush carrying our gear and extra water in
case of a protracted incident.
Russell said the patient, a male in his
50s, was conscious when they arrived,
but had fractured his left ankle. The
paramedics were treating and preparing
him for evacuation when the SES
volunteers arrived.
‘We decided a helicopter would
not be able to extricate the patient
from the cliff, so he was loaded into
a SES stretcher to be carried from the
mountain.
‘The six SES volunteers from Boonah
worked very professionally while still
being friendly and comforting to the
patient.
‘With a safety line attached to the
stretcher, everyone helped with the job
of carrying the patient out.
‘His family, Paul and I, and the SES
volunteers handed the patient person to
person to the top of the incline – a task
which took about 45 minutes.
‘We were then able to transport the
injured man to Ipswich Hospital where
his care was continued.
‘While I have attended many fractured
legs and falls, it was a great experience
to do so in the country environment.
‘The patient’s treatment and
extrication was expedited efficiently
and effectively through the experience
and local knowledge of the Boonah
paramedic Paul Tiffany and the SES
volunteers,’ Russell said.
Safety improved with new One Mile pontoon
Q
AS paramedics and Volunteer
Marine Rescue (VMR) members have
welcomed the completion of the new
pontoon at One Mile on North Stradbroke
Island.
VMR units from Raby Bay and North
Stradbroke Island regularly conduct
medivacs from One Mile for the QAS, and
the new facility allows them to transfer
their patients more efficiently and with
greater safety.
The pontoon also offers improved
22
Emergency December 2010
public safety and access for passenger
services, and includes disabled access,
solar lighting and ample seating.
Passenger ferries operate from one
side of the pontoon, while the other side
caters for emergency services vessels and
recreational craft.
The $3.2 million project was jointly
funded by DCS, the Department of
Transport and Main Roads, the Port
of Brisbane Corporation and mining
company Unimin.
VMR Raby Bay Commodore Keith
Williams said the new pontoon would
make a huge difference to the VMR’s
operations, which involve an average of
three patient medivacs each week.
‘This is the first time we’ve had a
dedicated facility to operate from in this
area.
‘All of the other facilities we had used
previously involved health and safety
issues, and this new pontoon is much
more appropriate for wheeling stretchers
and for loading patients,’ Keith said.
QAS Brisbane Region South East Area
Director Peter Chatman said the upgrade
provided better facilities and vastly
improved safety for QAS officers using the
One Mile pontoon.
‘The facility complements the recent
installation of a QAS Stryker stretcher to
the VMR Raby Bay boat for patient security
and safety and the easier loading and
unloading of patients by our officers.
‘VMR Stradbroke Island is also
undergoing a refurbishment and fit-out of
their boat to include loading and locking
systems for the Stryker stretcher,’ Peter
said.
– Peter Callaghan
www.communitysafety.qld.gov.au
Program builds
community leaders
Building workplace and community leadership skills was a key
outcome for two Department of Community Safety participants
in a recent Indigenous Youth Leadership Program.
M
ick Farnham and Jermaine Beezley
were among 40 people from across
Queensland who took part in the weeklong program in June at Parliament House.
The program was designed to develop
community leadership skills and potential
and build a statewide network of young
leaders who are able to work together in
their communities.
Participants learned about leadership
and the democratic processes used in the
Queensland Parliament from a range of
mentors and guest speakers.
Mick, a 24-year-old QAS Advanced
Care Paramedic from Dalby, applied
for the course to develop professional,
leadership and networking skills.
‘We did workshops covering public
speaking, media liaison, team building,
Indigenous awareness and strategic
leadership,’ he said.
‘Nova Peris spoke to us about
Indigenous heritage and we also heard
personal accounts from two people from
refugee and diverse backgrounds.
‘The program gave me a different
insight into Indigenous culture and the
way Parliament works, and I now have
a better understanding of the political
process and what it means to be a leader
in my community.’
‘Before the program I was at a
crossroads and unsure where I wanted to
head in my career,’ he said.
‘The week confirmed to me where I
wanted to be and gave me skills and the
confidence to build on those skills to be a
leader in my job and in the community.
Jermaine, a 22-year-old Administration
Officer with ICS at Kedron, applied for the
program to gain knowledge to take back to
his community.
