Whick the Firefighter
I have joined the CFA (Country Fire Authority) in Victoria,
Australia. I am in the Mooroolbark Brigade, part of the Melba
Group, in the Yarra Region, also known as Region 13. There are
59 brigades in the region, and the region is the third highest
bushfire prone area in the world.
According to the paper work I offically joined on the 17th of May
2000, and was CFA registered on the 5th of July.
On the 13th of November I became an operatation member. I was
given my pager, after the meeting was interupted by one call.
Once the members returned I received the pager, then 10 mins
later we had another call, the another 20 mins after returning
from the second call. 3 calls in 1 night, rather busy.
I am now a full member of the brigade, being voted in during
the February 2001 meeting.
Got to go on my first turn out on the 21st of September. Being
so close to the station, I heard the trucks going past and went
to the station to listen to the comm traffic and actually made it
in time for the third truck, in this case the tanker. Since it
was the third appliance out we did not go lights and sirens.
When we arrived we were sent 150m from the accident scene (the
call out was for a MVA) as a traffic control point/warning point.
Once there was enough Police on site we were released back to
station.
Got onto my first Stike Team on the 2nd of Jan 2001. This was
a day of total fire ban (no fires in the open air) and we have
a named crew of 5 people on standby in area all day in case of
a major fire that needs more than the local brigade turnout.
The was no major fires that needed us, so the was a rather hot
day at home.
Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal
Brigade Raised $7,861.05 collecting on the day. (2001)
Brigade Raised $4,950.55 collecting on the day. (2002) *bad weather*
Brigade Raised $9,566.40 + 2 tubs yet to be counted (2003)
Brigade Raised $10,207.75 collecting on the day. (2004)
Briagde Raised $9,242.91 collecting on the day. (2005)
Brigade Raised $4,508.07 collecting on the day. (2006) One less intersection
was allowed to be used for collection, also bad weather.
At the meeting on the 12 of May 2002 I was voted in as the Mapping Officer/
Co-ordinator by the rest of the brigade. Kept my position this year for two years in the elections.
11/4/05 - Elected Communications Officer.
I was accepted by the CFA to become a full time firefighter.
There were 70ish successful applicants out of approx 1200. Found out on the
31/3/03 at about midday that I was accepted. On the 20th/21st May I went for a
two day driving course and succeeded in obtaining my Heavy Rigid endorcement on
my license.
Graduated on the 7th of Novemeber and started work at Springvale station on the
10/11/03. Have achieved my tanker and pumper increment. Means I can drive the
trucks.
I have achieved the following AFAC Modules. (follow the link)
STRUCTURAL GEAR PICS
Volunteer Turnouts Since 13 Nov, 2000, with Mooroolbark.
Pages Responded to: 743
Turn Outs: 601*
Strike Teams: 12
Strike Team Turnouts: 5 (1)
Driver: 94 (as of 24 Dec 2003)
*(includes turnout on 21st Sep 2000)
Turn Out = Going on Truck to Call, or going Direct to a call.
Figures updated 14/2/02 based on CFA records
See Strike Team page for more info on turnout in parethesis
Read about some of the call outs,
or my times on Strike Team duty.
Weather Info
