http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/ruby-haouchar.aspx en-GB Ruby Haouchar Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:39:02 GMT Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:39:02 GMT Raccoom rss generator, website http://raccoom.sytes.net, email chrisdarebell@msn.com 120 While i was undertaking the Sustainability study in the Cinque Terre we were required to do a presentation in one of the issues faced in the area. I chose invasive species (Maritime Pine) taking over the native Oak & Chestnut trees. However, some people were discussing the concept of bringing in other people into the area (from all over the world) to help cut the Maritime Pine down so that native species could be replanted. This is fine, but imagine taking on this fellow gentleman to help cut down some of the trees........ http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/ruby-haouchar/blog/january-10/would-you-trust-this-man-to-cut-your-tree-down.aspx Ruby Haouchar Sat, 23 Jan 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/1675.aspx Time flies when your having fun! So I spent the first half (not a very long half) of my summer semester in Italy studying Sustainability in the Cinque Terre. I cant even begin to describe the Cinque Terre because you just wont believe me. You still wont believe me when you see photos so I will just talk about some of the interesting things we learnt in the 11 days I was there. Firstly, the course is excellent & would highly recommend for any student studying Environmental Management. http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/ruby-haouchar/blog/january-10/it-all-ends-up-in-the-same-place-you-say.aspx Ruby Haouchar Sun, 10 Jan 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/1656.aspx Yes...3 months since my great coal debate. I have been flooded with assignments, exams, family business & trying to run a Unit of vols! INSANE!!! First things first: I AM OFFICIALLY THE UNIT CONTROLLER FOR THE VICSES- FOOTSCRAY UNIT (back dated a few months)! As i twittered a week back its definately a step in a 'different' direction for the service. I am 27yrs young & currently the youngest Controller in the state. And i suspect the youngest in the country! http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/ruby-haouchar/blog/november-09-/omg!.aspx Ruby Haouchar Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/1606.aspx Electricity bills have been my issue this month. I have been searching through various websites & blogs to determine how you find out which is the cheapest provider, and will it cost you your green soul if you did go with the cheapest? I stumbled across the fab Greenpeace website that describes the 'dirtiest' electricity providers in Melbourne. They even went so far as to create the 'Australia's Dirtiest Energy Retailer Award'. http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/ruby-haouchar/blog/august-09/the-great-coal-debate.aspx Ruby Haouchar Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/1502.aspx VICSES have launched the Crew Leader course, with the pilot course successful run on the 18th & 19th July 09. Fantastic course, i cannot say that enough. The weekend was spent discussing steps CLs take to prepare their crews to approach/undertake a job. This included learning the infamous SMEACS briefing method. S=Situation, M=Missing, E= Execution, A=Admin, C= Comms & S= Safety. Most emergency services use this method for briefing. We refreshed on our AIIMS & Emergency Management arrangements for VIC, with Sunday spent undertaking five different assessment stands. The assessment involved one of the members in your crew undertaking the role as the CL for that particular stand. Great work done by David Tucek who wrote the stands for the assessment, & developing the course along with Stephen Walls for great delivery of materials for the weekend & hard work put into the course. Many other helpers including Pat O'Connor- Training Officer, Libby Thompson- Psychologist with Army, Tim Wiebursh- Manager State Ops, Michael Potter- Training Officer, Wayne Roberts- Manager Ops, Andrew Feagan- State training, Peter Hannan- VESA president & Dep Controller. Hopefully i haven't forgotten anyone =/ http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/ruby-haouchar/blog/july-09/crew-leader-thanks-yous--chainsaws!.aspx Ruby Haouchar Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/1487.aspx The Maribyrnong City Council is pleased to launch Maribyrnong in Focus - designed to keep you up to date about important topics and issues relevant to the whole community. Our first edition focuses on Climate Change. It's a term we hear often, but in this publication we will look at what it actually means, how it impacts out lives and what we can do about it. http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/ruby-haouchar/blog/july-09/maribyrnong-city-council---kicking-butt-in-the-green-dept!!!.aspx Ruby Haouchar Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/1482.aspx AAMI Handover We all love freebies, especially when it comes to fun toys. The annual AAMI handover occurred on Monday with the Footscray Unit receiving 10 traffic wands, 4 uba backpacks & a first aid kit (which was urgently needed). This is the 7th year that AAMI have provided equipment to all SES Units across the state. Units choose what equip they would like, from what is on offer from a AAMI catalogue. Units have a variety to choose from each year. Jo (deputy controller) & I were excited about the quality & size of the backpacks..