Bendigo Group hits Weekly Times

The following article by Colin Taylor appeared today in the Weekly Times:

A diverse group of volunteers, fired by a common passion for changing people’s lives, has created a model for community fire education which has won admiration statewide.

The Community Education Group in CFA’s Loddon Mallee Region is a standout in Victoria, and uses its imaginative approach to spread the fire safety message in kindergartens, senior citizens’ centres and everywhere in between.

The team came together in 1999, after a meeting was called at the CFA’s Northern District Training Ground at Huntly for “interested brigade personnel”.

Today, there are 16 members, all of whom are trained by the CFA.

The new group formalised what many volunteers were already doing in their respective areas, with initial financial support provided by individual brigades.

Foundation member Bill Bowery, of Kangaroo Flat, said their first event was at Bendigo showgrounds.

“We were in a chook shed and they had to buy a blower vac to blow the chook ___ out,” Bill said. “Then a local carpet company gave us some cut-outs.”

Group chairman Ken Deveraux, also of Kangaroo Flat and another founding member, said the role of the group was not to run events, but to support brigade and community activities.

The main goal, Ken said, was to educate people on prevention, preparedness and safety.

The group holds about 35 events a year and members will go anywhere they’re asked.  The two major efforts each year are the Safety Awareness Field Education (SAFE) program and Elmore field days.

SAFE, primarily for year 3-4 students, will run in Mildura, Bendigo and Swan Hill this year. It has reached more than 15,000 children in seven years.

Besides Elore, the group takes part in the Taradale Mineral Springs Festival, Rochester Farm and Road Safety Day, Bendigo Leisurefest, Bendigo Show, Kyneton Show and the state firefighting championships, as well as a range of community events and displays.

Volunteers have even been known to visit caravan parks. “We don’t preach to people about anything,” Bill said. “As you talk to them, you just bring in your points.”

The group has built up a range of visual aids to help audiences remember the lessons – a small stove, film clips, old fire extinguishers, a clothing rack, heater and blown extension cord.

At Elmore, members have used a 1940s tractor and historic truck to attract attention and, this year, will have the use of am 1891 horse-drawn Shand Mason fire ladder restored by Bendigo enthusiasts.

They also have a cubby house, to illustrate fire dangers around the home, and a pine “Smoke House” which is transported in a covered trailer and assembled on-site.

Last month the group won a special incentive grant of $2000 in the Victorian Fire Awareness Awards.

This money, added to $2000 from the City of Bendigo means group member and Dunolly Brigade captain Alan Gale can build a permanent smokehouse mounted on a trailer.

Paul Tangey, community education coordinator for District 2 in the Loddon Mallee Region and the volunteer group’s coordinator, said the team represented “a new face of CFA”.

“There are 210 brigades in the Loddon Mallee region and, of those, only two are manned 24/7 – Bendigo and Mildura,” Paul said.

“Every individual in the community has a responsibility to prevent fires from starting, and to minimise the spread and impact of fires that do start, and it’s essential that we keep on educating people in every way we can.

Volunteer Wendy Anderson, of Romsey, said fire prevention (rather than response) was the group’s focus.

“Training members only to put the wet stuff on the red stuff is going to become the past of CFA,” Wendy said.

The group meets monthly in Long Gully, Bendigo. Phone Paul Tangey on (03) 5430 2200.