The mire after the Myer fire

As a Mole Creek Fire Brigade member for the past 6¾ years, I haven’t been to any large fires or wildfires. So on a fireground I’ve never been in a position where a split-second decision could have a major implication. But I’ve been to enough fires to realise that no matter how deep one’s knowledge and how broad and long one’s experience, a Volunteer firefighter or a Career (i.e. paid) one, acting in the best of faith with the benefit of the best human and material resources, can make decisions that in the heat of the moment (pun intended) seemed correct but in hindsight weren’t. On 24 September 2007 the Myer department store in Hobart’s CBD burnt down, despite fire crews’ efforts [1, 2, 3]. Last Tuesday Myer’s insurer and the building’s owner announced they’ve lodged a Supreme Court damages writ against the State Fire Commission and its then chief John Gledhill, arguing the fire’s damage could’ve been reduced had firefighters acted differently [4]. (I don’t know details of the firefighting; I’m concerned here with the principle.) Mr Gledhill said ‘The Fire Service Act is very specific, it provides indemnity for people making operational decisions such as those that were made on the day of the Myer Fire or in any fire for that matter’ [5]. I hope the Supreme Court will interpret the Act thus. But whether it does or not, soon the State Government will introduce legislation to remove all doubt over the Act’s immunity provision (i.e. s.121) [6].

Not on the same page(r)

I levelled yesterday’s rant – sorry, post – at Australia’s Federal Government. Today I take aim at the Victorian State Government. Black Saturday – the most apocalyptic bushfire day in Australia’s history – was on 7 February 2009, i.e. 473 days ago [1]. The inevitable resultant Royal Commission began on 20 April 2009, i.e. 401 days ago [2]. And still, reportedly, Victoria’s Country Fire Authority brigades remain not just under-resourced, but lacking basic equipment including functioning pagers [3a, 3b]. What use is a well-trained firefighter who’s not fighting fires because of pager issues? The Minister responsible (N.B. not necessarily the responsible minister) is Emergency Services Minister Bob Cameron. Said Education Minister Bronwyn Pike [4] (pictured) – to her and her government’s shame – the issues are being ‘worked through’. Not good enough, Minister. The public at large, especially people in fire-prone areas, don’t want endless inquiries and insouciant and peremptory ministerial pettifogging. Rather, they want action. Appropriate and immediate action. Each year the government coughs up over A$50M to underwrite the loss the facile and crass Australian F1 Grand Prix racks up. How far would A$50M go to upgrade CFA equipment? Far further than a F1 race, I reckon. And that’s but one year of government F1 profligacy.

P.S. I’m blessed to be a volunteer firefighter in the Tasmanian Fire Service whose brigades are all well, but not extravagantly, resourced to do our job.

Reflections on Anzac Day 2010

Yesterday was Anzac Day. Last year I wrote of it in point form [1]. Today I’m doing it again:

I didn’t keep my resolution to read Les Carlyon’s 2001 book Gallipoli [2] and 2006 book The Great War [3] before Anzac Day 2010.

But I’ve changed my mind about the 1985 film ANZACS [4]. I now plan to see it before Anzac Day 2011.

Yesterday I marched in Deloraine’s Anzac Day march, as part of the 24-person contingent from the five volunteer fire brigades in the Deloraine area.

It’s the first time I’ve done so. I don’t know what made me do it this year.

In bright sunshine the march down the main street ended at the newly restored cenotaph near the Meander River where there was a ceremony and service watched by the public outside the cenotaph precinct.

At each corner of the cenotaph, an army cadet stood stock still with head bowed for the entire time.

The several speakers were mostly boring. Some content of the speeches overlapped (why weren’t the speeches pre-coordinated?), and an elderly female clergywoman said some prayers.

As a secular Jew, it offended me that all the prayers mentioned Jesus, there was a reading from John’s gospel, and two Christian hymns were sung. To my knowledge Australia has no official religion. And if Christians are in the majority, that doesn’t justify them ramming their beliefs down the minority’s throats.

The best speaker was the Captain of HMAS Collins [5] – the lead submarine in our fleet of Collins Class submarines [6]. He spoke about a Deloraine boy John Collins (1899-1989) who became Vice Admiral Sir John Collins KBE, CB (pictured). He was Chief of Naval Staff 1948-55, and of course the Collins Class submarines were named after him.

I don’t know the words of Advance Australia Fair. I don’t intend to learn them.

