CALLIUNGAL RURAL FIRE BRIGADE SPRINGS INTO ACTION IN 2023

by Donald Deakin-Bell

It has been a busy start to 2023 for the members of Calliungal Rural Fire Brigade based at Mount Morgan. As well as fighting a number of grass fires, there is work upgrading the rural fire station, training, out of area deployment and preparing for the cool burn season.

The Calliungal Rural Fire Service (RFS) Brigade has 22 volunteer members who operate two fire appliances and provides rural fire fighting services for 470 sq km of the rugged heavily vegetated hilly rural areas surrounding Mount Morgan, north from the top of the Range and south to the border of Banana Shire.

With the weather becoming dryer in the last couple of months, there have been a number of major and minor grass fires around the Mount Morgan area. The largest was south of Mount Morgan, on the Burnett Highway near Oakey Creek. With tinder dry grass, the fire ended up on both sides of the Highway, with smoke closing it for a while. It took eight rural and urban fire trucks and teams to put out the fire, which burnt over two days. There have also been many smaller fires popping up over the district, which serve as a warning for people to take care with small burns that can get out of control easily, given the dry conditions.

Over the last couple of years, the Brigade facility has been upgraded from a single shed accommodating two fire appliances to a Rural Fire Station containing a vehicle storage shed and a station building with office space, a kitchen and a training and incident management area. The upgrade process is ongoing, with more work being undertaken to improve the operational capability of the Station to meet the increasing demands to ensure community safety.

Brigade members have been busy with training and operational duties. Training is an important part of being a RFS volunteer. Firefighting is a hazardous job and there are many risks involved in protecting the community against fire. As people join as volunteers, they learn about the RFS and are taught skills needed to fight fires, look after team members and can train to progress into leadership and other roles within the Service.

The initial focus for training is to preparing volunteers to qualified as firefighters in the brigade, enabling them to work on fire-grounds. Training includes an initial firefighting course emphasising safety, using firefighting equipment and firefighting skills In addition, much of the RFS training assists people in their everyday life. As an example of this, six Calliungal RFS volunteers recently completed First Aid Certificate training, which is useful both on the fireground and in general life.

Calliungal members not only fight fires locally, but can deploy all across Queensland and even interstate. Keven Coughran, the Brigade First Officer, recently deployed to the Miles fires as a Sector Controller, managing a number of teams fighting fires across a wide front and helping to protect the communities in the area. The Calliungal Brigade is always on the lookout for new members who are interested in helping their local community and gaining new skills. If you are interested in knowing more or helping, please contact the First Officer Kevin Coughran on 0428 678 096.

Dee River Oldies

Hope everyone has had a chance to enjoy some of the activities that have been happening in the Mount.

ANZAC Day is always a time to reflect on the past. So good to see the turn out of people for the dawn service and the morning parade.

The Golden Mount Festival is always a good weekend. This was an action-packed time with plenty to keep everyone busy. It doesn't matter where you are in Australia or overseas, the May Day weekend which has been going for many years is on the minds of many. The reunions bring back people of all generations to reminisce the times gone by.

The May Musical Morning Tea on Wednesday,24 May 2023 starts at 10 am. It is held in St Mary's Hall, Gordon Street, Mount Morgan (Behind the Anglican Church). The cost is $5. Raffles and lucky door prizes.

The next bus trip is planned for Wednesday, 14 June, 2023. The bus leaves the bus stop in Morgan Street, Mount Morgan at 8.30 am.

We will visit the Archer Park Museum in Rockhampton where we will have a look at the railway station and exhibits followed by Morning Tea.

We will then have lunch at the Westwood Hotel and home via Dululu. The cost is $50. Money is to be paid at the May Morning Tea to secure your seat.

We thank our members for their on-going support, helping out and donations to the group.

We invite people who are 50 years and over to come along and join in our activities. There is no cost for membership.

Submitted by the Steering Committee.

Carol Glover 49381 995 or Colleen Constable 0427 161 131.

Mount Morgan Multi Purpose Health Service News

Ryan’s Rule (Clinical Review): Have you heard of the Ryan’s Rule process? Ryan’s Rule has been developed to provide all patients of any age, families, carers, and cultures with another way to get help. Ryan’s Rule is not for complaints. Please note that requesting a Ryan’s Rule Clinical Review will not impact on the care delivered.

When to use Ryan’s Rule:

• For patients – when you feel your health condition is getting worse or you feel you are not being heard.

• For families/carers – When the patient is looking worse or is not doing as well as expected; or when the patient shows any behaviour that is not normal for them; or you feel you are not being heard.

Ryan’s Rule Steps:

• 1: If you have concerns that your health condition is getting worse or not improving as expected – speak with your nurse or doctor

• 2: If you are not happy – ask to speak with the Nurse in charge of the shift or the doctor on duty.

• 3: If you have followed steps 1 and 2 and you are still not happy, ask for a Ryan’s Rule Clinician review by phoning 13 43 25 84 (13 Health), or ask a nurse or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Support Person to call on your behalf.

13 Health will ask for various information:

• Hospital or facility name

• Patient’s name

• Ward, bed number (if known)

• Contact phone number.

• Your call will then be transferred to someone in charge to arrange a timely review.