QAS Advanced Care Paramedic Mick
Farnham said the Indigenous Youth
Leadership Program has helped him to
cement his career goals
‘I am from Eidsvold and one day I want
to return there to teach performing arts,
do some theatre work and maybe even
write a play,’ he said.
‘That sense of cultural identity – where
you come from and where you belong
as an Aboriginal person – was a really
important theme throughout the week.’
– Brad Muir
Goodna tops South Eastern Region rescue titles
G
oodna SES will represent the southeast at the 2011 SES State Rescue
Championships after winning the first
rescue competition to be held in the
region for more than five years.
Teams from Logan, the Gold Coast,
Somerset and Ipswich took part in
the South Eastern Regional Rescue
competition at The Spit on 19 September.
The Goodna team prepares for search and
rescue task during the championships
www.communitysafety.qld.gov.au
The event was very well supported by
the region’s SES volunteers with more
than 70 spectators coming along to cheer
on the 28 competitors.
Officials and judges for the
competition were drawn from across the
South Eastern and Brisbane Regions
Four events were held throughout
the day, with teams testing their skills in
map reading and navigation, search and
rescue, general rescue and storm damage.
One event was particularly challenging
for the competitors as it was located
on Wavebreak Island 300m across the
Broadwater from The Spit.
Teams were required to demonstrate
core technical rescue skills, as well as the
ability to work with other agencies to solve
access and transport problems.
Close cooperation with Surf Life Saving
Queensland enabled the teams to use
SLSQ rescue watercraft to complete the
scenario.
Special thanks go to the Ipswich SES
Unit who kept all competitors well fed;
to Surf Life Saving Queensland for their
assistance with the much enjoyed search
and rescue scenario; to VMR Southport
for the use of their base as a coordination
centre; and to all the volunteers who
gave up many hours to make this event a
success.
The Goodna SES team will take on
SES squads from around Queensland at
the State Championships, which will be
hosted by South Eastern Region in May
next year.
Emergency December 2010
23
Tunnel exercise furthers
safety research
Safety in Queensland’s growing network of road tunnels is set
to be enhanced by the results of a major exercise staged in the
Sydney Harbour Tunnel in October.
T
he simulation exercise was designed
to analyse human behaviour during
a tunnel incident, as well as test the
tunnel’s evacuation procedures and
hazard warning systems.
It is hoped information gained
from the exercise will assist global
understanding of the psychology and
behaviour of motorists confronted by an
emergency inside a road tunnel.
QFRS Fire Safety Engineer Ross
Williams was one of the organisers
of the exercise, in collaboration with
Sydney Harbour Tunnel General Manager
Bob Allen, Professor Arnold Dix and
Dr Penny Burns from the University of
Western Sydney and independent fire
engineer Dr Nick Agnew among others.
Ross was joined by QFRS Station
Officers Jonas Edwards and Brett
Finnis, who acted as observers,
along with eight NSW Fire Brigade
(NSWFB) personnel, New Zealand Fire
Service Fire Engineer Ed Clarridge and
representatives of Brisbane’s Clem7
tunnel.
A group of 40 civilian volunteers also
took part in the exercise, serving as the
motorists involved in the emergency
incident.
Ross said the exercise involved a
vehicle supplied by the NSWFB being
placed about 400 metres south of
the tunnel’s northbound exit, while
the volunteers in their vehicles were
marshalled at the tunnel’s southern
end.
‘On the instigation of the exercise
director Bob Allen, the NSWFB ignited
24
Emergency December 2010
the vehicle and the volunteers were
directed into the tunnel.
‘They were stopped about 40 metres,
or one deluge zone, from the fire site,’
Ross said.
‘The normal procedure would be to
activate the deluge system, however, for
the purpose of the exercise the deluge
system was delayed thereby creating the
need for the evacuation.
‘The evacuation systems were
activated in their correct sequence and
the volunteers were allowed to react
normally, as they would when faced with a
real fire incident.
Ross said the volunteers’ behaviour
was of most interest to the exercise
organisers – how the motorists received
and evaluated information, made
decisions and responded to the fire
emergency.
The organisers also examined the most
prominent information sources during
the simulation, whether there were any
impediments to evacuation, and to what
extent the actions of others influenced the
evaluation and decision-making process
of the volunteers.
‘Real-life exercises also enable the
operators to experience, in the tunnel, the
sight, smell and noises generated by a
car fire, and to get an appreciation of the
danger and feelings to which motorists
would be exposed.