& so were the Unit members when we did abit of a show & tell session back at the Unit that night..... FANTASTIC!!! http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/ruby-haouchar/blog/july-09/freebies-are-always-awesome!!.aspx Ruby Haouchar Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/1470.aspx I think my subject heading pretty much covers this blog! Its been an insane (in the membrane) few weeks. Finished my 3 exams, on Uni holidays (yay!). Controllers seminar is out of the way. No SES courses coming up anytime soon. Much deserved break! Just announced: Operation Chaps & Chainsaws created by VICSES to assist in the clean up of Kinglake, Flowerdale & Hume areas. Involves approx 25-30 crews of 5 VICSES volunteers, to chainsaw all fallen burnt trees on properties. Scheduled to occur 11th & 12th July 2009!! More details to follow. Footscray have vounteered 1 crew of chainsaw operators on both Sat & Sun. Now to the Controllers Seminar 2009!!!! http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/ruby-haouchar/blog/june-09/why-is-it-in-you-have-timeyou-dont.aspx Ruby Haouchar Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/1466.aspx Hey one more thing that was pretty awesome from the Controllers Seminar...take a look at the videos: http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/ruby-haouchar/blog/june-09/check-out-the-following.aspx Ruby Haouchar Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/1468.aspx Sunday 7th June 2009 I have decided to start a HOW MUCH PAPER DO I USE/COLLECT CHALLENGE! Over the next 12 months i am going to collect all the paper that i use everyday, and also members from my Unit will also bring in paper that they use at work to add to the pile. The paper is only A4, and doesn't matter if its printed on both sides! Ok, so here is a photo of the paper i have so far collect since April 2009... http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/ruby-haouchar/blog/june-09/the-'how-much-paper-do-i-usecollect-challenge'-for-2009.aspx Ruby Haouchar Sat, 06 Jun 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/1457.aspx - Greensburg Texas was hit by a cyclone which knocked down the entire town. The towns major Bob Dickson said that the town is now presented with a great opportunity, as its not everyday that you get to start all over again, & they plan on 'rebuilding with a sense of purpose'. Peter Williams showed a clip interviewing some of the residents of Greensburg, which showed 3 local teenagers who were extremely excited about the prospect of rebuilding and actually saying 'its going to be the EPICENTRE of the green movement!' Fantastic!!!! A few other statements during panel discussions which i found powerful were: - 'The building sector is part of the solution" - "Its no a questions of money, it’s a question of community & partnership"- Maria Atkinson Global Head of Sustainability Lend Lease http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/ruby-haouchar/blog/june-09/ewhs-in-canberra.aspx Ruby Haouchar Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/1455.aspx Yes, i have noticed my blogs are lagging behind a little. Exam time turns me into abit of a space cadet. But i think the title of my blog says it all. The Footscray Unit is definitely embracing the quiet months to madly train train train and prepare ourselves for the next extreme weather event. There are some awesome training courses coming up for VICSES vols, which i have had the pleasure of attending in the past. This Sunday i finally fulfil my goal of doing USAR Cat 1! For those of you who don’t know USAR stands for Urban Search & Rescue Category 1. These courses are not run too often and are part of advance skills for vols. THEN there are the lucky ones who get to do USAR Cat 2 which is searching in confined spaces, building cribbing the size of a house etc! If you watch the rescue of Steward Diver, thats the USAR Cat 2 operators. There are only about 30 VICSES vols who are trained in this. You can understand why when its a 3 1/2 week run course with a 48hr exercise. Hopefully i have my hours correct =/ please correct me if i am wrong =) http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/ruby-haouchar/blog/may-09/quick-its-quiet!.aspx Ruby Haouchar Tue, 26 May 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/1447.aspx Global warming killed Frosty..... this is on my list of best t-shirts ever! The t-shirt was worn by one of my fellow peers on my field trip. I spent a weekend at Cape Liptrap & The Prom doing an assignment for my Natural Area Management subject. It was quite different in comparasion to the times i have visited for holidays, we