Brigade speaks to residents

Members of the Killcare-Wagstaffe Rural Fire Service attended the Hardy's Bay Residents Group general meeting on February 24, to raise bushfire awareness in the community.

Group publicity officer Mr Allan Wilson said the meeting was well attended by Killcare, Wagstaffe, Pretty Beach and Hardy's Bay residents.

"Members of the Killcare-Wagstaffe Rural Fire Brigade Service received a rousing welcome from a packed Hardys Bay Community Church Hall when they were invited to take centre stage as guest speakers at our last general meeting," Mr Wilson said.

"The visit provided the audience with an appropriate opportunity to display its heartfelt appreciation to the firies in the wake of the devastating Victorian bushfire by acknowledging the local ambassadors of the service - several of whom had carried out their duties in the stricken areas - and to become more acquainted with general bushfire awareness and the necessary measures to be adopted.

"Local fire brigade captain Mr Steve Farrell advised the meeting that the 22 brigades in the district are all comprised of volunteers and outlined some of the recent local activities which included their response to a recent three day-and-night operation at a Peat's Ridge fire and their subsequent Victorian responsibilities."

Mr Farrell said as a result of the devastation seen last month it was important for communities to be "fire wise".

"We have all been impacted by the Victorian fires and the Rural Fire Service is committed to working with everybody to bring about a self-sufficient fire-safe community," Mr Farrell said.

Other volunteers to attend the meeting included deputy captain and former Australia Day Community Award recipient Ms Michelle Biddulph, Mr Greg Linnert, Mr Warwick Teasdale, Mr Terry Wilson, Mr Peter Brasche and Mr Allan Lambell.

Mr Wilson said Ms Biddulph outlined the tried and tested Rural Fire Service policy which focuses on self-protection.

"She discussed several major issues highlighted by The Aim is to Become a Fire-wise Community, in which awareness and the necessary precautions to be adopted by fire-wise communities are designed to result in fewer fires, fewer fire-related deaths, fewer fire-related injuries and fewer fire-related property issues," Mr Wilson said.

"Another vital matter she addressed spotlighted a subject headed Get An Action Plan which can be downloaded on an RFS Bushfire Action Plan website at www.bushfire.nsw.gov.au/.

"Steve Farrell assured the assembly that the brigade will continue to be conspicuous in offering its services at various meetings and discussing various issues at open days along the Hardy's Bay waterfront, at its monthly cake stall at Killcare shops or at the Wednesday night meetings at brigade headquarters in Stanley St, Killcare, when the public will be invited to attend.

"Under a cooperative agreement set up between the Hardy's Bay Residents Group and the Killcare brigade, in a move which will surely benefit areas accessible only by water during bushfires, or in the event of boat fires, the aluminium barge Rocky will be made available to provide this vital service.

"The barge proved invaluable during its loading and unloading duties throughout the mammoth Stage Two oyster lease removals on the bay last year when many tonnes of abandoned tiles and rocks were transferred to shore for road works purposes."

Press release, 11 Mar 2009 Allan Wilson, Hardy's Bay Residents Group