‘The reactions of the volunteers were
observed by a number of specialists
and after the exercise was complete, the
volunteers went to the Sydney Harbour
Tunnel control centre where they each
completed a questionnaire,’ Ross said.
‘After the exercise Dr Nick Agnew, Dr
Konrad Stacey, Ed Clarridge and myself
returned to the tunnel to carry out acoustic
tests to ensure the public address system
worked according to the specifications
when it was installed.
‘We also examined the system with a
view to recommending alterations that
could be made to bring it up to today’s
standard.’
Ross is collating the findings and results
of the exercise for a research paper he is
co-authoring with Ed Clarridge.
‘Exercises and system testing such
as that conducted in the Sydney Harbour
Tunnel are critical for ensuring the best
possible life safety outcome in any tunnel
emergency situation,’ he said.
‘From my studies, I believe that research
on the behaviour of motorists in a tunnel
when confronted with an emergency
situation, and the associated psychology,
has not been analysed to a degree where
sound conclusions can be made.
‘I hope our research will go some way
to improving the understanding of this
area, and I hope to deliver my paper not
just to the University of Western Sydney,
but also at fire engineering conferences so
that all can learn from this and any future
exercises.
‘As Queensland, at the moment,
is the capital of tunnels in Australia, I
believe we are the forerunners in both life
safety in tunnels and in our operations
preparedness for tunnel incidents,’ Ross
said.
– Peter Callaghan
www.communitysafety.qld.gov.au
Les farewells QFRS
L
es Shaw has experienced the highs
and lows of working with the QFRS.
He’s been there for the good times and
the bad. He’s seen the tears, felt the
heartache and laughed along at happy
moments. He’s also seen the devastation
caused by fires, cyclones and lifethreatening emergencies.
For the last 13 years, Les Shaw has
helped Queensland firefighters deal
with their experiences in his role as the
Salvation Army Senior Chaplain for QFRS.
Now Les is retiring from his chaplaincy,
and the time has come to say goodbye.
The 65-year-old worked as a chaplain
for the Salvation Army for more than four
decades.
In 1964, after driving road trains in
the Northern Territory for a few years, Les
moved to Sydney to join the Salvation
Army.
‘I was ordained as a Minister for the
Salvation Army (Lieutenant) in January
1970, after six years of study and practical
experience.’
Les said he was later promoted to
Captain in 1973 then Major in 2000, a rank
he still holds.
His career has been wide and varied,
and he has worked at a number of
locations around NSW and Queensland.
He has served as a Chaplain for the
NSW Rural Fire Service and Town Brigades,
the NSW Police Service and the NSW SES.
www.communitysafety.qld.gov.au
Les (pictured below with QFRS
Commissioner Lee Johnson) was also one
of the first chaplains to be appointed to
the NSW Ambulance Service.
‘I’ve always been involved in working
with emergency services,’ he said.
‘I was posted at a few locations
including Sydney, Engadine, Barraba,
Cooma, Nowra, Batemans Bay, Leeton,
Broken Hill and Wynnum between 1970
and 1997.
‘I’ve seen it all. As part
of my role I’ve provided
comfort and support
to firefighters, their
colleagues and families
in times of need’
‘Finally in 1997, when I was posted at
Wynnum, I started working in a part-time
capacity with the Queensland Fire and
Rescue Service, until it became a full-time
position just on four years ago.’
Five chaplains from the Salvation Army
assist Senior Chaplain Les in his daily
work across the state, lending a caring ear
to firefighters who put their lives on the
line to save others.
‘I’ve seen it all. As part of my role
I’ve provided comfort and support to
firefighters, their colleagues and families in
times of need.’
Les said Cyclone Tracey remains one of
his most memorable experiences working
as a chaplain.
‘I was working in Cooma when I was
seconded to Darwin to assist in the
aftermath of Cyclone Tracey.’
‘It was a devastating event that touched
many peoples’ lives one way or another.’
He’s no stranger when it comes to
disaster situations after being involved
in motor vehicle crashes, bus accidents,
floods, fires, storms and suicides.
‘I help out with funeral arrangements,
but also make visits to hospitals and the
homes of officers in the service who have
become sick or injured.’
‘As a chaplain, I am even just there
to listen if someone needs to talk about
personal problems.
‘It’s very rewarding, particularly when
I’m conducting weddings and christenings,’
he said.
