Darlington Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade

The ComCen will page our members who are on duty.

For general Brigade enquiries please ring 9299 7217. Station hours: Saturday 9am-10:30am.

Web: darlingtonfire.org.au • Facebook: Darlington Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade • Instagram: dvbfb_

Next meeting: Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at the Darlington Fire Station.

Whilst we head towards the heart of winter fires are still burning readily in the bush, and year-round our volunteers continue to make themselves available to protect our community. If you’re planning fuel reduction burns on your property PLEASE take all possible precautions when lighting fires, even in cooler weather, and importantly make sure fires are not left unattended and are fully extinguished. We strongly recommend that you advise your neighbours before lighting up, and register your burns with DFES on 9395 9209. DFES has created a programme, complete with a raft of information and resources to help land owners and residents carry out safe and effective planned burns during the milder months. The Burn Smart website provides information, plans and checklists, guides and resources to help you plan and conduct a burn on your property. Check out the details at dfes.wa.gov.au/ plannedburning. The Shire of Mundaring also offers FREE winter burning workshops. The workshops, led by experienced Shire officers and brigade members can help you learn how to safely reduce fuel loads on your property. To register for upcoming workshops email winterburning@mundaring.wa.gov.au or call 9290 6666.

Did you know that your sense of smell reduces, and in some cases “switches off”, when you sleep? People are not usually woken during a fire by the smell of smoke, but by other factors like noise, flashing light or an increase in temperature. So, if you forgot to do it on April 1st, now is a good time to check your smoke alarms, including back-up batteries. If you have children at home test your smoke alarm so they know what it sounds like, talk to them about what to do if they hear it, and create and practice an evacuation plan for your home in case of an emergency.

After a long, dry summer the wintery weather is finally upon us, and the brisk mornings and cool evenings are again chilling our bones. Many of us are again relying on our wood fires, or gas and electric heaters for comfort and warmth. Each year during the winter months, the fire services are all too often called out to chimney fires. So now is the time to have your chimneys and flues cleaned by a professional, as it will both improve your heater’s or stove’s efficiency, and also reduce the risk of a fire. Unfortunately, those heat sources are also often the cause of house fires. Remember, your wood fires and heaters should NEVER be left unattended, and flammable materials should be kept well away from open flames and other heat sources. Please be aware of the location of your heaters and what surrounds them. Ensure that things such as drying clothes, curtains & blinds, and furniture are kept at least one metre away from heaters and stoves, and that all heaters are TURNED OFF when you leave your house.

Over recent months the Parks and Wildlife Service, DFES and local governments have been able to conduct various large hazard reduction burns. These prescribed burning programmes aim to provide a chequerboard type landscape of varying fuel loads and vegetation densities which can potentially help fire services manage and control wild fires during the bush fire season. Unfortunately, due to the on and off rain, and significant changes to the Fire Danger Rating system, our hazard reduction burning programme has been restricted this season. If you have concerns about the fuel load on your property leading up to next fire season, the Darlington Brigade may be able to help. Hazard reduction burns are a great opportunity for our probationary fire fighters to enhance their training with practical, hands on experience with fire suppression, and the equipment and methods we use. Property owners that would like the Brigade to undertake a burn (HRB) on their property can call the Station on 9299 7217, or visit us on a Saturday morning between 9am and 10am. An authorised officer will arrange a visit to examine your property, discuss your issues, and provide a quote based on size, fuel load, topography, access, time to burn etc. (Note: HRBs are subject to weather and environmental considerations).

“When a man becomes a fireman his greatest act of bravery has been accomplished. What he does after that is all in the line of work.” ~

Edward F. Croker

Cheers Ricky Harvey

On 19 June 2023, the Referendum Bill passed both houses of Parliament. It is now your time, your choice, your opportunity to make history.

The Referendum responds to the Uluru Statement from the Heart in 2017, which says, in part:

When we have power over our destiny our children will flourish. They will walk in two worlds and their culture will be a gift to their country.

The Prime Minister will soon name the date.

I will be voting yes, because it gives us the opportunity to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in our Constitution.

Recognition of 65,000 years of continuous connection to land in our country’s birth certificate. Recognition doesn’t cede sovereignty – something I know is important to many.

I will be voting yes, because the Voice gives me, as your elected parliamentarian, the opportunity to listen.

Listening to grassroots solutions to help Close the Gap and improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. For too long, even with the best intentions, governments have made policies for First Nations people, not with First Nations people.

After the referendum, there will be a consultation process to settle the design of the Voice.

The Voice, however, will not run programs, it will not deliver funding, it will not have any power of veto. It doesn’t create

What’s on at the Hub of the Hills in July

UPCOMING EVENTS:

racial categories, but rather It is about creating a body that will enrich our democratic conversation; a true pluralism that allows us to improve the quality of decision making about matters that affect indigenous people.

The Voice will amplify the voices of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and make a difference where it matters; in employment, in health, in education, in housing, in justice.

The vast majority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians support the 2023 referendum.

Many from all across the political spectrum are working together to get this done - including the former member for Hasluck and Liberal Minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt, Liberals Julian Leeser and Bridget Archer, the Greens, the Teals, all state premiers, including the Liberal Premier of Tasmania, and Labor leaders and members from all across Australia.

Many people have asked me they can get involved in supporting the YES vote.

There will be many activities and events between now and YES day that you can host or get involved in; kitchen table meetings, doorknocking, signage and community gatherings.

If you haven’t already done so, join the YES campaign at yes23. com.au and see how you can help.

You can read the referendum question at voice.gov.au. To read the Uluru Statement itself, head to ulurustatement.org

Please contact my office for more information on how you can help make history.

Book Cafe | Tuesday 11 July | 9.30am to 11am | $2 Morning Tea

Guest speaker from Guide Dogs WA, along with Ambassador dog Eva. Purchase good quality pre-loved books - all money raised from book sales, raffle and morning tea goes to Guide Dogs WA.

Soup Morning | Tuesday 8 August | 11am to 12pm | Gold coin

The Active Ageing Network will be supplying home made soup with a bun directly after the Coffee Morning.

COMING SOON:

Over 55’s Drop-In Session | Wednesdays | 9.30am to 11.30am

The Active Ageing Network is looking for volunteers for the weekly Coffee Morning roster. Please call Rachael on 9290 6683 if interested.

Commencing Wednesday 12 July. A safe area for seniors to have a chat, read the paper, play board games or complete a puzzle. Tea and coffee available.

The Hub of the Hills, 8 Craig Street, Mundaring 9290 6683 cso4@mundaring.wa.gov.au | Officer present on: Tuesday 8.30am to 11.30am | Wednesday 9am to 12pm | Thursday 10am to 2pm