Time for action

[Bagyassfirey]

so is anythin actually happening?

[Baxter]

I think the question you posed Baggy could be expanded to be more inclusive of the entire service to that of what can other brigades do who are not near the city to support those who are participating in the action.

[crashndash]

january will pass....and nought will happen....a few rumblings from one particular Group with a dubious reputation at best isnt going to get the collective off their couch and any display will be token at best

[Alan J]

So is this "outing" a confirmed event even though there is no confirmed time and place yet?  Should we be rallying up support at training tonight?

Not yet confirmed.
Depends on the Minister's office.
I understand the meeting has been put back to Wednesday.
I hear that any action will hinge on outcomes of that meeting, and another one with
CFSVA on Thursday.

Who has got single cab 24s they can spare for a few hours driver training?
Also old FCS750 Isuzus? If needs be, arranging coverage with neighbours...

[CFS_Firey]

Who has got single cab 24s they can spare for a few hours driver training?
Also old FCS750 Isuzus? If needs be, arranging coverage with neighbours...

How about a 27 year old Tanker and a 24 year old 12?

Thanks for the info.

[Firefrog]

If this is a serious thing that is about state funding we need it to be bigger than one group in one region. Not knowing what the plans are it would be great to have the word spread effectively via the CFSVA or other means official or not.

Crazy thing - it will be no suprise to state or pollies as they are reading this.....

The other problem is getting brigades involved who are the roll over and have their belly scratched types. I see brigades not willing to fight for fear of annoying the chain of command......Blah. If this is sanctioned action via the CFSVA then perhaps some of those brigades that normally say nothing might stand up!

Just my 2 cents....

[Zippy]

If it is sanctioned by the CFSVA...in agreement with state, then all is swell.

The way i see it, the brigades who are "better off" or Nothing Doers, *should* be supporting those who are not.

The ultimate result of this affects the CFS as a whole...so doing nothing as an individual brigade would be complete laziness. Its a volunteer effort to improve the ground support to the community. *Keeping in mind Area Coverage

[jaff]

It would be interesting to see if Wayne Thorley senior CFSVA rep(& SA firefighter member) has any thoughts on this matter.
For this to be of any effect other than annoyance, it needs to be coordinated for maximum effect, as the CFSVA have sent out questionares to all pollies with the relevant info as to the underfunding of the CFS they(CFSVA) would be the obvious choice to coordinate the troops into a united front, not a disjointed rabble egged on by agitators!
Have the CFSVA been approached with regards to them being involved in any actions? If not ,why not?
Have group officers been approached to see if this (or any) propossed action is the true feeling of their group/groups? If not, why not?


My two cents!

(please note, this is not a criticsm of anyone but recognising the need to be coordinated if any effective action is to be taken)

[Darren]

Who has got single cab 24s they can spare for a few hours driver training?
Also old FCS750 Isuzus? If needs be, arranging coverage with neighbours...

How about a 27 year old Tanker and a 24 year old 12?

Thanks for the info.

Well that is probably due to those no longer being approved by the CFS....and you guys won't give them up, but that's another story !

[Firefrog]

Keep it on topic - just in case anyone had thoughts about taking this in another direction.

[crashndash]

Who has got single cab 24s they can spare for a few hours driver training?
Also old FCS750 Isuzus? If needs be, arranging coverage with neighbours...

How about a 27 year old Tanker and a 24 year old 12?

Thanks for the info.

Well that is probably due to those no longer being approved by the CFS....and you guys won't give them up, but that's another story !

Darren is actually quite right. Just as we criticise them for spin and truth adjustment....so we should be very careful about doing the same.....the moral highground is a valuable place....dont filtered it up by trying to salt the picture....its briny enough.

With only a few days to go till "the date"....nothing has  come out to Groups and no discussion forthcoming to Brigades giving them a complete picture of why this action is needed, and therefore allowing the members to decide to take part or otherwise,  indeed nothing has come out on anything at all, .....one could say typical CFSVA organising

[jaff]

.....one could say typical CFSVA organising

This "protest/display" who mooted it? from my brief readings its not the CFSVA, but some disgruntled(most of us are)members! and NO formal talks have taken place other than these discussions on here! Am I wrong?

[SA Firey]

The funding issue affects all Brigades/Groups/Regions but as usual only the few are prepared to have the balls and stand up and be counted on the issue.

A "United" stand is fine but it needs everybody to have the desired effect...what are they going to do?......SACK US

A street rally to Parliament House and a set of keys from each brigade appliance to the minister would have a better effect.

We are being "used" ladies and gentleman

Stand up!!!

[Alan J]

Jaff
You might also have noticed that CFSVA hasn't stepped in here to shut down the thread.
'nuff said about that.

I think all the other things you question have been covered in the thread
already, or in other threads going back to when this site was started. Not
going to do your research for you.

Personally, I really hope it doesn't come to action. I hate confrontation.

[crashndash]

This "protest/display" who mooted it? from my brief readings its not the CFSVA, but some disgruntled(most of us are)members! and NO formal talks have taken place other than these discussions on here! Am I wrong?

well this would indicate its a little more than that;

Not yet confirmed.
Depends on the Minister's office.
I understand the meeting has been put back to Wednesday.
I hear that any action will hinge on outcomes of that meeting, and another one with
CFSVA on Thursday.

The funding issue affects all Brigades/Groups/Regions but as usual only the few are prepared to have the balls and stand up and be counted on the issue.

A "United" stand is fine but it needs everybody to have the desired effect...what are they going to do?......SACK US

A street rally to Parliament House and a set of keys from each brigade appliance to the minister would have a better effect.