Both the Salvation Army and QFRS
have held functions to farewell Les and
to recognise his contribution to both
organisations.
Once retired, Les plans to spend
more time with his wife Dianne and their
blended family of seven children and 12
grandchildren.
– Brodie Bott
Emergency December 2010
25
Orko tests disaster management groups
L
ocal governments and disaster
management groups throughout the
South West Region were put to the test
recently when EMQ conducted Exercise
Orko.
It was the second major disaster
management exercise run by EMQ this
year following Exercise Poseidon in far
north Queensland in June.
Orko simulated the effects of a cyclone
crossing the coast north of Brisbane,
with the ensuing rain depression causing
record flooding and damaging winds
across the Lockyer Valley, Darling Downs,
Granite Belt and south-west districts.
Local and district disaster management
groups were activated and tested
with a range of hypothetical events
by the exercise control team based in
Toowoomba.
EMQ South West Regional Director
Bob Bundy said the feedback from the
participants had been very positive.
‘All of the local governments and
district disaster coordinators involved
have said they found the exercise
beneficial and had identified many
learning outcomes and areas for
improvement,’ he said.
‘From an exercise control perspective,
we have also identified several areas of
improvement for future exercises.
‘Special thanks must also go to the
Bureau of Meteorology, which assisted
with the weather serials, as well as the
Department of Transport and Main Roads
which ran the pseudo 13 14 90 website for
road closures during the exercise.’
North Coast QFRS stalwart bids farewell
Q
FRS North Coast Urban and Rural
personnel came together on 20
September to send off one of their finest
after almost 40 years of service.
QFRS North Coast Region Assistant
Commissioner Ray Eustace thanked
retiring North Coast Regional Development
Director Jeff Wright for his many years of
loyal service.
‘Jeff is a credit to the service and has
been instrumental in shaping it over
the years. His work as the head of the
unwanted alarms project team has had a
profoundly positive impact on the service.
26
Emergency December 2010
‘He was also instrumental in
developing the station officer practical
program. Those are just two examples of
his many great achievements,’ Ray said.
‘Jeff gave his all in service to the
community and was a great support to his
colleagues. He was a mentor to many and
was a mate who everyone could rely upon.
‘Everyone on the North Coast wishes
Jeff all the best in retirement – what’s
certain is his departure leaves big shoes
to fill.’
QFRS North Coast Region Chief
Superintendent John Watson said
everyone would miss Jeff’s unwavering
commitment to his many roles.
‘Jeff was a true all-rounder in the
service – he had a distinguished career
as an operational firefighter and station
officer.
‘In later years, he provided great
support to the organisation when he
served in management roles in regional
training and strategic development,’ John
said.
‘As well, Jeff acted in the Assistant
Commissioner role during the Childers
hostel fire and assisted in many Incident
Management Team deployments.
‘Jeff’s worn many hats during his
time in QFRS and really serves as a great
example to all.
‘Outside of his commitment to the
QFRS family, Jeff, his wife Trissa and their
children were dedicated to supporting
the community. Over the years, they
welcomed many foster children into their
home.
‘Jeff has made a positive impact to the
lives of many, both in his career and in his
role as a father and foster parent.
North Coast Rural Operations Regional
Manager, Superintendent Peter Hollier,
presented Jeff with a plaque to honour
his achievements on behalf of the Senior
Officers Union and said senior officers
like Jeff take the service from strength to
strength.
‘Jeff has ensured a high standard of
service to the North Coast community.
‘He was a highly decorated officer,
having been awarded the Australian Fire
Service Medal, an Australia Day Medallion
and other prestigious medals and awards
throughout his career.
‘Jeff is a great man who achieved great
things during his time in the QFRS; he is a
senior officer who everyone looked up to,’
Peter said.
– Liz Buckler
www.communitysafety.qld.gov.au
PSN project scoops Premier’s Award
A
huge infrastructure project to provide
a linked data network for DCS,
Queensland Police Service (QPS) and
the Department of Justice and AttorneyGeneral (JAG) has won a 2010 Premier’s
Award for Excellence in Public Service
Delivery.
The Public Safety Network (PSN)
Initiative was developed following an
identified need for investment in data
network infrastructure and management
for the QPS, Queensland Corrective
Services and JAG.
In a Queensland Government first,
the agencies now have contemporary
Information and communications
technology architecture supported by a
single ‘backbone’ data network.