spent most of Saturday chatting to Bill the Parks Ranger who looks after the Cape Liptrap coast. He took us to a number of historical points along the CL coast. http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/ruby-haouchar/blog/may-09/global-warming-killed-frosty!!.aspx Ruby Haouchar Thu, 14 May 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/1428.aspx Dinner at $1,000 a head? I have been invited to attend a Bushfire Appeal Fundraiser at the Docklands tomorrow...supposed to be a big gala with some big names present (apparently) and most importantly Mick Gatto is on the organising committee. $1,000 a head and i am going to be in SES uniform (blues), stand out slightly from the big ball gowns, high heels and suits. But fun no doubt!! Two other members from my unit will also be going, Michael Sloman & Lynda Stuckey, they were 2 of the many that were deployed to assist during the fire support activities. http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/ruby-haouchar/blog/april-09/how-exciting!!.aspx Ruby Haouchar Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/1402.aspx The Unit had its 3rd successful (organised) information night on Tuesday. There were plenty of vols from the Unit who came along & helped set up the shed, projector, nibbles and many other things. We were not quite sure how many people were going to turn up. Even though we had 70 people confirmed for the night, we knew that we weren't going to get anywhere near that figure. 27 people turned up & very lucky we did set up the shed for the presentation rather then our tiny co-mingled training room, with its mis-matched chairs, and a couch that occupies the corner that people are always drawn to even though you can't see the people at the front when you sit in it! Thats probably why its so popular during the Unit meetings. http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/ruby-haouchar/blog/april-09/info-night-debrief.aspx Ruby Haouchar Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/1399.aspx A fellow volunteer at my Unit said that they have started using alot more paper since the introduction of VISY recycling boxes in workplaces. Why would you use more paper then before????? Because previous to these VISY recycling boxes existing, people actually did use the other side of paper! Have some of our 'going green' actions caused us to go backwards? We so easily say 'put that in the recycle bin', what happened to REUSE, before RECYCLE? http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/ruby-haouchar/blog/april-09/things-to-ponder.aspx Ruby Haouchar Sat, 11 Apr 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/1384.aspx Ok, so VICSES released a severe storm warning for Victoria approx 2 hours ago.....now its POURING but i can only see whats happening in Footscray. Check out the quick clip i took of the rain, it last for a min & half, but as i write this another massive down pour is occurring...slowly getting lighter. http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/ruby-haouchar/blog/march-09/no-freak-events-allowed-in-april!.aspx Ruby Haouchar Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/1383.aspx No news is good news!!! Quiet on the operational front, we did have roughly 8 jobs last weekend due to the high winds and rain. But these days that feels like nothing in comparasion to what we have had recently. The Footscray Unit is going back to replenishing stocks, getting vehicles serviced and continuing with General Rescue training. http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/ruby-haouchar/blog/march-09/clobberella-strikes-again.aspx Ruby Haouchar Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/1374.aspx So as per usual its been a busy few weeks, but not because of the weather. To start off, I was asked to represent the VICSES CEO (Mary Barry) at the Vietnamese dinner to help raise funds for the Bushfire relief and to also thank emergency services for their time and effort. First of all, it was an absolute honour to be asked to represent Mary Barry, and to speak on behalf of all the VICSES volunteers that were deployed and those that maintained their Units core responsibilities post fire operation. http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/ruby-haouchar/blog/march-09/another-big-week--i-dont-mean-the-weather.aspx Ruby Haouchar Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/1365.aspx According to a good volunteer friend of mine, this severe weather events, though testing on our emergency services will only make them STRONGER!! I agree....HOWEVER....we still need to replish our very tired and exhausted emergency services volunteers. To pass on all that great knowledge, experience and skill that current volunteers have to those waiting to assist is a fantastic gift to the world & future generations!!! No rest for volunteers again with the recent storm warning from BOM: http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/ruby-haouchar/blog/february-09/when-will-people-realise.aspx Ruby Haouchar Sat, 28 Feb 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/1349.aspx