PRODUCED BY AND FOR THE VICTORIAN SES VOLUNTEERS
ISSUE 208 MAY 2022 Printpost Approved PP 100001634
KIMBA WALL • YACKANDANDAH LIFE MEMBERS VICSES ON THE ‘G’ • VALE TASH DRAKE
Stay ahead of rising costs tntemn enenntnt amnl enmne ee femen enemtemtmenn Ienmenn en en nnmetn enmentmenn einm een4t00%nst t tnmen24nttentet Gtnntn.utbmemfntsecaum.ctm.aunmetm-enmtntment
n n enenD eel tme:nTt en enetnn n eansetifen,n nn en enfel enmin n tnmtn tn eimsmeimenn eemeetmennt en mment imn tfnnntmne eanntn enmenteenlte enn elntenntm ense ee s ln enmentmentn ssl e tteeneten mnt imntenntmnIenmentmenn ssl e tten tetn t etn eetts e menntmnsetesmenfen eefmin ln n n enen nitn lm emnem inntmnsetesmenfene emefllln metemnime i enn tmntmenntnt amn en enmentment
n tnmene entelln
CONTRIBUTIONS Letters to the editor If you have a point of view you feel would be of benefit to VicSESVA, or a request for any article which other members may be able to help source, mail it to PHOENIX. If your Unit has a need to publicise an event or Unit activity, send it to PHOENIX.
Content for Phoenix Photography should only be supplied digitally or as original prints (please supply stamped, self-addressed envelope for returning). Please avoid scanning of any type. Text should be supplied electronically as a Microsoft Word document.
Send all articles to:
www.vicsesva.org.au Contents 3
From the Board
16
Vale Glenn O’Donnell
5
AFAC National Memorial Service 2022
17
Kyabram Unit 4WD Training
18
Yackandandah Life Members
7
VicSES on the ‘G’ for AFL Country Game
20
8
Kimba Wall
Protecting communities with better warnings and communications
10
Epic floods in NSW and Queensland
22
13
Celebrating Service: Maxine Warren
The history of Fairfield Hospital Melbourne’s former Infectious Diseases Hospital helped prepare us for COVID-19
25
ESF Impact
14
Vale Tash Drake
26
Bushfire Resilience Inc.
16
Vale Annette Schueddekopf
28
A Quick Guide to VicSESVA
Email: phoenix@vicsesva.org.au
VicSESVA CONTACTS VicSESVA Phoenix Editor & Mailing List Enquiries To add, edit or delete members to mail list or password and technical support contact: helpdesk@vicsesva.org.au
VicSESVA STATE BOARD EXECUTIVE & STATE BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIR Mr David Rowlands
PRESIDENT Dr Faye Bendrups
M: 0423 777 633 E: chair@vicsesva.org.au
M: 0435 964 455 E: fayebendrups@hotmail.com
SECRETARY AND DIRECTOR SOUTH WEST REGION John McKenzie
TREASURER Sue Davidson E: treasurer@vicsesva.org.au
E: secretary@vicsesva.org.au
Advertisers Alert Countrywide Austral is appointed by the Victoria Emergency Service Association as the authorised publisher of PHOENIX. For enquiries re advertising in this magazine, please contact the printers and publishers:
DIRECTOR NORTH EAST REGION Mr Chris Brown
DIRECTOR EAST REGION Mr Ray Desem
M: 0417 550 076 E: nerc@vicsesva.org.au
E: erc@vicsesva.org.au
SHOP MANAGER AND TASK FORCE DELEGATE Mr Chris Patton
DIRECTOR NORTH WEST REGION Julie Jochs E: nwrc@vicsesva.org.au
M: 0407 310 555 E: shop@vicsesva.org.au
DIRECTOR CENTRAL WEST REGION In progress
DIRECTOR MID WEST REGION Vacant
E: cwrc@vicsesva.org.au
E: mwrc@vicsesva.org.au
VICSES PEER SUPPORT Peer Support can be accessed at any time by ringing 1800 899 927 and asking for SES Peer Support (EAS Paging). The Clinical Director can be contacted on mobile 0417 565 927 or by ringing 1800 899 927 (EAS Paging).
COUNTRYWIDE AUSTRAL Level 2, 310 King St, Melbourne GPO Box 2466, Melbourne 3001 Ph: (03) 9937 0200 Fax: (03) 9937 0201 E-mail: admin@cwaustral.com.au ACN: 30 086 202 093
CHAPLAINS CONTACT DETAILS CENTRAL REGION Major Arthur Ford M: 0416 085 634
EAST REGION Rev Judy McLeod M: 0417 347 821
NORTH WEST REGION Rev David Mills M: 0425 708 730
Major Eddy Holman M: 0412 014 557
Disclaimer Countrywide Austral (“Publisher”) advises that the contents of this publication are at the sole discretion of the Victoria State Emergency Service Volunteers Association (VicSESVA) and the publication is offered for background information purposes only. The publication has been formulated in good faith and the Publisher believes its contents to be accurate, however, the contents do not amount to a recommendation (either expressly or by implication) and should not be relied upon in lieu of specific professional advice. The Publisher disclaims all responsibility for any loss or damage which may be incurred by any reader relying upon the information contained in the publication whether that loss or damage is caused by any fault or negligence on the part of the publisher, its directors and employees. Copyright All advertisements appearing in this publication are subject to copyright and may not be reproduced except with the consent of the owner of the copyright. Advertising Advertisements in this journal are solicited from organisations and businesses on the understanding that no special considerations other than those normally accepted in respect of commercial dealings, will be given to any advertiser.
The data that VicSESVA holds for its members is solely used for the production and distribution of Phoenix and associated products.
Falling behind on your savings? Make your money work harder in an APS Term Investment. Earn up to 4.00% p.a. over 24 months.
Go to .utbmemfntsecaum.ctm.aunmetm-enmtntment
APS Savings Disclaimer: This is not a bank product, it is an unlisted APS Note. No independent assessment has been made about the risk to investors losing any of their principal investment. Applications for APS Notes can only be made on the Investment Application Form which accompanies the prospectus issued by APS Savings Ltd. Please read the prospectus carefully before deciding whether to make an investment.
REPORTS
from the
BOARD
T
his edition of Phoenix is both a proud acknowledgement of the work of SES volunteers, responding to local events and being deployed interstate, and a sorrowful record of deeply respected volunteer leaders who have passed away in recent months. The unstinting service to communities given by Tash Drake (Chelsea Unit), Glenn O’Donnell (Nillumbik Unit) and Annette Schueddekopf (Greater Dandenong Unit) is a legacy that will not be forgotten. Each of them contributed many years of dedicated service. Each of them made a difference to others around them. And each one will be dearly missed. They were all vibrant, dynamic achievers whose premature passing has been unexpected and unwelcome. But, just as they lived their lives, they would not want their deaths to be an excuse for doing less. They would want us all to be inspired by their sacrifices, and live up to their memory. We see this in the examples of others featured in this edition; such as Kimba Wall, the first volunteer with Down Syndrome,
“… we stand with our colleagues in NSW and Queensland who have experienced repeated floods since the end of February. After unprecedented fires and an unprecedented pandemic, they have now experienced floods of epic proportions.”
showing us all that there is room in the service for people who truly reflect our communities: “proof positive that everyone has something to add to the overall worth of our organisation”. And we stand with our colleagues in NSW and Queensland who have experienced repeated floods since the end of February. After unprecedented fires and an unprecedented pandemic, they have now experienced floods of epic proportions. HRH Queen Elizabeth II sent a heartfelt message referring to “Australians’ resolute
spirit and community mindedness” which has “once again shone through”. Now more than ever, we need to model the examples of Tash, Glenn and Annette, and continue to put in. Each day is an opportunity to make a difference, and each one of us is capable of doing so. In the words of Anne Frank – also prematurely taken – “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world”. The Board of VicSESVA
Chairperson chair@vicsesva.org.au
Phoenix Editor phoenix@vicsesva.org.au
North East Regional Council nerc@vicsesva.org.au
Treasurer treasurer@vicsesva.org.au
South West Regional Council swrc@vicsesva.org.au
East Regional Council erc@vicsesva.org.au
Secretary secretary@vicsesva.org.au
Mid-West Regional Council mwrc@vicsesva.org.au
Central East Regional Council cerc@vicsesva.org.au
Volunteer Shop shop@vicsesva.org.au
North West Regional Council nwrc@vicsesva.org.au
Central West Regional Council cwrc@vicsesva.org.au
vicsesva.org.au
May 2022
PHOENIX 3
IGCORP PTY LTD www.specsolar.com.au
Contact us on...