I was most moved when the Last Post [7] was followed by a minute’s silence after which the Australian flag was slowly raised to full mast. The laying of several wreaths came second.

I was appalled that God Save the Queen was sung.

Overall I’m pleased I attended. I don’t know if I’ll go in 2011. I’ll decide after I’ve read the books and watched the movie.

‘Change Your Clock, Change Your Smoke Alarm Battery’

Last night Sweetheart Vivienne and I enjoyed an extra hour of sleep. Because at 2 a.m. today, daylight saving ended in Tasmania [1]. To mark this auspicious occasion, the Tasmania Fire Service [TFS] and battery maker Duracell teamed up for a campaign urging all Tasmanians to ‘Change Your Clock, Change Your Smoke Alarm Battery’ [2]. CYC aims to ensure all smoke alarms are kept in working order. It’s message’s promoted via print media, radio and TV advertisements; and on the web [3, 4]. Also in-store promotions in supermarkets and hardware outlets ‘to promote the campaign where Duracell batteries are sold’.

Smoke alarms are important – nay, vital – little gizmos. They literally save lives [5]. So making sure they work’s a no-brainer. So, as a volunteer firefighter and citizen and doctor, I’m in favour of CYC. But I have a couple of caveats: First, changing smoke alarm batteries annually means a very large number of batteries are discarded before the end of their useful life. In this regard, when smoke alarm batteries run low there’s a warning tone; and batteries are a waste disposal problem [6]. Second, I’m bothered by a private sector corporation (i.e. Duracell) entering into a financial arrangement with a public body (i.e. TFS). I know I’m old-fashioned, yesterday’s man, a sheep man in cattle country etc. And I can’t point to a practical downside to the CYC arrangement. I just think it’s wrong. In principle. That’s all. Ho hum.

farmdoc's blog post number 655

It was 1:30 a.m. last Monday morning – with February only 1½ hours old – when the fire call came. Sweetheart Vivienne blogged here that last Sunday evening the smoke was thick at our place. So it shouldn’t have surprised me when the call came. But I was in such a deep sleep. I awoke with a start, but I was dopey whilst I pulled on my clothes. As I left our bedroom Sweetheart Vivienne implored me to drive carefully. I think I must’ve been in some twilight zone – not fully awake, yet somehow adrenaline-charged at the prospect of fighting a bushfire I knew little about but which I thought was major and close. I hopped up into the Triton’s cab, and reversed out of the carport. Then – crash. Instantly I became fully awake as I realised I’d backed into – and broken – our back porch downpost and a rainwater downpipe attached to it. Oh dear. I was distraught. Mad at myself. How could I have done such a thing? But, strangely, not inconsolable. Like most accidents, this one was multi-causal. And a key cause was that the Triton is much longer than the Peugeot. Anyway I felt in no fit state to be on a fireground, so I didn’t attend that call. (My chance at the fire came late afternoon the same day.) Sweetheart Vivienne was superb, as usual: sympathetic, comforting, loving. I am so very blessed that I’m married to her. P.S. The Triton was undamaged. Not even a scratch.

farmdoc's blog post number 612

I don’t know if the summer solstice was yesterday or the day before. But either way, the daylight hours have begun to shorten. Which always seems odd to me because summer’s hottest days are still ahead. As I wrote here, convention has it that summer’s designated by the calendar in the southern hemisphere (i.e. December, January, February) and astronomy in the northern hemisphere (21 June to 21 September, i.e. solstice to equinox). Be this as it may, each year the 12 days between Sweetheart Vivienne’s and my anniversary and the end of the year, is a calm and pleasant time here in Mole Creek and surrounding areas. No wind, long daylight hours ending in 9 p.m. gloaming, abundant grass for stock, patchworked fields studded with fresh round hay bales, work winding down for the year, Xmas decorations twinkling on houses and seen through front windows. This year, thanks to above average rainfall (1,180 mm so far) the Tasmania Fire Service hasn’t yet declared the fire permit season. (They usually declare it in October. I doubt it’s ever been declared this late in the year.) It’s a unique time when our tanks are full of water and our batteries full of electricity. It’s also a time when Sweetheart Vivienne and I like to reflect on our lives in the year that was, and agree on plans for the year ahead. I don’t want to put a hex on anything, but this year’s been a good one for my Sweetheart and me. I’m content, at peace with myself and, I think, healthy. I can’t vouch for the world or anyone else, but I’m okay.