We are being "used" ladies and gentleman

Stand up!!!

sorry, but stuff like this is pointless diatride. We all know that we wont quit or withdraw services....cos thats not what we do, that IS the difference between US and THEM.....its not just a job for us....it's OUR community.....this sounds very much like the whinging we hear from many in the services....and without anything productive to add. It doesnt further the argument at all - IMHO


At the end of the day, Rainer and the other faceless ones behind this action(at least he has the guts to put his name to it) read this forum every day I'm sure. As has been said, the CFSVA read it all the time we know that, why are they so quiet? why so invisible, are you or are you not supporting this as a legitimate way of sending a message to the Government?......if you want support, then come up with the proper information so that everyone can make a decision to support this or not. Otherwise, I would suggest that the thread is better off closed.

[SA Firey]

Why are they so quiet? Why so invisible? Everyone has heard of never bite the hand that feeds you  

[Mike]

Basically, we need some form of feedback from the CFSVA. Even a time frame for what we expect would be enough for the moment.

I tend to think that any form of action not sanctioned by CFSVA would be treading a fine line. The whole idea is for a coordinated effort!

This discussion came as an extension to the knowledge that a few vollies paid an impromptu visit to a minister.

Why a fine line? The CFSVA have hinted that they have teeth with the questionnaire, now they need to back it up and bare them a little. Anything not sanctioned by them will effectively undermine what WE WANT them to do.

I like the idea, but we need to be pressuring the right people to make it happen.

[jaff]

Basically, we need some form of feedback from the CFSVA. Even a time frame for what we expect would be enough for the moment.

I tend to think that any form of action not sanctioned by CFSVA would be treading a fine line. The whole idea is for a coordinated effort!

This discussion came as an extension to the knowledge that a few vollies paid an impromptu visit to a minister.

Why a fine line? The CFSVA have hinted that they have teeth with the questionnaire, now they need to back it up and bare them a little. Anything not sanctioned by them will effectively undermine what WE WANT them to do.

I like the idea, but we need to be pressuring the right people to make it happen.

Agreed!......... "United we stand" is all well and good, but if it is only a disjointed rabble it will be VERY counterproductive!. So contact your CFSVA  state reps and put some pressure on IF you are serious about a protest!

[jaff]

Jaff
You might also have noticed that CFSVA hasn't stepped in here to shut down the thread.
'nuff said about that.

I think all the other things you question have been covered in the thread
already, or in other threads going back to when this site was started. Not
going to do your research for you.

Personally, I really hope it doesn't come to action. I hate confrontation.

Alan, has the CFSVA ever closed down a discussion on this site? or would they rather the "faceless rankless" posters actually call or email their concerns directly to the people who represent them so they can be actioned, instead of a diatribe on here!


As for you doing my research for me, that I won't ask you to do, I will get my secretary to do it for me


As for your personal aversion to confrontation, I think we all share that one......but its getting to the stage where enough is enough and very public questions might need to be asked and answered, we deal with smoke almost daily its seems to be the mirrors that are screwing us over!

Cheers Jaff

[Alan J]

Here's a report back from today's meeting.
Also, attached is the list of grievances which was presented to, &
discussed with, Mr. Wright.

========================================

A small delegation of concerned volunteers from Region 1, 5 and 6
visited Minister Wright this afternoon.

Our visit was at his request to allow him to ask first hand of
volunteers about how funding shortfalls are affecting firefighters.

Whilst the meeting was not sanctioned by the VA we believe that any
and all assistance that members can give to the VA is imperative to
improve their position and ultimately serve us better.

We were pleased with the hearing that we were given and affirmed our
full support for the Volunteer Association.

It is now up to the VA to press the Minister for a commitment to
improve funding and we will be ready to provide any assistance that
they ask for to support their campaign as are the majority of
volunteers that we talk to.

It is important that every CFS member understands the funding
crisis is real and stands up now to support this campaign. If
you dont think that the CFS is having a funding crisis, read
the Fact sheet or the survey sent to MPs and see if any of the
headings have been or are a frustration to you.

=============================================

While the aforementioned nameless volunteers have been acting on their own
initiative, you can see that they are fully in line with the CFSVA position.

Naturally, actual $$ could only be discussed today in general terms.
That is for the Minister, Wendy & Euan to talk tin tacks. Pretty obvious
though that it will take tens of millions to fix.

Anyway, tomorrow Wendy goes in to bat, at the Minister's invitation.
Whatever happens from here will depend upon that meeting.

This info is for the broadest possible distribution.

regards

[Darren]

Funding for training is my brigades biggest hassle, we do alright otherwise, although the ordering process is poor to terrible now.

We could have 7 people on a BA course tomorrow and that would ensure a good spread of BA across day and night, yet we get knocked back time after time as we are 1 above our minimum.

I don't think we will ever get everyone on a course, and MFS are dealing with a lot less numbers, but it would be nice, and SHOULD happen.

Lets hope something comes of this...I also hope that fact sheet wasn't all that was done, as its not the greatest thing I have ever seen.

[Alan J]

The fact sheet was, as I understand it, more of an aide memoire to cover
the meat of the issues. The detail is in external & various CFS internal
reports.

Waiting now for Wendy to post a report from her meeting yesterday.
3rd-hand verbal is that it was promising. A couple of crucial reports
have not yet been delivered - probably won't be ready until next week.
In fairness then, it is likely that Sunday won't happen.

<shrug> If it comes to it, there are plenty of other days in a week. 
The VA campaign is far from finished, & neither side of politics wants
bad press at the moment...

[Bagyassfirey]

Heard Wendy on the radio today at lunchtime. Not a real lot jumped out at me i guess in coming weeks it will all become obvious

[Zippy]

radio station?  might be online

[Bagyassfirey]

radio station?  might be online

639 ABC Country Hour