(03) 9117 6185 Email: info@specsolar.com.au
Proudly Supporting Our Local SES Volunteers
FEATURE
AFAC NATIONAL MEMORIAL SERVICE 2022
T
he eighth annual AFAC National Memorial Service was conducted on 6 May to honour the courage and sacrifice of fire and emergency personnel who have died in the line of duty. This service was conducted at the memorial wall on Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra. State Emergency Service Volunteer Merryl Dray, Queensland, who, during the recent floods died in the line of duty has been remembered and added to the Memorial Wall. Merryl’s family members were presented with the AFAC Memorial Medallion (see picture below). The National State Emergency Service Volunteers Association Chair, Gordon Hall ESM, laid a wreath during the service and acknowledged the risks and dangers that SES Volunteers face during their response to disasters and the training. Submitted by Lauren Bailey Mandurah SES, WA vicsesva.org.au
NSESVA Chair Gordon Hall ESM lays a wreath at the memorial wall.
The AFAC Memorial Medallion. May 2022
PHOENIX 5
AFAC22-AD-Half-page-190x131mm-9May.qxp_Layout 1 10/5/22 10:20 am Page 1
23–26 AuguSt 2022 ADELAIDE CONVENtION CENtRE
Connecting Communities. Creating Resilience.
Returns after 2 years!
Fire
Emergency/ Rescue
First Responders
Showcasing the latest products, solutions and services for the emergency management sector.
Public Safety
Hazardous
Mining
Fire Prevention
Australia Branch
Sponsored by
➤
#afac22
Dear SES team, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to pay tribute to one of our community’s most loved and appreciated volunteer organisations. We are grateful for your constant support to our entire community. Keep it up. Yours sincerely,
afacconference.com.au
FEATURE
VICSES ON THE ‘G’ FOR AFL COUNTRY GAME
MORE THAN 30 VICSES VOLUNTEERS WERE PART OF THE ON-FIELD CEREMONY AT THE POWERCOR AFL COUNTRY FESTIVAL GAME BETWEEN GEELONG AND ESSENDON AT THE MCG ON SATURDAY 19 MARCH.
T
he annual match is held in support of regional communities, and helps celebrate their contribution to our country. It’s about showing gratitude for country people and highlighting the wonderful things they do. This year, major sponsor Powercor chose VICSES to join the pre-game activities to recognise the incredible work of VICSES volunteers in responding to storms, floods, and other emergencies. Powercor General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Jo Pafumi said, “We know first-hand how committed and driven SES volunteers are when responding to emergencies, as we saw in June last year.” VICSES volunteers took part in the pre-game celebration on the MCG, alongside Powercor engineers holding the giant Australian flag, as Casey Barnes sang Waltzing Matilda. They then formed a guard of honour as the two teams came on to the ground, and were invited to stay and enjoy the game. VICSES is made up of 150 geographically dispersed units across the state with over 5,000 volunteers, 61% of which hail from regional Victoria. Emergency service volunteers are such vicsesva.org.au
an integral part of the make-up of regional and rural communities in Australia. The storm and flood event of early June 2021 was one of the most significant events VICSES has ever responded to, resulting in over 10,000 calls for assistance. VICSES Gisborne Unit Deputy Controller Rosie McMahon and VICSES
Winchelsea Unit volunteer Angela Hooper, joined AFL stars Tom Hawkins from Geelong and Zach Merrett from Essendon for the media launch in the lead up. By Jamie Devenish Manager Community Resilience and Communications, VICSES VHO May 2022
PHOENIX 7
FEATURE
KIMBA WALL
For the Community, From the Community 32 YEAR OLD KIMBA WALL HAS BEEN THE UNOFFICIAL MASCOT FOR THE CHELSEA SES UNIT FOR ALMOST 10 YEARS, ALONGSIDE HER DAD PHIL, A 19 YEAR MEMBER. KIMBA HAPPENS TO HAVE DOWN SYNDROME.
R
ecently, Chelsea Controller Ron Fitch, spoke to Phil and Kimba about making her membership official, everybody agreed that the time was right, and so the process was set in motion. Phil is the Deputy Controller for Community Engagement, and this was an area that they believed Kimba could bring so much to. Chelsea SES has a motto, “For the community, From the community”. Simply, ordinary people, taking care of their own, in times of need. As Phil said, “Kimba is most certainly part of our community, and now, as a member of Chelsea SES, is going to be helping us grow that relationship that creates community engagement even further”. As parents, mum Maryann and dad Phil, have always told Kimba there was nothing she couldn’t try because of Down Syndrome, and her coming to Chelsea SES was no different. Kimba filled out her application on line, uploaded her vaccination status and had her Working With Children proof, and pushed send. Not long after, she was so excited to discover that she had been accepted and now she had her official VICSES ID number.
8 PHOENIX
May 2022
It was then that Chelsea Deputy Controller for Training, Cathryn, suggested that Kimba should go for her Crew Member Supervised assessment. Kimba jumped at the chance, and so it began. Along with nine other brand new members, Kimba put her heart and soul into training, and did really well. She went through every aspect of the training with no corners cut and certainly no special treatment. If she couldn’t complete it, it was not a problem
as she was always going to be a Non Operational member, but what a feather in her cap if she could, and she blitzed it! What this means is, if Kimba does attend an incident with her dad as part of media, she will be very aware of what is happening, what to do, and just as importantly, what not to do, and where not to be, to stay safe. Kimba has attended two events with Chelsea so far: the ANZAC Day Dawn Service, and recently, at the local Mother’s Day Classic run for Breast Cancer, and the public’s reaction has been wonderful. From pleasant surprise, to big smiles, to simply, WOW, and all 100 per cent positive. Kimba was recently joined by dad Phil, EMV Commissioner, Andrew Crisp, VICSES CEO Stephen Griffin and VICSES COO, Time Wiebusch, at a media conference to launch WOW Day for 2022. Kimba did a great job and the launch was featured on the 7, 9 and ABC TV news. At three months of age, Kimba had open heart surgery at the Royal Children’s Hospital, to repair two holes in her heart, or as she puts it; to fix her broken heart. The day after the operation, while Kimba was in ICU, her blood pressure suddenly dropped to zero, and technically, they lost her. vicsesva.org.au
FEATURE
The medical team rushed in and worked on her, and got her back, and after explaining what had just happened to Maryann and Phil, it became apparent very quickly, that Kimba was here for a reason. For the past five years, Kimba has been a member of the BAM Allstars, a fantastic group that sees individuals with additional needs, shining as performers on stage, acting, singing, and dancing, a real triple threat. Through BAM, Kimba has performed at many iconic Melbourne events. She has performed at the Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Park Zoo, the St Kilda Festival, Fashion Week in Bendigo, and even at Google HQ. She performed twice at Government House for Australia Day celebrations, and shared even some dance tips with Victorian Governor, Linda Dessau AC. She was in the 2022 Moomba Parade, and currently can be seen in two commercials running on TV. Kimba says she is so proud to be a member of the Chelsea Unit. Well we can tell you that the Chelsea Unit is very proud to have Kimba as a member. Kimba and the crew at Chelsea SES are simply a perfect fit, and proof positive that everyone has something to add to the overall worth of our organisation. vicsesva.org.au
May 2022
PHOENIX 9
FEATURE
EPIC FLOODS IN NSW AND QUEENSLAND THE FEBRUARY-MARCH 2022 EASTERN AUSTRALIA FLOODS WERE ONE OF THE NATION’S WORST RECORDED FLOOD DISASTERS IN HISTORY.
