Lloyd Bailey is an outstanding man who made a significant contribution to the safety of our State – particularly with his involvement in the creation of WA’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR).
Congratulations on your career and thank you for more than 44 years serving the WA community. Thanks also to Lloyd’s wife Karen Bailey, daughter Kerry Bailey and son Michael Bailey for sharing him with us. Enjoy your retirement!
Congratulations to former Association President Francis Burgoyne on being awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) in the 2019 Australia Day Honours List.
Mr Burgoyne joined the Brunswick Junction Volunteer Fire Brigade, now the Brunswick Junction Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service (BJVFRS), in1977. Since that time he has championed the volunteering cause in the fire and rescue services and is greatly respected by his peers locally and throughout the State.
As well as being an active firefighter for 39 years he has also served as Captain of the Brunswick Junction VFRS from 1998-2002 and again since 2012. In addition to the Captaincy he has held many positions within the brigade including as Lieutenant, Apparatus Officer and Coach of the junior and senior competition teams. From 2005-2009 he served as President of the WAVFRS Association.
As South West Zone Representative for the WAVFRS Association he worked collaboratively with the 20 Brigades in the zone to bring about local change to fire service operations and to raise operational and administrative issues with the State VFRS Association.
After a year as a Representative he was elected as President of the Association and during his tenure he provided input to all operational, funding and administrative policy development with the Department of Fire and Emergency Services. He also served from 2001-2009 as Chairman of the Shire of Harvey Council Bushfire Advisory Committee.
In 2016 under his leadership the Brunswick Junction VFRS battled a number of large bushfires within a six week period including the devastating fire that impacted Harvey and raged through the town of Yarloop. He has also focussed on recruitment and development of volunteers in the Brigade and this is reflected in the positive effect on volunteer recruitment.
He has overseen the development of training opportunities giving younger members the chance to increase their skillset. He also uses his role as Captain to guide local emergency preparedness through continued community engagement.
Mr Burgoyne embodies the spirit of volunteerism and VFRS in Western Australia.
The DFES Wellness Branch are undertaking regional visits again this year.
A wellness team member will visit each region for several days to meet with as many brigades/groups/units (BGU’s) as possible in an aim to increase their level of awareness and understanding of:
The evening includes a presentation on the above topics and a BBQ. All relevant DFES employees, volunteers and their families are invited to attend.
Please see below for estimated dates. These dates are still to be confirmed.
The Wellness Branch are still working with the Midlands/Goldfields and Kimberley regions to set up trips. We will update you when we can.
*Please note these visits are over and above Mental Health First Aid training, critical incident responding, and other requested visits.
| Pilbara | |
| Karratha/Dampier | Monday 6th May |
| Pannawonica | Tuesday 7th May |
| Paraburdoo | Wednesday 8th May |
| Tom Price | Thursday 9th May |
| Newman | Friday 10th May |
| Lower South West | |
| Margaret River | Monday 27th May |
| Busselton | Tuesday 28th May |
| Balingup | Wednesday 29th May |
| Bridgetown | Thursday 30th May |
| Great Southern | |
| Albany | Monday 29th July |
| Denmark | Tuesday 30th July |
| Mt Barker | Wednesday 31st July |
| Midwest Gascoyne | |
| Moora | Monday 5th August |
| Jurien Bay & Eneabba | Tuesday 6th August |
| Dongara | Wednesday 7th August |
| Geraldton | Thursday 8th August |
| Kalbarri | Friday 9th August |
| Upper Great Southern | |
| Lake Grace | Monday 16th September |
| Wagin | Tuesday 17th September |
| Kulin | Wednesday 18th September |
| Narrogin | Thursday 19th September |
| Pingelly | Friday 20th September |
| South West | |
| Pinjarra | Monday 7th October |
| Waroona | Tuesday 8th October |
| Harvey | Wednesday 9th October |
| Collie | Thursday 10th October |
| Bunbury | Friday 11th October |
With more hot weather approaching, it is timely to remind our members regarding the dangers associated with heat stress at incidents (and training).
DFES have produced the following video to assist – however if you have any queries (or require further information and assistance), please contact Health and Safety Services (hss@dfes.wa.gov.au).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZYZK6xN22g&feature=youtu.be
Congratulations to Peter Narducci on being awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) in the 2019 Australia Day Honours List.
Mr Narducci has been an active member of Pingelly
Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service (WAVFRS) since 1975. During this time he has
undertaken many roles at the Pingelly Unit, including as Fire Control Officer,
Training Officer, and he is currently the Unit’s longest serving Secretary since
taking on that role in 2005.
His passion for helping others is an inspiration to
his fellow volunteers, and he is a well- recognised and highly respected member
of the Pingelly community.
As Training Officer he mentors and encourages members to upgrade their skills and learn from their peers to ensure they are ready for any incident that comes their way. His experience and supportive nature is paramount to his role as a Fire Control Officer. He has been fighting fires in the region for over 40 years and has used his knowledge of the area to develop and implement hazard reduction burn plans in the region since 1980.