The PSN Initiative was selected as the
winner of this year’s ‘Strong’ category
of the Premier’s Awards; a category
characterised by initiatives which create a
diverse economy powered by bright ideas.
Given the business synergies existing
between the agencies, the PSN project
was charged with optimising core data
network services to an acceptable
standard of capacity, quality, reliability
and security between 700 sites across
Queensland.
Where each agency relied upon
separate technologies and networks for
voice, data and video, an integrated,
internet protocol-based data network has
been established with the capability to
deliver enterprise-wide information.
ICS Strategy, Planning and Programs
Director Chris Fisher said the PSN project
would provide an unprecedented degree
of interoperability between the three
agencies.
Rico makes a final Irish journey
J
ust prior to retiring from his 27-year
career with the QFRS, Halifax firefighter
Rico Cazzulino journeyed to the Emerald
Isle earlier this year to work with the
Dublin Fire Service.
Rico spent six weeks in Ireland,
splitting his time between the
headquarters of the Dublin Fire Service
and Donnybrook Station.
‘I have been fortunate over the years
to have the wonderful opportunity to
work with the Dublin Fire Service on three
previous occasions, and I decided to go
back one last time before my retirement.
‘The Dublin Fire Service headquarters
are manned 24 hours a day, with four
watches broken into teams of about 45
people. Crews work on a 15/9 shift and
their duties include manning the fire
appliances, ambulances and the comms
room,’ Rico said.
‘I had the opportunity to serve on
both the A and B shifts, and I was lucky
enough to get called out on several jobs
– the most interesting being a basement
apartment fire in the city centre.
‘Three pumps, an elevated ladder,
an ICS vehicle, an ambulance and a
District Officer’s vehicle responded to this
incident, and when the fire was brought
under control, we were able to access the
building and rescue a gentleman who was
badly burnt.
‘It was very interesting to see the
similarities and the differences between
the way we do things here in Queensland
and how they do it in Dublin.
‘In particular, as Australia and the
European countries have different rules
and regulations, the District Officer was
extremely interested to find out how we
‘This network provides the technology
to enable agencies to work together,
allowing capabilities such as videoconferencing, and the sharing of
information and applications.
‘It has also increased the security
on the network and provides more
defensibility for some of the critical
information that’s on the network.’
Chris said the Premier’s Award
reflected the determination, effort and
skill of the PSN Project Team to deliver an
enhanced single network.
‘Further acknowledgement must
be made of PSN project stakeholders
from across QCS who made significant
contributions to the project’s achievement
via their expertise and assistance.’
With the project wrapping up on 31
December for handover to the Public
Safety Network Management Centre, Chris
said the next phase would involve the
agencies discovering the true capabilities
of the network.
‘The challenge now is how we
maximise this capability to get the best
out of it for our business,’ he said.
educated junior school children about fire
safety.
‘During my time in the Dublin Fire
Service working with many wonderful
colleagues, I have not only gained
experience but also some very special
lifelong friendships along the way,’ Rico
said.
Rico Cazzulino (front left) with members of D Watch at the Donnybrook Fire Station in Ireland
www.communitysafety.qld.gov.au
Emergency December 2010
27
Partnership
boosts
firefighting
capabilities
A valuable partnership has been formed between the QFRS
and Indigenous communities in and around Woorabinda to
enhance bushfire safety.
I
n July, seven QFRS staff, together with
Woorabinda and surrounding RFS
brigades began working to develop
bushfire mitigation strategies and
perform hazard reduction burns to reduce
fuel loads and enhance local brigades’
response capabilities.
QFRS Central Region Rural Operations
Manager Superintendent John Fisher said
the partnership allowed Woorabinda RFS
volunteers to learn and practice new skills
in firefighting, which would contribute
greatly to improving community safety.
‘Working with the community to
bolster their firefighting abilities has been
fantastic.
‘We’ve worked side-by-side to help
them establish an asset protection zone
to protect townships if a large fire does
occur,’ John said.
‘Because communities like
Woorabinda are so remote, it’s important
they are safeguarded until further help
can arrive in the event of bushfires.
‘By undertaking heavy fuel reduction
and educating locals on how to do this,
the safety of buildings, homes and lives
are heightened.
John congratulated the Woorabinda
community and the Woorabinda
Aboriginal Council for their commitment to
this important exercise.