A
series of floods occurred in South East Queensland and parts of coastal New South Wales. Brisbane suffered major flooding, along with the cities of Maryborough, Gympie, the Sunshine Coast, Caboolture, Toowoomba, Ipswich, Logan City, the Gold Coast, Murwillumbah, Grafton, Byron Bay, Ballina, Lismore, the Central Coast and parts of Sydney. Twenty-two people were known to have died during the disaster. Throughout South East Queensland, almost one thousand schools were closed in response to the flooding. Evacuations took place and the public were advised to avoid non-essential travel. Food shortages were reported across the region, due to the ensuing supply chain crisis. Properties were left uninhabitable; after around 1,400 rapid property damage assessments taken in Lismore, 900 of them were considered uninhabitable. The Insurance Council of Australia figures calculated the cost of claims from the disaster to be $1.45 billion, but that figure is expected to rise. 5000 ADF personnel were deployed across the flood disaster areas by March 5. Only a few weeks later, at the end of March, the floods returned and an evacuation order was given for parts of Northern New South Wales due to the ‘life‑threatening’ floods.
10 PHOENIX
May 2022
Along with other EM agencies, Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) volunteers were deployed to support flood affected communities in the northern rivers region of NSW. On 1 April a taskforce was sent to Coffs Harbour, made up of 45 personnel from both VICSES and Country Fire Authority (CFA) along with 12 vehicles which departed en route to affected areas.
The VICSES volunteer teams were sent to relieve local NSWSES crews, and respond to new RFAs as they come in, including the types of jobs that are the ‘bread and butter’ of SES: removal of fallen trees, temporary roof repairs, sandbagging and water diversion, community information etc. The VICSES volunteers came from across Metropolitan Melbourne, the South West, Mid West, and North East Regions of Victoria. vicsesva.org.au
FEATURE NSW FLOOD UPDATE 6 March 2022
Requests for SES assistance
1,023
Total requests for SES assistance
16,219 Flood Rescues
42
Evacuation Orders
56
Evacuation Warnings
7
Safe to return
35
Message of Support to Flood Victims from HRH Queen Elizabeth II The repeated disasters which Australia experiences do not go unnoticed further afield. Messages of support are received from all over the world, including the one here from HRH Queen Elizabeth II.
vicsesva.org.au
May 2022
PHOENIX 11
According to the Master Builders Association, over 80% of building defects are due to waterproofing defects with strata units amongst the most affected. Peeling paint, failing plaster linings and warped floorboards are increasingly observed in both newer and old strata units. Water ingress can also lead to health issues from mould and mildew as well as anxiety for owners’ wondering when the next rain event is forecast. Unfortunately for Owners Corporations, many remedial repairs do not result in “fixing” the defect but rather patching it up. Accurate diagnosis is critical in devising a permanent repair for any leaking building. We Find Leaks Plumbers Can’t! -Non-Invasive Technology -Find & Fix Your Leak Today -Find Leak Guarantee
Proudly Supporting the SES Volunteers Association
Contact us on: Ph:1300 346 353 | Email: admin@1300findleak.com.au
Bridget VALLENCE MP Member for Evelyn
143 Main Street, Lilydale VIC 3140 www.BridgetVallence.com.au | 9735 3208
WE THANK OUR SES VOLUNTEERS FOR THEIR DEDICATED COMMUNITY SERVICE Cathrine BURNETT-WAKE MP Member for Eastern Victoria Region
51 James Street, Pakenham VIC 3810 www.CathrineBurnettWake.com.au | 5941 1112
Contact Kara on: Mob: 0418 202 221 Email: braidwoodacres@gmail.com Find us on Facebook and Instagram
Proudly Supporting the SES Volunteers Association
www.beyondblue.org.au 1300 22 4636
FEATURE
CELEBRATING SERVICE:
MAXINE WARREN DURING NATIONAL VOLUNTEERING WEEK (BEGINNING 16 MAY) AND WEAR ORANGE WEDNESDAY (WOW DAY), MAXINE WARREN, THE DEPUTY CONTROLLER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR HOBSON’S BAY WAS FEATURED IN THE LOCAL PRESS. MAXINE HAS BEEN VOLUNTEERING FOR VICSES FOR SIX YEARS FOLLOWING VOLUNTEER WORK IN EQUESTRIAN SPORTS AND A CAREER IN DEFENCE.
I
joined because I come from a life of volunteering in different areas,” she said. “I love horses, so I was volunteering in equestrian sports but when that came to an end, I wanted to volunteer within the community of Hobsons Bay. VICSES runs on a command-and-control structure which is like Defence, so it was easy to understand the organisational structure and where I fit in”. Ms Warren said she has been deployed to the Gippsland fires in 2019 as a coxswain to provide evacuation by water if needed, as a community engagement facilitator in Orbost in 2020 and to the floods in Queensland earlier this year.
“A resilient community like this allows our volunteers and emergency services to respond to lifethreatening situations and to work more effectively over a larger response area.”
“I’ve done land search, four-wheel drive, working at heights, boat rescue, chainsaw, but my favourite training and experience has been with community engagement where we raise awareness of the service, so people know when to call us. The most important part of community engagement, though, is preparedness”. “A resilient community like this allows our volunteers and emergency services to respond to life-threatening situations and to work more effectively over a larger response area.” Held during National Volunteer Week, WOW Day is an important annual day of appreciation for volunteers like Maxine, who selflessly dedicate their time and skills to helping their communities. Submitted by Jaymes Oldani DC Training VICSES Hobsons Bay vicsesva.org.au
May 2022
PHOENIX 13
VALE
VALE TASH DRAKE TASH DRAKE BEGAN HER TIME WITH CHELSEA SES ON 7 JULY 2016, AND HOW SHE CHANGED OVER THE NEXT 6 YEARS.
14 PHOENIX
May 2022
W
hen Tash arrived, she was a very quiet, shy and in some ways, insecure young lady, and when our Unit Controller spoke to her about her thoughts about a role in SES going forward, she told him she was keen to be involved in Community Engagement. We were a little unsure that she would be suited to the role, and the fact that she would need to present to groups of people, may have been a little confronting for her. How wrong we all were. Tash worked so hard to overcome being so far out of her comfort zone, and was soon running incursions into the unit by community groups, presenting to schools and other groups and creating initiatives to interact
with the community through various forms of engagement. In the 6 years that Tash was with us at Chelsea, she found her voice, she grew and blossomed into a vibrant, confident, and self-assured young woman, who was ready and willing to take on any new role that came her way. Her family have told us, that the past 5 years, were some of the happiest of her life. It was the perfect fit. Tash was great for Chelsea SES, and Chelsea SES was great for Tash. On Monday 21 February, Tash suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm, and was rushed to Monash Medical Centre, and was immediately put on life support, in Intensive vicsesva.org.au
VALE
Care. Tragically, the decision was made that her life support would be discontinued, and that happened at 8.30am on the morning of Friday 25 of February. The shock wave of this news was incredible, and made worse by her age, just 27 years old. Her family agreed to us sharing this devastating news with the community that Tash supported so well through our Facebook page, and the post reached more than 55 thousand people. But I honestly think the saddest part for me, was that the best of her life still lay ahead of her. On 9 March, Tash was laid to rest with over 200 family and friends in attendance. Following the service, a Guard of Honour, made up of more than 60 members from vicsesva.org.au
Chelsea SES, VICSES Chief Officer Tim Wiebusch, VICSES Central Region Manager, Ray Jasper, Edithvale CFA, Victoria Police, City of Kingston Mayor, Councillor Steve Staikos, State Member for Mordialloc, Tim Richardson, and members from other local SES Units, lined the road, while a Chelsea SES vehicle, with lights shrouded in black, escorted the hearse carrying Tash, to her final resting place. The day after the funeral, a tribute to Tash was delivered on the floor of State Parliament by Tim Richardson on behalf of the State of Victoria I was honoured to be asked to conduct the service by Tash’s Dad Glenn, and Brother Liam, who flew from London to be with Tash within just 24 hours. It was without a doubt
the hardest day I have had in my 19 years with Chelsea SES, but also the proudest. A very special thank you to Photographer Gary Sissons, for the wonderful and respectful way he captured the essence of the day, which was truly appreciated by the family. We often speak about our Orange family, well never was it more evident, than in the days and weeks following Tash’s passing. We often use the term We Work As One; on that day, I think it was more appropriate to say, “We Grieve As One”. Rest In Peace Tash, and fly high. Submitted by Phil Wall VICSES Chelsea May 2022
PHOENIX 15
VALE
VALE ANNETTE SCHUEDDEKOPF
ON FRIDAY 6 MAY 2022 GREATER DANDENONG UNIT LOST AN INCREDIBLY SPECIAL MEMBER OF OUR FAMILY IN ORANGE. ANNETTE SCHUEDDEKOPF PASSED AWAY AFTER A BRAVE BATTLE WITH CANCER.
