Saturday, February 6, 2010
"Footsteps in the Ash" book launch
Footsteps in the Ash is a record of the devastation of the St Andrews and Strathewen communities where 37 people died and 117 homes were lost in the Black Saturday bushfires of 7 February 2009.
The authors of the book, Jim Usher and Mac Gudgeon, live in St Andrews and were minutes away from becoming victims of the fires themselves. Over a 10-month period they interviewed 80 survivors and 65 firefighters to compile the 276 pages of compelling stories and photographs, in the process becoming a listening post for the trauma of locals, many of whom have still not recovered. Initial printing of Footsteps in the Ash was funded by the Hurstbridge and Diamond Creek branches of the Bendigo Community Bank.
The authors gave of their services free of charge so that entire proceeds from the $25 sale price of 5000 books are shared by the St Andrews and Arthurs Creek/Strathewen CFAs and other brigades that took part in the firefight at Strathewen and St Andrews on that day.
The brigades will receive about $125,000 from sales.
The book was launched on Saturday 6 February at Bridges Restaurant in Hurstbridge. Dignitaries that helped the authors launch the book included Deputy Prime Minister, Julia Gillard; Premier of Victoria, John Brumby; Captain Arthurs Creek/Strathewen RFB, David McGahy; and Captain St Andrews RFB, Helen Kenney.
Information on how to purchase a copy of the book is available at the website: http://www.footstepsintheash.com/
The authors of the book, Jim Usher and Mac Gudgeon, live in St Andrews and were minutes away from becoming victims of the fires themselves. Over a 10-month period they interviewed 80 survivors and 65 firefighters to compile the 276 pages of compelling stories and photographs, in the process becoming a listening post for the trauma of locals, many of whom have still not recovered. Initial printing of Footsteps in the Ash was funded by the Hurstbridge and Diamond Creek branches of the Bendigo Community Bank.
The authors gave of their services free of charge so that entire proceeds from the $25 sale price of 5000 books are shared by the St Andrews and Arthurs Creek/Strathewen CFAs and other brigades that took part in the firefight at Strathewen and St Andrews on that day.
The brigades will receive about $125,000 from sales.
The book was launched on Saturday 6 February at Bridges Restaurant in Hurstbridge. Dignitaries that helped the authors launch the book included Deputy Prime Minister, Julia Gillard; Premier of Victoria, John Brumby; Captain Arthurs Creek/Strathewen RFB, David McGahy; and Captain St Andrews RFB, Helen Kenney.
Information on how to purchase a copy of the book is available at the website: http://www.footstepsintheash.com/
Nillumbik Young Citizen of the Year
Teenage firefighter Lenny Pritchard has been chosen as Nillumbik Shire Council's Young Citizen of the Year.
The award is not the first time the 18-year-old Diamond Creek resident has been recognised - she was recently honoured with the VCE Achiever of the Year Award for her efforts during and after Black Saturday.
The quietly spoken, yet confident, Lenny, said she was thrilled to be honoured. And despite her young age, she said volunteering for the Diamond Creek fire brigade was the right thing to do. What she didn't expect was to be confronted with the events of Black Saturday.
Lenny did not hesitate in putting her hand up on Black Saturday and was soon on the Diamond Creek pumper helping defend the townships of Strathewen, Arthur's Creek and St Andrews. And in the nights following, she volunteered for strike teams supervising backburning operations.
According to Diamond Creek Fire Brigade Captain Peter Perkins, Lenny "saw things you wouldn't normally like someone so young to see." But Captain Perkins said Lenny was a "confident young woman who did everything asked of her and never made a fuss."
"The award is a great achievement. She's a well-rounded person, a community-minded person, and a shining example to other young people," he said.
Lenny's community-minded focus also extends to other areas: she volunteers with several organisations including Prison Fellowship Australia and Youth with a Mission. Her PFA work involved helping organise a camp for children of prison inmates. In her final year of high school last year she also managed to organise a visit from the Red Cross Blood Bank.
The Pritchard name is well known to members at Diamond Creek Fire Brigade. Lenny's father has been a member for 22 years and her mother is a long-serving member of the Auxiliary.
And despite everything she witnessed on Black Saturday, there was some good news to come from her experiences.
"Since the fires we've had a lot of involvement at the school... I got two brigades to come in and we talked about CFA and volunteering," she said.
Whatever was said that day worked because several classmates soon joined the CFA.
Lenny will be studying Nursing/Midwifery at university this year.
We wish her well with her studies.
The award is not the first time the 18-year-old Diamond Creek resident has been recognised - she was recently honoured with the VCE Achiever of the Year Award for her efforts during and after Black Saturday.