‘As part of the hazard reduction
28
Emergency December 2010
‘The Woorabinda Rural
Fire Brigade has done a
fantastic job throughout
the year when faced with
fire incidents’
exercise, council and brigade volunteers
worked together to establish fire breaks
by using dozers and graders and also
learned how to use pumpers.
‘We know just how important it is
to strengthen the response capacities
of our rural brigades. In communities
like Woorabinda, they are the first line
of defence when the threat of bushfire
approaches.
‘This exercise has provided a great
opportunity for crews to substantially
build on their knowledge and practical
skills sets.
‘The Woorabinda Rural Fire Brigade has
done a fantastic job throughout the year
when faced with fire incidents. They’ve
effectively used a pumper to extinguish a
number of structure and grass fires.
‘This pumper was officially handed
over to the Woorabinda community in June
by DCS Director-General and Government
Champion for Woorabinda, Jim McGowan.
‘Their ability to develop strong skills
from training and resources provided by
the Department is a credit to them.
‘We’ve received great feedback from
the brigade members regarding this
exercise and look forward to coming
together again in the new year to conduct
further training for next year’s fire season,’
John said.
– Liz Buckler
www.communitysafety.qld.gov.au
Golf day fundraising
well above par
F
our keen golfers from QFRS won
the inaugural Police, Corrective
and Emergency Services Golf Day
held at the Glades Golf Club in
Robina on 20 September.
Dennis Bromiley, Michael
Elder, Dennis Bromiley, Phillip
Elder and Gary Hall (pictured
accepting their trophy from
Police, Corrective Services and
Emergency Services Minister Neil
Roberts) took out the event, which
was contested by more than 100
players and raised $1500 for the
John Maclean Foundation.
The foundation is a charity
founded by wheelchair athlete
John Maclean OAM, and exists
to change the lives of young
Australians who use wheelchairs.
Ron Melton wraps a
sterling career
Ron Melton (centre) was presented with a commemorative gift by
EMQ staff at his farewell from the Kedron complex on 2 December
E
MQ bid farewell to Volunteer Marine
Rescue Manager Ron Melton on
3 December, as he wrapped up an
emergency services career that has
spanned more than three decades.
Ron began as a volunteer with the old
Civil Defence Organisation (which became
the SES) in 1972, before joining the SES on
as a communications technician in 1984.
Over the next 25 years, he has served
in many roles, including stints as a
volunteer helicopter rescue crewman and
instructor for the then SES Helicopter
Rescue Service, a District Training Officer
and a District Operations Officer.
www.communitysafety.qld.gov.au
In addition to his work on the frontline
of disaster response, Ron played a leading
role in the maintenance and operation of
Forward Looking Infrared Receiver (FLIR)
systems on the state’s rescue helicopters.
Ron has received many honours,
including two Australia Day Achievement
Awards, a National Medal and an
Emergency Services Medal.
Throughout his career, Ron has
shown total dedication to the volunteer
community, fostering the education,
training and development of volunteers
and staff in emergency management and
community safety.
Diaries of a
Stretcher
Bearer
T
he discovery in 2000 of a forgotten
box of mud-stained World War 1
diaries has led to an exciting new
book.
Diaries of a Stretcher Bearer details
the wartime experiences of Edward
Munro, a WWI digger who died in 1998
aged 95.
As a 19-year-old stretcher bearer
with the Australian Imperial Force,
Lance Corporal Munro’s task was to
venture out into the battlefield to carry
back desperately wounded men. Yet he
knew how to record battlefield life with
an eye for vivid description of the war
and of the foibles of men who fought it.
Often working under the fire of
German snipers, Munro led his small
detachment of men into horrific scenes
of blood and dismemberment.
The diaries cover terrible events
such as when Munro found himself
in Delville Wood in the Somme area,
where hundreds of bodies were strewn
in the shattered forest after a mighty
battle that killed thousands of South
African, German and British troops.
Diaries of a Stretcher Bearer was
edited by Edward’s relative Don Munro
AM and his wife Jacquelyn, who pieced
together Edward’s accounts of life
in the trenches and the courage of
severely wounded soldiers.
Diaries of a Stretcher Bearer is
available for $29.95 from
www.boolarongpress.com.au
Emergency December 2010
29
Station profile:
Thursday Island Fire Brigade
T
here aren’t many places like Thursday
Island, or TI as it is known.
In fact, those who live there say there is
nowhere else in the world quite like it.