A
nnette embodied the spirit of selfless and benevolent service like no other. She knew the greatest gift she could give was time, of which she gave to everyone around her, to those in need…never ceasing to amaze, never failing to put on an infectious smile with kindness, gentleness and compassion that couldn’t be missed, even at the very end. This incredible woman would give you the shirt off her back, even if it’s the last thing she had - without hesitation. This was illustrated perfectly with her selfless service to the community during the 2019/20 Victorian Fires at Cann River, East Gippsland. As the fire front approached and the community was sheltering at the local primary school, Annette’s concern was for the children of Cann River. Her personality and background as an education aid made her perceptive to the needs of the children and she looked after them during that frightening time as the fire approached and the school came under ember attack. After remaining isolated with the community for a week, Annette helped guide community members and their children to the safety of Orbost. For this extraordinary work, Annette embodied the true spirit of service for the National Emergency Medal.
No words can describe how much you’ll be missed. VICSES Greater Dandenong sends our condolences to the Schueddekopf Family at this time. Vale Annette Schueddekopf, rest in eternal peace. Submitted by Erin Wallace DC Community Engagement and Administration, VICSES Greater Dandenong
Editor’s note: The Board of VicSESVA also acknowledges the significant contribution of Annette as a delegate to VicSESVA. Only weeks before her death, Annette was apologising for not being able to do more. She was a valued and popular member at meetings and she will be greatly missed. Thank you Annette.
VALE GLENN O’DONNELL
GLENN O’DONNELL ESM, VICSES NILLUMBIK UNIT CONTROLLER AND VICSES LIFE MEMBER, PASSED AWAY IN LATE MARCH 2022 AFTER A SHORT BATTLE WITH CANCER.
F
or his funeral service, a guard of honour was formed along Main Road, Eltham as a fitting farewell to a man respected by all who knew him. Glenn dedicated 34 years to VICSES an his community. He joined in 1988 and has been Unit Controller for the past 18 years. He previously held other leadership positions including Team Leader, Crew Leader, Rescue Officer and Training Officer. He responded and coordinated responses to many emergencies, searches and rescues in his response area, as well as on deployments in regional Victoria and also interstate, including the Black Saturday bushfires of
16 PHOENIX
May 2022
2009. He also participated in several task forces and working groups. In 2017 he was awarded the Emergency Services Medal for his exemplary service in his support of his community. Glenn’s service also has resulted in the transformation of the Nillumbik Unit from its basic beginnings to a new modern facility. He built strong relationships with local and state government representatives and was a tireless advocate for SES. Glenn is remembered by all who knew him as a great leader, a great example and a great friend. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him. vicsesva.org.au
FEATURE
Garth Matthews and Graeme Torney.
KYABRAM UNIT 4WD TRAINING
KYABRAM UNIT DID SOME 4X4 SKILLS TRAINING AT MOUNT BLACK NEAR RUSHWORTH WITH THREE MEMBERS: GRAEME TORNEY, PAT TORNEY AND GARTH MATTHEWS.
F
irst we did some off road training through some small gullies, then we took to a medium climb over Mavele’s Hill which is about 70 meters above sea level. After a few mud holes we then took on Mount Black, a narrow steep gravel track rising 320 meters above sea level. This was the first time we had driven Mount Black. We didn’t even know it was
vicsesva.org.au
there, but we took our skills and the Little Ranger to the limit and after 20 minutes made it to the peak. A great view could be seen from the peak and after a walk around we returned down and set sail for home. Submitted by Pat Torney VICSES Kyabram
Steep and rough terrain.
May 2022
PHOENIX 17
FEATURE
YACKANDANDAH LIFE MEMBERS ON SATURDAY 30 APRIL, YACKANDANDAH SES MEMBERS JOE RIELLA AND STEVE ROBERTS RECEIVED THEIR LIFE MEMBERSHIP AWARDS.
T
he Life Membership Award recognises those volunteers who have given active and significant service beyond the efficient regular service recognised by the VICSES Long Service Award. To be eligible for this award one must be currently active in their Unit and have served a minimum of 20 years, be dedicated to the organisation, show that their contributions to the service have enhanced its standing within the wider community and been actively involved in the service and have contributed to its development and leadership. We could think of no two more deserving members than Joe Riella and Steve Roberts.
Submitted by Louise Rietmann Training Officer, VICSES Yackandandah
Joe Riella has been a valued member of the State Emergency Service for 35 years and still counting. During his time with SES, Joe has demonstrated a high level of commitment and dedication to volunteering. He was a trainer for the Wodonga SES for 15 years before becoming the controller. During that time, he became an integral part of the development of the Rescue Boat Training. He trained members to very high standard in every aspect and is well recognised for his skills as a Rescue Boat Coxswain. Many rescues were under his superb leadership. In 1992, Joe was the Team Leader for crews at the Wodonga unit assisting in the floods. His role included organising crews to be deployed to flooded areas, as well as, completing tasks such as rescue people from homes and vehicles, animal rescues and general reconnaissance of the area where he would report back to the Incident Control Centre. In 2015, the Yackandandah and surrounding towns were inundated with rain causing flooding to newly built homes and roads. Joe’s role included hours of sandbagging, traffic control and the welfare of those around him. Joe joined the Yackandandah SES Unit in 2002 and has attended many rescues over the years. Joe has around 60 SES competencies and is still continuing to learn. During the Black Saturday Fires, Joe assisted with navigating fire crews into the remote
18 PHOENIX
May 2022
Joe Riella and Steve Roberts.
Tom Riella, Joe Riella, Raelene Riella.
4WD fire areas of the Yackandandah/ Stanley Forest. He supported the CFA with ration deliveries and any other deliveries that were needed. Joe encourages members to reach their best possible abilities. He has a wonderful sense of humour that resonates through to the members. He has a high skill level and has a wonderful way of training
to an exceptional standard. Due to Joe’s abilities and knowledge, he is a wonderful mentor for all members during training and callouts. He is patient, caring, and always thinks outside the box. We are extremely proud to have such a wonderful member and lifelong friend in Joe. Congratulations on the amazing work and impressive award. vicsesva.org.au
FEATURE
Steve Roberts and Maree Roberts with VICSES representatives.
Steve Roberts has been an active member of the state Emergency Service for over 32 years. The knowledge that he brings with him is priceless. He began his career in SES at the Albury SES Unit and since joining the Yackandandah SES in 1992 has been a unit trainer, deputy controller and controller. In 2002 and 2003, Steve helped petition and fundraise for a new vehicle for the Unit. This was a difficult challenge being only a small town of 600 people at the time. Steve has received 70 competencies during his time in the SES including his Certificate III in Public Safety and his Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. Steve is an integral part of the Unit’s Alpine Search and Survival Team. Steve has been deployed multiple times, assisting in floods, the Formula One Grand Prix and alpine searches. In the fires in 2003 and the Black Saturday fires in 2009, Steve assisted CFA through delivering items to the fire ground, providing his navigational skills to get tankers to the fire ground and clearing the road from debris to ensure clear paths for the CFA tankers. vicsesva.org.au
Steve rarely misses a training session and is one of our most dedicated members. He is well respected not only in our SES family but in the community of Yackandandah. The knowledge and skills that Steve brings to SES is invaluable. He has high expectations and is very precise in his skills. He is a fantastic mentor to all members and is always open to learn new things. Steve is not only deserving of this award but worthy of every single award he has received throughout his year volunteering. Fantastic effort Steve. The knowledge of these two members brings amazing skills, experiences and wisdom to our unit at Yackandandah. Both Steve and Joe have taught us invaluable lessons and continue to attend, plan and participate actively in training. We are so lucky to be able to learn from such amazing men. Congratulations Steve and Joe on your superb effort for yourself, your family and our community. This is what SES is about.