His determination to keep his community safe saw him work tirelessly with the Shire of Pingelly to establish a plan to lessen the threat to the town in the event of a bushfire. He was a driving force in the seven-year rotational plan that was implemented to identify areas of high fuel loads surrounding the community. It is a testament to his, and the Pingelly VFRS’, dedication to work with stakeholders that their community is now extremely well prepared for bushfire season.
In addition to his active duties as a firefighter attending bushfire incidents, motor vehicle accidents, and structure fires, he has also dedicated a great deal of his time as a Peer Support Officer and he is the Team Leader for the Great Southern region. He is a strong advocate for provision of a solid support network for all volunteers and ensures he is always available to talk to his peers and provide advice when needed.
His commitment in this area contributes significantly to the Pingelly Unit’s consistently strong and long-serving membership base.
Mr Narducci goes above and beyond his duties as a volunteer firefighter at every opportunity and sets a fine example to new and serving members and his community in Western Australia.
Congratulations to Tony Moiler (aka Robert Anthony Moiler) on being awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) in the 2019 Australia Day Honours List.
Mr Moiler joined Kalamunda Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service (WAVFRS) in 1978 and since 1997 has led the Brigade in the Captain’s role. He is the longest serving Captain of the Kalamunda Unit.
He has a distinguished service history encompassing exceptional performance and passion which has been of significant benefit to the Brigade and to the Kalamunda community. He was the key driver in procuring a training room for the Brigade to ensure members can develop and refine their emergency response skills in appropriate facilities on site. He produced the plan for the extension and approached stakeholders in the community who could contribute goods and services to the build of the facility, and he also was vital in fundraising for the project.
The expansion of the Brigade’s premises has also allowed for south east metropolitan region training to be conducted there which has strengthened relationships with other brigades including the neighbouring Kalamunda Bush Fire Brigade. He is a staunch advocate for his unit and doing what he can so the Kalamunda VFRS members have the necessary skills and equipment to effectively protect and defend their community in a major incident.
He is also a mentor for all in his Brigade and is dedicated to making sure his members have access to every opportunity to further their skills. The best example of this can be found in the career fire and rescue ranks. There are currently 14 Firefighters, Station Officers, Community Emergency Services Managers (CESM) and District Officers who came through the Kalamunda VFRS ranks. There are few stations across Western Australia that can boast the number of career members that Kalamunda has developed.
The positive and supportive environment that Mr Moiler has built extends to the impressive retention of volunteers, and over the last 20 years the Brigade has kept a stable membership while still gaining a healthy interest from external community members. His commitment to his community in Western Australia is most noteworthy.
FESCommissioner Darren Klemm AFSM launched the DFES Statement of Strategic Intent2018-2020 (SSI) on Monday 10th December. You can find a copyof the SSI at the following at this link
Should you wish to obtain a printed copy, please contact the Association office and we will send one out to you.
FES Commissioner Darren Klemm AFSM announced the pending retirement of Deputy Commissioner Lloyd Bailey AFSM in February 2019. DC Bailey has been involved in the Fire and Rescue Service for over 40 years – starting as a volunteer with Armadale.
He has been a strong advocate for our volunteers and the Service and will be deeply missed when he leaves.
Formalnotices and farewells are planned and you will be kept up to date with these asmuch as possible.We will be puttingtogether a thank you and good luck folio, so if you would like to havesomething included from either yourself or your Brigade, please send it toKaitlyn at the Association office
The 2018 State Junior Championships were held on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th November at Gil Frazer Reserve, North Fremantle. The Championships were attended by trams from 12 Brigades, with 22 teams of Sub-Juniors (11 to 13) and 17 teams of Juniors (14 to 16) – including 2 Junior teams from Corio in Victoria.
They were opened by the Minister for Emergency Services, the Honourable Fran Logan MLA, and we thank him for his continued support of our Championships, our volunteers and the Association.
Harvey 1 were crowned overall Champion Brigade (they also took out the Sub-Junior Champion Brigade from Brunswick Junction 1 and Kambalda 2) and Esperance 1 had a close fought battle with Harvey 1 and North Kalgoorlie to win the Junior Champion Brigade. Champion Sub-Junior Firefighter was won by Harley Cullen from Coolgardie 1, whilst we had another tie in the Junior Champion Firefighter between Bodhi Miller of Geraldton 1 and Aden Close from Esperance 1.
It was another great weekend and the competition was fierce but good natured. Thanks to all the competitors, coaches, parents and spectators for a great weekend.
A reminder to everybody that the 2019 State Open Championships will be hosted by Esperance VFRS on the Labour Day long weekend (2nd and 3rd March). Nomination forms will be sent out in mid-January and we encourage all competition teams to make the trip.
Further details will be provided with the nomination forms.