The great fishing, balmy weather,
pristine waters and laidback lifestyle
make it the perfect location if you ask the
community’s Auxiliary firefighters.
The small Torres Strait island, located
just north of the tip of Cape York Peninsula,
is only 1.5km by 3km in size and is home to
less than 3000 people.
As the state’s northern most auxiliary
brigade and one of only a handful
situated on an island, the Thursday Island
firefighters lead a very different life to those
working from an inner-city station.
‘I consider it a last frontier environment.
It’s like nowhere else in the world. It’s
beautiful and the people are just lovely,’
Station Officer David Prain said.
While many rural fire brigades are
scattered across the Cape, the closest
equivalent fire station is in Cooktown,
about 700km away, and in the case of a
major incident, support would be flown
from Cairns a further 200km south.
But the guys and girls who work here
wouldn’t have it any other way.
David heads up the team in a
unique staffing arrangement where, as
a permanent firefighter at an auxiliary
station, he oversees training, community
consultation and fosters close links with
the neighbouring islands.
Auxiliary Captain Richard Muhamad
is the leader of the 13-strong brigade
supported by his two lieutenants, Francis
Majid and John Marrington.
They have two fully-equipped composite
appliances, while a third one is based at
the neighbouring Horn Island airstrip.
‘Our guys respond to road crash rescue,
structure fires, alarm monitoring and also
30
Emergency December 2010
experience a very hectic wildfire season,’
David said.
‘We are very well equipped as we are
truly a stand-alone fire station, the nearest
QFRS assistance being Cairns some four
hours distant. When something happens,
we’re it.’
The station receives more than 100
callouts a year and their main hazard is
wildfire, but unfortunately most of those
fires are deliberately lit.
‘We do classify Thursday Island
and adjacent Islands as an iZone risk
and accordingly we actively develop
preventative strategies and LAPS to support
service delivery.’
David said the brigade had enjoyed
some success in recent times in addressing
youth fire setting.
‘The local police have been very
proactive and together we have been trying
to address this serious social issue here,’
he said.
‘Captain Muhamad and his family are
highly respected in this community and so
to have him as the face of the QFRS here
is most beneficial; people, especially the
local youth, identify with Richard and are
more receptive of his counsel.
‘I like to encourage my Indigenous guys
to engage with the local kids and the wider
community.
‘It’s about developing good Indigenous
role models. Richard, Francis and Derais
Tapim assisted by other crew members
deliver the community fire safety-based
programs including Fire Ed and the RAAP
(Road Attitudes Action Plan) program in the
local schools.
‘I would dearly love to have more
Indigenous members.’
As it is the brigade is made up of
a ‘mixed bunch’ from police officers
to paramedics and even James Cook
University employees.
‘I consider myself and the community
most fortunate having members of such
a high calibre.’
Lieutenant John Marrington’s wife
Janelle is also a member of the brigade.
‘They are affectionately known as the
Dynamic Duo. Janelle keeps us all very
much in line … she’s a breath of fresh air
in the station and we don’t know what
we’d do without her.’
David said they had been very lucky
in recent years to have not had any major
incidents to contend with.
‘TI has become quite a busy port for
local and international cruise liners.
Also the Horn Island airport has up to
65 aircraft movements a day so the
potential for a major incident is very
real.’
He said the contingencies in place are
sound should such an event occur, but it
was times like that where the isolation is
a real challenge.
David said if there was one thing he
had learnt from his six-plus years in the
community, it was that things which are
relevant in Brisbane or even Cairns just
don’t apply on Thursday Island.
‘You can’t make decisions for the
Torres Strait while sitting in Brisbane.
You have to listen to the people and
experience it personally. The same rules
and lifestyle don’t apply.
‘QFRS Regional Management in Cairns
understands this and is very open and
supportive to it.’
And as far as the idea of moving
away, David said: ‘They won’t get me
to leave here. I’m going nowhere. It’s a
great lifestyle and I have a fabulous job
… and by the way, did you know that the
Australian mainland is the largest island
in the Torres Strait?’
www.communitysafety.qld.gov.au
Photo: Michael Marston
2010 in pictures
Photo: Michael Marston
Photo: Michael Marston
www.communitysafety.qld.gov.au
Emergency December 2010
31
Loan amount
Fortnightly repayment1
$20,000
$149.36
$25,000
$186.38
$30,000
$223.39