“We could think of no two more deserving members than Joe Riella and Steve Roberts.”
May 2022
PHOENIX 19
FEATURE
Ruby and Tom from Harkaway Primary School explain their knowledge of bushfire to CFA’s Neil Munro and Dr Briony Towers. Credit: Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC.
PROTECTING COMMUNITIES WITH BETTER WARNINGS AND COMMUNICATIONS AN ONLINE DOCUMENTARY SERIES IS HELPING TO USE THE LATEST RESEARCH TO PREPARE, RESPOND AND RECOVER FROM HAZARDS.
A
n online documentary series profiles key Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC research about warnings, public information and recovery to support emergency services in protecting communities. The series, called Driving change: the evolution of communications and warnings in emergency preparedness, response and recovery, shows the impact of the research as it follows communications and engagement practitioners from different sectors, meeting the researchers and learning how to apply this knowledge to their own work. Watch the full series at www.bnhcrc.com.au/communicationswarnings-video-series. The series is structured around three themes – preparedness, response and recovery – and includes an introduction that explains the how and why behind the evolution of communications and warnings in recent years. Each theme includes different types of videos to give viewers a taster of the topic, the full feature or in‑depth interviews with researchers. The documentaries give a big picture view of the impact of research on policy and practice, and how it can be used,
20 PHOENIX
May 2022
explained the CEO of Natural Hazards Research Australia (incorporating the CRC), Dr Richard Thornton. “We know that emergency service agencies have used this research to improve their practices and what they deliver to their communities, whether that is educating kids in the classroom, informing the warnings that go out when bushfires flare, or helping to plan for post-disaster,” Dr Thornton said. “But we also know that as the role of providing public information expands to different types of organisations, more and more people and different types of organisations outside of traditional emergency response will need to do this in the future. The series showcases how the research is being used and the difference it is making, to guide those who need to do this in the future.” The series will be a valuable source of information for anyone volunteering or working in warnings, public information, community engagement, education or recovery roles, and is well-suited to team training or upskilling sessions. It will be used as companion guidance for the Australian Disaster Resilience Institute’s Handbook collection, explained AIDR Executive Director Amanda Leck.
“There are some real synergies between the research covered in the documentaries and the Handbooks,” Ms Leck said. “Handbooks are underpinned by research and bring this together with good practice from across Australia. These videos will support implementation of the Handbooks and assist the sector to utilise research and improve practice. “With the research contributing substantially to a number of Handbooks, such as public information and warnings, community engagement for disaster resilience and community recovery, the series will be a key resource for anyone learning about best practice and how to use research in their role preparing, responding or recovering from emergencies.”
PREPAREDNESS
Child-centred disaster risk reduction How can children best participate in emergency planning? The key is making the learning place-based, according to Dr Briony Towers, designing learning activities that draw on the natural and social environment that children are in every day, tailoring learning to their personal interests and priorities. Join Dr Towers and CFA’s vicsesva.org.au
FEATURE
Cathy Buck from the Sunshine Coast Council (left) gets insights from Kath Ryan (right) about how the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services have used the research to improve their warning messages. Credit: Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC.
Neil Munro in exploring how disaster education at Harkaway Primary School on Melbourne’s urban fringe is upskilling and empowering children to prepare for a bushfire at home, at school and in their town. In this video, Neil learns about the research findings, meets Ruby and Tom, their mothers, and their principal, and reflects on how he can use the research to continue to improve bushfire education. Also available on this topic is an interview with Dr Briony Towers. Managing animals in disasters Around 62 per cent of Australian households have pets, and a majority of these households consider their pets to be part of the family. How can people take into account the safety of their pets during an emergency, and consider the extent that their pets will change their emergency response? Join Hon A/Prof Mel Taylor to find out how this research shows that engaging with people about their animals can lead to animal-ready communities and better emergency preparedness for everyone. Also available on this topic is an interview with Hon A/Prof Mel Taylor.
RESPONSE
Effective risk and warning communication during natural hazards Warnings are a critical component of emergency management, and the evolution of both policy and practice over recent years has highlighted the power of warnings to save lives and a need to learn more about why some warning strategies were more successful than others. With more organisations outside of traditional emergency response agencies vicsesva.org.au
now having greater responsibility with public information and warnings, this video follows Cathy Buck, Disaster Management Coordinator at the Sunshine Coast Council in Queensland. Cathy explores the key research findings with Prof Vivienne Tippett and Prof Amisha Mehta from the Queensland University of Technology and sees firsthand how the research has improved the warnings issued by from the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services with Information and Warnings Manager Kath Ryan. Also available on this topic are interviews with Prof Vivienne Tippett and Prof Amisha Mehta. Flood risk communication The sight of people walking, driving or playing in floodwaters is a source of great frustration for the emergency services. With populations in flood-prone areas growing and the frequency and intensity of flood events increasing, flood safety has never been so important. For community engagement and communications personnel such as Katie Moulton from the New South Wales State Emergency Service, finding ways to connect with people around flood safety is a constant challenge. In this video, Katie learns about the psychology behind people’s responses to floods and warning messages from Hon A/Prof Mel Taylor as they visit areas flooded in the Hawkesbury region of NSW in March 2021, and speak with Kevin Jones, Unit Commander of the Hawkesbury SES. The research shows that there are more opportunities to cut through and influence the decisions of those faced with floodwaters to stop them before they enter. Also available on this topic is an interview with Hon A/Prof Mel Taylor.
RECOVERY
Understanding and using Recovery Capitals research While knowledge on effective recovery has changed significantly in the past two decades, and continues to develop through research and practice, recovery is an area that has traditionally been poorly understood and applied by response agencies. This research produced a disaster recovery guide for people, organisations and governments managing emergency recovery, which aims to support wellbeing after disasters by providing evidencebased guidance to aid decision making. This video follows Rowena Frost, Municipal Recovery Manager for the Surf Coast Shire Council in Victoria, as she explores the research findings and recovery guide with Prof Lisa Gibbs from the University of Melbourne, learning how to use the research to improve relief and recovery with her local community. Also available in this theme is an interview with Prof Lisa Gibbs. The series would not have been possible without the support of AFAC, the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience, and all researchers and agency representatives who feature across the series. Driving change: the evolution of communications and warnings in emergency preparedness, response and recovery was produced and filmed by Polygraph Productions. Watch the full series on the CRC website at www.bnhcrc.com.au/ communications-warnings-video-series. By: Nathan Maddock Natural Hazards Research Australia May 2022
PHOENIX 21
FEATURE
THE HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD HOSPITAL MELBOURNE’S FORMER INFECTIOUS DISEASES HOSPITAL HELPED PREPARE US FOR COVID-19 OPEN FIREPLACES, SOFT LEATHER COUCHES, RICKETY OLD STAIRS AND PEACOCKPOPULATED GROUNDS THAT SWEPT DOWN TO THE BANKS OF THE YARRA RIVER.