The quietly spoken, yet confident, Lenny, said she was thrilled to be honoured. And despite her young age, she said volunteering for the Diamond Creek fire brigade was the right thing to do. What she didn't expect was to be confronted with the events of Black Saturday.
Lenny did not hesitate in putting her hand up on Black Saturday and was soon on the Diamond Creek pumper helping defend the townships of Strathewen, Arthur's Creek and St Andrews. And in the nights following, she volunteered for strike teams supervising backburning operations.
According to Diamond Creek Fire Brigade Captain Peter Perkins, Lenny "saw things you wouldn't normally like someone so young to see." But Captain Perkins said Lenny was a "confident young woman who did everything asked of her and never made a fuss."
"The award is a great achievement. She's a well-rounded person, a community-minded person, and a shining example to other young people," he said.
Lenny's community-minded focus also extends to other areas: she volunteers with several organisations including Prison Fellowship Australia and Youth with a Mission. Her PFA work involved helping organise a camp for children of prison inmates. In her final year of high school last year she also managed to organise a visit from the Red Cross Blood Bank.
The Pritchard name is well known to members at Diamond Creek Fire Brigade. Lenny's father has been a member for 22 years and her mother is a long-serving member of the Auxiliary.
And despite everything she witnessed on Black Saturday, there was some good news to come from her experiences.
"Since the fires we've had a lot of involvement at the school... I got two brigades to come in and we talked about CFA and volunteering," she said.
Whatever was said that day worked because several classmates soon joined the CFA.
Lenny will be studying Nursing/Midwifery at university this year.
We wish her well with her studies.
Kerang to host greater midlands
Sat 13th & Sun 14th February, Kerang fire brigade will be hosting the annual Greater Midlands fire fighter demo competition.
At the Kerang fire brigade running track, Atkinson park, ( opposite library on main highway ) the Greater Midlands fire fighter demo competition will be taking place which will include teams from Mildura, Shepparton and Maldon, all up 24 teams from around the state.
Junior events ( 11 - 17 year olds ) will be held on Saturday and seniors ( 17 - 99 year olds ) on Sunday, both days start from 9am and finish approximately 5pm.
A great weekend for all ages, with food and drinks available.
So bring your hat, sunnies, chair and support your local team and have a great day out with friends and family.
At the Kerang fire brigade running track, Atkinson park, ( opposite library on main highway ) the Greater Midlands fire fighter demo competition will be taking place which will include teams from Mildura, Shepparton and Maldon, all up 24 teams from around the state.
Junior events ( 11 - 17 year olds ) will be held on Saturday and seniors ( 17 - 99 year olds ) on Sunday, both days start from 9am and finish approximately 5pm.
A great weekend for all ages, with food and drinks available.
So bring your hat, sunnies, chair and support your local team and have a great day out with friends and family.
Factory fire contained
Fire was reported when a neighbour noticed black smoke billowing from roof vents after factory had closed for the day.
Crews arrived to discover approximately 1/3 of the factory fully involved and spreading rapidly, primarily in the spray booth area which contained paint and thinners used to coat machinery. B.A crews were used to attack the fire from three sides via exterior windows and roller doors and internally from front of factory, eventually being able to get onto a landing and attack the fire from above and contain the fire.
Although the fire caused about $500,000 damage with spray booth area and a forklift destroyed the offices and metal fabrication area were saved and the factory owner commented that the business operations would not be greatly affected, he also praised the brigades and all involved for their quick response and accurate fire operations.
The fire is not regarded as suspicious, although the cause is yet to be identified with fire investigations starting on the following day.
Date : 20 / 1 / 10
Time : 1725 hours
Incident controller : Captain Ramon Steel
Brigades on scene : Kerang, Cohuna.
Brigades paged : Koondrook, Murrabit, Sandhill Lake & Lake Charm.
R.D.O : Operations officer Peter Taylor.
Other agencies in attendance : Kerang police & Kerang shire building surveyor.
Crews arrived to discover approximately 1/3 of the factory fully involved and spreading rapidly, primarily in the spray booth area which contained paint and thinners used to coat machinery. B.A crews were used to attack the fire from three sides via exterior windows and roller doors and internally from front of factory, eventually being able to get onto a landing and attack the fire from above and contain the fire.
Although the fire caused about $500,000 damage with spray booth area and a forklift destroyed the offices and metal fabrication area were saved and the factory owner commented that the business operations would not be greatly affected, he also praised the brigades and all involved for their quick response and accurate fire operations.
The fire is not regarded as suspicious, although the cause is yet to be identified with fire investigations starting on the following day.
Date : 20 / 1 / 10
Time : 1725 hours
Incident controller : Captain Ramon Steel
Brigades on scene : Kerang, Cohuna.
