Long Time...No Blog!

Monday 24th Feb 09 

 

Its been just over a week since my last entry. Few things have happened.

I did an interview the ABC breakfast TV show, which was fun. I admit that I walked out of the studio dumbfounded as I had completely forgotten what my key messaging was, but I found the link and watched it (as my mum wouldn’t stop hassling me as she wanted to see it). I hoped that those who were watching will hopefully gain some understanding that people in orange jumpsuits are apart of the bushfire efforts and it doesn’t matter what colour your uniform is, everyone is working together. We all have a role to play!

 

Check out my interview

 

 

On Sunday 15^th Feb I was deployed to do some traffic management in Yarra Glen, but we ended up in Kinglake. It was the first time I had seen the affect of the fires in that area, and it was almost like being in a completely different country. I wont go into how bad it was because you only need to turn on your TV, listen to the radio or look in the paper. What was of interest was the VICSES- Kinglake Unit which was burnt down. Remnants of the vehicles in the shed was a tad eerie to see.

 

Kinglake Unit

    

I was deployed with Darren Williams a fellow volunteer from my Unit and we were partnered up with a police officer from Knox (I think). He was fabulous and we managed to take a photo to reflect the two organisations working together.

 

 

VICSES and VICPOL working together. Notice the hats!

 

I also took the liberty of interviewing Darren to get his thoughts on why he became a volunteer, Extreme Weather Events & climate change. I hope to interview all the members at my Unit, and show the differences in motivations for becoming a volunteer amoungst the generations, as the Footscray Unit has a large number of 'young' members.

 

    

We then visited by the Deputy Commissioner Simon Overland while we were back that the Yarra Glen Racecourse where Red Cross was ensuring that we were eating and drinking plenty. They were incredible and great to talk to. We had a chat with Simon and he was very thankful to all the volunteers out there and the police that had been deployed also. I was a tad excited to be visited by Simon and he probably thought I was some sort of groupie as we managed to get more then 2 photos with him.

 

 

 

(right to left) Darren Williams, Simon Overland, Me!

 

Ever since I have been working feverously at VIFM (Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine) and have only managed to get this week off as the workload begins to decease and the focus shifts to the crime scene work. I was deployed to Steels Creek to assist in this process last Sunday with a fantastic DVI team. We worked well together and were able to get through our allocated jobs for the day and also reflect on what happened.

 

 

The fantastic DVI team (i am in the middle with the big sunglasses on)

 

 

VIFM team (left to right) Soren (anthropologist), Chris (odontologist), Me (forensic technical officer)

 

I am now on standby once again for Staging Area Manager, as VIC is again expecting hot temperatures and winds this Friday. Warburton is already on fire, lets hope they can put that out in time!

 

Ciao

Ruby

 

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