C
linical researcher Suzanne Crowe AO has fond memories from her time as a medical student in Australia’s last dedicated infectious diseases hospital. “There were ducks running around, you’d have scones with jam served in the sitting room for your morning tea,” she said. “You had a sense of history, working there.” The Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital’s history stretches back to the early years of colonisation, as Victoria struggled to maintain basic sanitation amid a gold rushfuelled population boom. In Melbourne, a lack of proper sewerage infrastructure enabled the easy spread of communicable diseases across the entire population. Historian William Anderson wrote that dysentery, syphilis and smallpox, measles, scarlet fever, whooping cough and diphtheria were prevalent across Melbourne, and young children were among the most vulnerable. Large families were common as parents factored in the very real possibility that several children would not survive to adulthood. For Aboriginal communities, the toll of infectious diseases introduced during Australia’s colonisation had already been immense. A queen’s edict crowdfunds a hospital But by the late 19th century, a more sophisticated understanding of infectious diseases was emerging, and the need for a dedicated “fever hospital” in Melbourne came into focus. Anderson, who authored a detailed book on the hospital’s history, wrote that the opportunity to raise funds for the hospital presented itself as Queen Victoria celebrated 60 years on the throne in 1897. The Queen had decreed that any funds raised to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee should be used “towards the amelioration of the sick and suffering of the community”. Victoria’s political leaders seized on the opportunity to launch a campaign for Melbourne’s fever hospital, including concerts and even a poem which aimed to tug on the heart (and purse) strings of the community. The poem ended with lines that underscored the traumatic toll infectious diseases were wreaking on the community’s youngest:
22 PHOENIX
May 2022
The Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital’s fleet of ambulances in the 1930s. (Fever Hospital: A History of Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital)
Queen Victoria’s Jubilee presented an ideal opportunity to raise cash for the muchneeded hospital.(Fever Hospital: A History of Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital)
Babies distraught and delirious with pain, Asking in whispers, for just a cool pillow, Asking for help — shall they ask in vain? The fundraiser was a huge success, raising 16,000 pounds and enabling the opening in 1904 of the Queen’s Memorial Infectious Diseases Hospital at Fairfield, in Melbourne’s northeast. In the next few years, the hospital had plenty to keep it busy, as waves of scarlet fever and diphtheria brought an influx of patients.
A generation of polio survivors endure well-meaning but ‘sinister’ treatments But in the decades that followed, the hospital began to build its expertise and reputation as a centre of excellence for the treatment of infectious diseases, including the influenza outbreak after World War I. That was followed by the polio epidemic, which the hospital prepared to combat with vicsesva.org.au
FEATURE
The hospital soon procured its first ambulance to support patients in urgent need of its services.(Fever Hospital: A History of Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital)
These children with polio were being treated on a hospital verandah due to overcrowding during the 1937 epidemic.(Fever Hospital: A History of Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital)
Over decades, the hospital built a strong reputation as a centre of excellence for clinical infectious diseases care.(Fever Hospital: A History of Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital)
The hospital was largely known as ‘Fairfield Hospital’, and in the 50s its title referencing Queen Victoria dropped out of use.(Fever Hospital: A History of Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital)
a supply of “iron lung” ventilators from London. The disease, which can present as a flu, is devastating for a small number of patients, and hit children especially hard. People are worst affected when the virus reaches the nervous system, paralysing muscles including the diaphragm or limbs. There’s a familiar ring to a note around this time from the hospital’s medical superintendent, F.V. Scholes, where he described the pressures of the epidemic. “Not only were the majority of the older and more experienced nurses required for the Poliomyelitis wards, in which, particularly in the respirator wards, a large staff had to be maintained, but very careful nursing and isolation measures were necessary in the Diphtheria and Scarlet Fever wards to prevent infection there,” he wrote. “Finally, several hundred patients were admitted as suspected cases of Poliomyelitis, found actually to be suffering from a wide variety of diseases, and for many months, all the isolation accommodation in the hospital was taken up.” Polio would continue to pose a challenge to humanity worldwide for decades to come. Vaccines were produced in Australia from the 1950s onwards, but it wasn’t until 2000 that the Western Pacific region, including Australia, was declared polio-free. vicsesva.org.au
Vivian Bullwinkel rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel during her army service.
Vivian Bullwinkel (left) had her contribution to the hospital recognised with the dedication of a new nursing ward in 1978.(Fever Hospital: A History of Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital)
A WWII hero takes the helm as matron As the hospital marched into the late 1960s, its profile was further boosted with the recruitment of the legendary World War II nurse Vivian Bullwinkel AO as its new Matron. Ms Bullwinkel was a household name across Australia, as the sole survivor of the Banka Island massacre in 1942, when Japanese soldiers shot the survivors of a shipwreck south of Singapore. Nurses who trained and worked alongside her still speak of her “incredible leadership” and the care she gave not only to patients but colleagues, with an apparently prodigious memory for
each nurse she worked with. Her widely respected 16-year tenure was later honoured with the establishment of the Vivian Bullwinkel School of Nursing. In 1963, the hospital was designated a World Health Organization (WHO) Influenza Centre. A year later, the international body recognised Fairfield’s laboratory as the Oceanic Regions Reference Centre for Enteroviruses and Respiratory Viruses. An epidemiologist visiting from Glasgow referred to the hospital in a letter as “one of the most important world centres for the study of communicable disease”. That expertise was about to be tested. May 2022
PHOENIX 23
FEATURE
The hospital found passionate advocates in its current and former patients.(Fever Hospital: A History of Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital)
An epidemic arrives with uncomfortable parallels to COVID-19 A lull between infectious diseases epidemics came to an end in the 80s, as predominantly gay men began to present to their doctors with swollen lymph glands and other symptoms that didn’t quite line up to any existing illness. As researchers around the globe began to join the dots on HIV and the deadly acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) it caused. Professor Suzanne Crowe was part of the team that set up the Fairfield hospital’s HIV clinic, where they were startled to find 25 per cent of people presenting were testing positive to the virus. She said it was a challenging time as she and two female colleagues, Anne Mijch and Jan Watson, worked to build a safe space for their patients, who faced “rampant” homophobia in the community. Professor Crowe said the team prided itself on a culture of non-judgemental care, which stood in contrast to some other hospitals during the early, panicked chapters of the epidemic. “For example, at one of Melbourne’s major public hospitals, their food was left outside their door and the cleaners didn’t want to go in and clean,” she said. It was a painful time, too, as Professor Crowe regularly attended funerals for the young, funny patients she had come to know so well. By the late 80s, the hospital was planning a second and then a third ward to house the growing number of AIDS patients. In a time of crisis, the hospital played a national role, with its legendary medical virologist Ian Gust (who had already helped develop vaccines against Hepatitis A) establishing the National HIV Reference Laboratory. It was around this time that virologist Gilda Tachedjian graduated from university and began work at the hospital, keen to use her skills to tackle the HIV epidemic. While therapeutic care was welcomed, what was crucially needed was treatment. Professor Tachedjian said the work was intellectually exciting, as she spent hours “desperately trying to find a drug that will inhibit the virus growing in the test tube”. “[The hospital] was a really fascinating environment to work in ... because you had the
24 PHOENIX
May 2022
The impassioned displays of support kept the hospital’s doors open for a while, but couldn’t delay its eventual closure.(Fever Hospital: A History of Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital)
clinicians working hand in hand with the basic researchers,” she said. It was also profoundly sobering, as she saw many young men around her who were extremely sick with the virus. “And there was nothing much that we could do for these individuals, because there were no drugs at the time,” she said. “We’ve come a long way over the last 40 years. HIV was a death sentence then.” The controversial closure of an icon, fought until the very end But as infectious diseases epidemics ebbed and flowed, so too did the hospital’s usefulness in the eyes of the governments who funded it. In the 1920s and 30s, when epidemics of diphtheria, scarlet fever, measles, whooping cough and meningitis were common threats, the hospital had bed occupancy of 500 or more per month. By 1990 the average rate was just 73, most of whom were AIDS patients. Hospital staff were concerned that what had become renowned as the “Fairfield culture of care” at the hospital would be lost if the hospital was dissolved and amalgamated into the broader hospital network. When the serving Labor government health minister Maureen Lyster announced Fairfield’s closure in 1991, it sparked an outcry. Health unions and staff joined forces to launch a campaign to save the hospital, and managed to push the Labor government back into a position of deliberation on the centre’s future. A mass rally of more than 1,000 patients, staff and supporters marched to Parliament House. The emotional defence of the hospital managed to stay its closure for a time, but not forever. After a few more years of controversy and angst over the hospital’s future, including prominent advocacy for its retention from AIDS support groups, the hospital was closed in 1996 by the Liberal-National Kennett government, in a process Professor Crowe recalled as “rather clumsy”. “Instead of transferring [the hospital’s expertise] in total to one of the hospitals, the expertise was carved up into pieces and so the collective impact was lost, no doubt about that,” she said. “It doesn’t mean to say that hasn’t been rebuilt, because it has, and infectious diseases is now incredibly
strong across Melbourne again. “But for a few years it was very difficult.” Much of the research capability from the hospital lives on in the Burnet Institute, where Professor Crowe continued her HIV research. Australia has benefited from the expertise honed at Fairfield Years later, as Victoria weathered its second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the state government pushed ahead with plans to build a $650 million Institute of Infectious Disease in Parkville. The opposition, too, made its own pledge to fund a new infectious disease response centre and more specialist nurses. Professor Crowe said while there had certainly been reflections over the years about the times the Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital would have come in handy had it not been disbanded, she believed the new institute being built would be “fabulous”. “I think the government is right to do this, and COVID, it seems, has provided the impetus for this to happen,” she said.