Brigades paged : Koondrook, Murrabit, Sandhill Lake & Lake Charm.
R.D.O : Operations officer Peter Taylor.
Other agencies in attendance : Kerang police & Kerang shire building surveyor.
Rememberance service televised
The remembrance service at St Paul's Cathedral on Sunday 7 February is being televised on SKY News from 12noon.
The central service recognises the national significance of the fires in 2009 and is the only centrally planned activity across Victoria.
The service will be held at:
Time: 11.45am for Noon sharp
Date: Sunday 7 February 2010
Location: St Paul’s Cathedral, Corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets, Melbourne
*please note there is no allocated seating for CFA members at this event.
The focus of the service will be on remembrance and the communities affected by the fires. VBRRA is working with St Paul’s and the Council of Churches on plans for the service to be televised or broadcast.
The service will involve music from artists from a bushfire-affected area, recognise of all communities impacted by the fires, including the bereaved, with opportunities to light a candle or lay a stone during the service.
The central service recognises the national significance of the fires in 2009 and is the only centrally planned activity across Victoria.
The service will be held at:
Time: 11.45am for Noon sharp
Date: Sunday 7 February 2010
Location: St Paul’s Cathedral, Corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets, Melbourne
*please note there is no allocated seating for CFA members at this event.
The focus of the service will be on remembrance and the communities affected by the fires. VBRRA is working with St Paul’s and the Council of Churches on plans for the service to be televised or broadcast.
The service will involve music from artists from a bushfire-affected area, recognise of all communities impacted by the fires, including the bereaved, with opportunities to light a candle or lay a stone during the service.
A new campaign to extinguish arson
A year after the devastating Black Saturday bushfires ravaged the state, Victoria Police's Arson and Explosives Squad are asking the community to be courageous and call Crime Stoppers with any information they have about arson.
The call is part of the new Extinguish Arson Campaign – the brainchild of Victoria Police and Crime Stoppers which aims to prevent arson-related crime.
Detective Superintendent Paul Hollowood said police are encouraging the community to pour cold water on arsonists by calling Crime Stoppers.
"We want the community to be courageous and come forward with information – including information before an arson-related crime is committed," Superintendent Hollowood said.
"We're asking people to report any information they may have – no matter how insignificant they think it may be – to help stop arsonists in their tracks," he said.
"Fires have an absolutely devastating effect on lives – they destroy homes, decimate wildlife and in the worst case scenarios, kill men, women and children.
"Arson is a serious crime so our plea is this - if you've seen something or know something - say something," Superintendent Hollowood said.
Superintendent Hollowood said Victoria Police and Crime Stoppers are hoping this fresh approach to arson-related crime will be widely supported by the community.
Crime Stoppers Executive director Peter Sprott said there were particular types of information the community should report.
"If you live or work in a fire prone area, you may be aware of people who are often seen at the scene of fires or show an intense interest in what is happening," Mr Sprott said.
"You may be aware of a vehicle or person seen in the vicinity of a bushfire just before it started.
"If in any doubt, let us know and we will get the information to police, because we all have to play our part in stopping arsonists," he said.
"Your call is confidential and you do not need to leave your name."
Anyone with information regarding arson is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au
This article was taken from a media release from Victoria Police.
The call is part of the new Extinguish Arson Campaign – the brainchild of Victoria Police and Crime Stoppers which aims to prevent arson-related crime.
Detective Superintendent Paul Hollowood said police are encouraging the community to pour cold water on arsonists by calling Crime Stoppers.
"We want the community to be courageous and come forward with information – including information before an arson-related crime is committed," Superintendent Hollowood said.
"We're asking people to report any information they may have – no matter how insignificant they think it may be – to help stop arsonists in their tracks," he said.
"Fires have an absolutely devastating effect on lives – they destroy homes, decimate wildlife and in the worst case scenarios, kill men, women and children.
"Arson is a serious crime so our plea is this - if you've seen something or know something - say something," Superintendent Hollowood said.
Superintendent Hollowood said Victoria Police and Crime Stoppers are hoping this fresh approach to arson-related crime will be widely supported by the community.
Crime Stoppers Executive director Peter Sprott said there were particular types of information the community should report.
"If you live or work in a fire prone area, you may be aware of people who are often seen at the scene of fires or show an intense interest in what is happening," Mr Sprott said.
"You may be aware of a vehicle or person seen in the vicinity of a bushfire just before it started.
"If in any doubt, let us know and we will get the information to police, because we all have to play our part in stopping arsonists," he said.
"Your call is confidential and you do not need to leave your name."
Anyone with information regarding arson is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au
This article was taken from a media release from Victoria Police.
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