Leading Australian virology experts Suzanne Crowe and Sharon Lewin are among the alumnae from Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital.
While the Fairfield hospital may be no more, Professor Tachedjian said Australia had benefited from the investment in a generation of virology experts who passed through its doors. “That investment has paid off in spades, because it’s now relevant to tackling the virus SARS-CoV-2,” Professor Tachedjian said. Submitted by Ian Cameron Secretary, Retired Ambulance Association of Victoria Inc. (RAAV) vicsesva.org.au
FEATURE
ESF IMPACT Newsletter, Issue 26
Stories of lived experience
E
SF brought the sector and many of its supporters together in the lead up to the 2022 AFL Emergency Services Match. The match is a Hawthorn Football Club initiative to celebrate the contribution Victorian emergency service workers make to our community. ESF CEO Siusan MacKenzie reminded the gathering that while we celebrate, we must also acknowledge the terrible mental toll emergency work can have. Whether they are preparing for, responding to, or helping our community recover from disasters, people can be harmed by what they experience. ‘For too long the focus has been on treating sick people and that is obviously very important, but as a sector we must give more attention upstream to prevent serious and debilitating mental illness,’ she said. Age journalist John Silvester spoke with four people from the sector who bravely shared heartfelt stories of being profoundly affected by the job and how their journey to recovery invariably involved a strong support crew. They each described a different personal experience that created a ripple effect to impact those around them. These stories illustrated how important it is to recognise the signs and symptoms of distress and to get help early.
Through the event and Tony’s Trek ESF is raising funds to establish two pioneering prevention programs. A Lived Experience Program to train emergency workers to safely share their stories of mental health injury and recovery. Hearing from others ‘just like me’ has been shown to reduce stigma and promote early help seeking which is so important for recovery.
A Residential Wellbeing Pilot Program will emulate a program established in Canada by the BC Professional Firefighters’ Association and two trauma specialists. It will provide emergency workers who are not seriously unwell, the opportunity to develop skills to reduce the cumulative effect of trauma and the risk of developing serious mental health injury.
Reactions It was a fantastic luncheon. Bringing all the of the emergency services agencies together in one room was inspired. The stories that truly explained the hardship faced by workers and volunteers was eye opening and I hope that everyone will consider their mental health and those around them because of today. Great range of speakers and an amazing vibe in the room. Congratulations! Sophie Szabo Hawthorn Football Club
vicsesva.org.au
This event felt like a watershed moment for the sector when we all came together to acknowledge the mental toll the job can take no matter what role you have. Garry Cook Acting Chief Officer CFA
I was very grateful to be a part of the lunch yesterday and to be able to hear the honest and touching stories from the speakers. They really brought home the individual and family toll that emergency services can demand. But ultimately their stories contained humour and hope and demonstrated the power of the right support – whether that has two legs or four! Suzanne Leckie Organisational Wellbeing Manager CFA
May 2022
PHOENIX 25
FEATURE
BUSHFIRE RESILIENCE INC BUSHFIRE RESILIENCE INC. IS AN INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY-LED ORGANISATION THAT PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT BUSHFIRE AWARENESS. IT IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH, AND DOES NOT PROMOTE THE INTERESTS, OF ANY OTHER ORGANISATION OR COMMUNITY GROUP. Why we started It is November 2019 and New South Wales and Queensland are on fire. A North Warrandyte resident hears a media broadcast stating 30% of the affected people have no insurance and 30% are under insured. A small group organise a public meeting in Panton Hill for late March 2020 to discuss insurance and other bushfire related matters. Then COVID 19 closes down Melbourne. By August it’s clear that having a public meeting in Melbourne before the end of the year is unlikely. So, Bushfire Resilience Inc. is established, webinars are created and delivered during October and November 2020. Who we are Bushfire Resilience Incorporated (BRI) is a not-for-profit Incorporated Association that complies with the requirements of Consumer Affairs Victoria. The purpose
of the association is to facilitate the provision of information about bushfires to the community. We provide carefully developed webinars that provide information about bushfire preparedness. Our webinar topics are practical, helpful and relevant. The members of BRI live in bushfire prone localities in Victoria mainly in the Shire of Nillumbik. Each person has a long association with activity concerning bushfire preparedness and community resilience. They have knowledge and experience. They want to help people. Our community led group is providing unique information to households. We want to spur people to take action. Our sponsors and supporters include the local Bendigo Bank Community Bank branches, a community company with a long history of support for CFA brigades
and communities that have experienced major bushfires. Our Objectives Our objectives are • To provide bushfire information to households based on science, experience and best practice. This will enable households to acquire knowledge, and by being better informed, empower them to make better decisions in preparing for, and responding to the threat of bushfire. • To create best practice webinars that include quality topics that are practical, helpful and relevant. Our webinars involve the best presenters and panel members in Australia and include a robust audience engagement. Submitted by Max Garner
Bitesize Topics from our Resource Hub
Our Resource Hub contains a wealth of expert information and includes many Bitesize topics to help you target the specific bushfire risks that may apply to your home and property.
Treated pine
Water tanks
Gas bottles
CCA treated pine presents a significant fire risk.
A ruptured plastic or fibreglass tank against a shed or a house is equivalent to driving a car into the side of the structure at about 50km/hr.
In a fire 9-60kg gas bottles can turn into a flame thrower or a bomb. Installing them securely could save your home.
Decks
Subfloor
Embers
What are the risks of decks, outside furniture, under floor storage and stairways?
It doesn’t matter how bushfire resilient your home is, it will fail if you store flammable items under it.
Embers are an absolute certainty in a bushfire. They are the most prevalent cause of house loss. If you know what to do and take action you can reduce the risk of your home being destroyed.
Dr Justin Leonard, CSIRO
Dr Justin Leonard, CSIRO
26 PHOENIX
May 2022
Dr Justin Leonard, CSIRO
Dr Justin Leonard, CSIRO
Dr Justin Leonard, CSIRO
Dr Justin Leonard, CSIRO
vicsesva.org.au
FEATURE
Get Bushfire Resilient
INFORMATION FOR HOUSEHOLDS IN RURAL AREAS AND ON THE URBAN FRINGE BUSHFIRE RESILIENCE INC
T
he 10 bushfire webinars BRI brought to you in 2020 and 2021 were hugely popular. On average, 91% of viewers rated the webinars excellent or very good, while 100% would recommend them to friends and family. To enable better access to the webinar information the BRI Team have created Bitesize BRI videos and a new Resource Hub. The Bitesize videos focus on specific topics and segments from the webinars. The Resource Hub enables efficient browsing of the webinar information plus a search facility to help you find your specific topic of interest. Please visit the Resource Hub on our website to watch the new Bitesize
vicsesva.org.au
videos and find out more about becoming bushfire resilient. Here is a list of what you will find in the Resource Hub. • Recordings of all webinars • NEW Bitesize videos of Presentations and Panel Sessions from the webinars • NEW Bitesize topic specific videos • NEW Bookmarked videos to enable direct navigation • NEW Transcripts of each Presentation, Panel Session, Q&A Session and each Bitesize topic specific video • NEW Viewer feedback on the most informative parts of the webinars • NEW Actions viewers will take as a result of the webinars • NEW Search facility to find topics, presenters and key words
Please forward this information to the members of your community group, friends and neighbours who are living with bushfire risk. They should also register on our website bushfireresilience.org.au to be automatically informed about upcoming webinars and other BRI news. We hope you find the Resource Hub and the Bitesize videos of great value and look forward to having you on our upcoming 2022 webinars.
Bushfire Resilience Inc. PO Box 1144 Research 3095 admin@bushfireresilience.org.au
May 2022
PHOENIX 27
VicSESVA
A QUICK GUIDE Victoria State Emergency Service Volunteers Association WHAT IS VicSESVA? VicSESVA works to represent and advocate for VICSES volunteers, actively supporting members and engaging cooperatively with VICSES management, EM sector agencies and governing bodies, and State Government. •
VicSESVA is a non-profit organisation which exists to further the interests of VICSES volunteer members.
•
VicSESVA uses its dedicated focus on volunteers to select and drive the resolution of issues that impact on skills, safety and how VICSES volunteers undertake their duties. It is important to note that VicSESVA is an Association not a Union. VicSESVA does not engage in adversarial campaigns but it does seek to further the interests of VICSES volunteers, and the public they serve, by promoting appropriate standards in training, equipment and ethics in VICSES.
WHO IS VicSESVA? VicSESVA is wholly staffed by VICSES volunteers who provide their time and expertise gratis and is funded by a small fee from VICSES Units, used to subsidise costs such as publishing, website, minimal office admin support and VA delegates travel. VicSESVA is comprised of all VICSES Units (two delegates may represent each Unit), Regional Councils and a State Board.
VicSESVA’s MISSION To be pro-active in the pursuit of excellence in service delivery for VicSESVA members and to maintain an effective communication and interaction with all emergency and support agencies.
VicSESVA’s VISION To ensure that the highest level of skills training is available to the volunteers of VICSES. To ensure that the resources available to volunteers are applicable to the respective operational requirements.
VicSESVA’s STRUCTURE VicSESVA is broken up into 7 Regions: South West, Central West, Central East, North West, North East, Mid-West and East. Each Region has a Regional Council which seeks input from local Units, meets and discusses the issues identified and selects issues for escalation to the VicSESVA State Board. Unit Delegates Each member Unit of VicSESVA may elect two delegates who convey the thoughts and feelings of their Unit and its members to the Regional Council or State Board.
Regional Councils The elected delegates of the Units from within the region form their Regional Council. The Regional Councils raise issues relevant to VICSES volunteers to be presented to the VicSESVA State Board for the formulation of policy on the issues they perceive need to be addressed, and to further advocate an outcome with the VICSES CEO or VICSES Board for action. Regional Council Positions Each Council may elect members to undertake the following roles: • •
President Secretary
• •
Director Alternate Director
VicSESVA Board The VicSESVA State Board is comprised of Regional Council Directors. Matters raised at Regional Councils are brought to the State Board so that the Board can recognise and monitor any wide ranging issues as they develop. If appropriate, the board will present them to the respective VICSES Management stream for resolution. VicSESVA Board Positions • Chairperson • • Vice Chairperson • • Secretary • • Treasurer
Board Member Board Member Board Member
PHOENIX MAGAZINE VicSESVA publishes the Phoenix Journal for VICSES volunteers. Phoenix is published four times a year and features articles and photos of interest, submitted by volunteers and staff. To register to receive your electronic copy of Phoenix, go to https://vicsesva.org.au/how-to-subscribe/
WANT TO GET INVOLVED? As a VICSES volunteer, you are welcome to participate in a VicSESVA Regional Council. Depending on the region, meetings may be held once a quarter at local Unit LHQs. The discussion is very informative and presents a great opportunity to network and share best practices across Units. VicSESVA Board meetings are also open to individual members to attend.
HISTORY For more information about the history of VicSESVA, go to https://vicsesva.org.au/our-history/
NSESVA VicSESVA is a founding member of the National SES Volunteers Association (NSESVA). For information on NSESVA and the National Raffle Campaign, go to: https://vicsesva.org.au/faq/ https://www.nsesva.org.au/
28 PHOENIX
May 2022
vicsesva.org.au
VicSESVA
TO VicSESVA VicSESVA Activities, Advocacy and Industry Influence SUCCESSFUL ADVOCACY VicSESVA has successfully represented volunteers in: •
Negotiating to meet regularly with the Minister for Emergency Services
•
Advocating for Unit VESEP bids
•
Advocating to EMV to retain the right of volunteers to go to VCAT in matters of dispute (VICSES Regulations Review)
•
Meeting quarterly with the VICSES Executive and raising matters of concern to volunteers which have been brought to Board meetings
•
Meeting quarterly with the VICSES Operations staff
•
Supporting and promoting the annual EMV Volunteer Welfare and Efficiency Survey
•
Providing grants of funds for individual volunteer welfare or hardship cases
•
Supporting members undertaking the VFBV leadership courses
•
Providing information and advice to individual members and Units
•
Providing a support person to individual members in matters of dispute
•
Collaboration with the National SES Volunteers in advocacy for matters such as transferability of skills, harmonisation of training, national recognition, awards
•
Implementation of the NSESVA National Raffle Scheme to establish future funding
•
Raising the profile and interests of VICSES volunteers at local, state and national forums, including conferences, other EM agencies, interstate agencies, working groups, task forces, expert advisory panels etc.
8. VICSES internal Fleet, RCR, State WH&S, Awards, Uniform working groups 9. VICSES Community Resilience Strategy, volunteer representation 10. AFAC Volunteer Management Technical Working Group 11. AFAC/SES member Project Working Group, ‘SES Fit for Task’ 12. AFAC doctrine development ‘Volunteer Impact Assessment Guideline’ (VMTG) 13. AFAC doctrine development, ‘Volunteer inclusion Model’ (VMTG Diversity Working Group) 14. Member, AIDR Dranszen Forum 15. Member Steering Committee and Working Group, Communities Responding to Disasters: Planning for Spontaneous Volunteers Handbook (Australian Emergency Management Manual Series 2018) 16. BNHCRC member Advisory Group ‘Adapting the Sector’ 17. NSESVA Youth Strategy 18. Volunteer Group Steering Committee, Victorian Government ‘Provisional Payments Pilot (Mental Health Injury)’
EXPERTS AND ADVICE On request VicSESVA has provided experts as guest speakers, advisors or community representatives. VicSESVA Chair, David Rowlands, is a Life Member of VICSES. VicSESVA Secretary, Dr Faye Bendrups, has been recognised for her work in the EM sector by being named one of the AFR’s ‘100 Women of Influence’ in 2019. This has provided opportunities to promote the work of SES volunteers in major local and national forums, including: •
2018 Informed Observer, Diversity in Disaster Conference
SECTOR COLLABORATION
•
2019 Chair, Akolade 2nd Emergency Management Leaders’ Forum
VicSESVA has extensive membership of industry forums, regular collaboration with VICSES and influence through its membership of NSESVA, including:
•
2019 Guest panellist, Public Safety and Hysteria: Leading by example in the first 24 hours of a terrorist event, Akolade 2nd Emergency Management Leaders’ Forum
1. EMV Volunteer Consultative Forum, founding member
•
2. EMV Expert Reference Group, The 3Vs: Volunteer Volunteering Volunteerism – Uncovering the hidden value
2019 Facilitator, EM conference panel Wellbeing: a Range of Perspectives from People on the Ground
•
2019 Expert Judge, Ch7 News Young Achiever Awards (CFA Volunteer Excellence category)
•
2019 Executive Judge, Victorian Regional Achievement and Community Awards
•
2019 Women in the SES: Reshaping Dynamics, AFAC19 ‘A Shift to the New Norm: Riding the Wave of Change’ international conference presentation, see www.afac.com. au/events/proceedings/29-08-19/article/109.-women-inthe-sesreshaping-dynamics
3. EMV Expert Working Group, collaboration in developing Strategic Priorities for Volunteering in Emergency Management 4. Emergency Services Foundation (ESF) Chair, Alumni Network 5. Member of Organising Committee, annual ESF Emergency Management Conference 6. Facilitator, ESF Alumni Strategic Directions planning and ‘Valuing Volunteers’ project 7. VESEP panel member (VICSES and EMV)
vicsesva.org.au
May 2022
PHOENIX 29
BATTLE PROVEN SES READY EMERGENCY CASUALTY CARE COURSE
1300 2 SOTER