Mandurah’s  Mumblings   2012  –  Issue  2   Page  1  

 

 Hi  everyone,  

 Thank   you   all   for   volunteering   your   time   to   be   members   of   the  

Mandurah   SES   and   supporting  me   in  my   role.   I   really   appreciate   the   extra  work  that  a  number  of  our  volunteers  do  to  make  our  unit  run  smoothly  and  efficiently.  Many  hours  of  work  and  preparation  go  into  all  facets  of  an  active  SES  unit.  Our  much  loved  Deputy  Manager  Paul  is  doing  outstanding  work  for  us   and  we   have   the   best  most   dedicated   training   team   in  W.A     -­‐  Will,   Phil,  Ross,   Barry,   Phil   Rance,   Trevor   and   Lisa.   All   sections   are   running  well   and  training  hard.  Debbie,  John,  Mark  and  Laura  are  all  doing  outstanding  work  in  leading  their  specialist  teams.    

Time  marches  on  and  so  does  the  development  and  growth  of  our  unit.  We  now  have  over  50  volunteers  who  are  training  hard  and  contributing  so  much   to  our  community  and  unit.  Welcome  to  all  our  new  members   thanks  for  joining  and  taking  the  time  to  be  part  of  our  team.    

We   have   one   of   the   largest   cadet   groups  with   over   80   young   people  involved   over   6   days   of   the   week.   This   is   our   26th   year   of   operation   an  outstanding   achievement   in   anybody’s   books.   Our   12   volunteer   instructors  are  doing  a   terrific   job   in   training  and  supporting   the  students   in   their   first  experience  of  volunteering.    

I  am  very  proud  of  our  unit  and  the  reliable  reputation  that  you  all  have  worked  so  hard   to  achieve.  Keep  up   the  good  work,  be  kind   to  and  support  one   another   -­‐   remember  we  are   all   on   the   same   team   (except   for   the   footy  tipping  competition  )  and  enjoy  being  a  member  of  one  of  the  most  successful  SES  units  in  W.A.    

So  until   next   time   it   is   goodbye   from  me  and   remember,   I   am  always  there   to   support   you   and   make   sure   your   volunteering   experience   is  rewarding  and  positive.      

MANAGER’S  RAMBLINGS     By  Chris  Stickland  ESM  

Mandurah’s  Mumblings   2012  –  Issue  2   Page  2  

 On   the   4th   of   February   2012,   three   members   of   the   Mandurah   SES  

(Phil,  Debbie  and  Helen)  attended  Helitac  training  at  Forrestfield  in  Perth.  The   initial   theory   section  of   the  course  outlined   the  different   types  of  

fixed  and  rotary  wing  aircraft  and  the  different  types  of  water  points  used  for  water   bombing   operations.   We   were   given   information   about   flying   times,  water   and   fuel   capacity,   load   times   and   effectiveness   of   delivery   for   the  Eurocopter   AS350-­‐B3,   the   Erikson   S   64E   Air-­‐crane   and   the   Sikorsky   S61N  along   with   several   other   aircraft.   Water   points   such   as   lakes   (natural   and  man-­‐made),  dams  and  portable  water  points  (looks  like  backyard  swimming  pool)  were  explained  as  well  as  our  role  in  static  water  point  security.  

   After   the   theory  session,   two  of   the  Eurocopters  arrived  and  we  were  

given  the  opportunity  to  talk  with  the  pilots  and  have  a  look  around  (and  sit  inside)  the  helicopters.  The  helicopters  then  lifted  off  and  demonstrated  how  they  would  work  in  as  a  team  to  collect  water  from  the  water  points  and  drop  it  over  the  “fire”.  

   

HELITAC  TRAINING     By  Helen  Wood  

Mandurah’s  Mumblings   2012  –  Issue  2   Page  3  

We   then   went   down   to   the   water   and   practiced   what   we   would   do  during   water   bombing   operations.   We   determined   the   wind   direction;  approach   and   exits   paths;   safe   viewing   areas   and   positioned   ourselves   on  either  side  of  the  approach  and  exit  paths  to  keep  people  and  animals  clear  of  the  area.  

If  these  areas  are  not  kept  clear  the  pilots  will  deem  the  security  of  the  

water  point  compromised,  abort  water  pick  up  operations  and  find  a  different  water   point   to   use.   This   not   only   compromises   the   efficiency   of   water  bombing   operations   but   also   means   that   people   miss   out   on   watching   the  helicopters   in   action.   So,   although   it   may   not   seem   like   much,   our   role   in  water  bombing  operations  is  an  important  one.  

     

I  would  prefer  to  fail  with  honour  than  

win  by  cheating.  

SOPHOCLES  

Mandurah’s  Mumblings   2012  –  Issue  2   Page  4  

 When  Allen  and  I  first  started  up  in  the  SES  in  1987,  there  was  only  one  

shed,  one  of  most  things,  and  not  many  members.    So  began  the  hard  work  to  get  more.     At   a  meeting  we  decided   to   build   another   shed   so  we  had  more  room.    Well   thinking   caps  went   on   to   see  how  we   could   raise  money   to  do  that.    We   ladies  said  we  would  run   these  paddy  markets,   the  men  said   they  would  cut  wood  for  fire,  a  trailer  load  at  a  time,  and  raffle  a  week  at  a  time  so  we  all  took  turns  selling  tickets  at  the  shopping  centres.    We  also  helped  out  wherever  we  could  to  raise  money.    Our  Boss  got  the  shire  on  our  side,  so  the  money  started  rolling  in.     The  next  thing  was  who  was  going  to  build  the  shed.    Most  of  us  put  up  our  hands.    The  men  would  build  it  and  us  ladies  would  help  by  feeding  them  and  helping  where  we  could,  two  at  a  time  went  in  to  look  after  the  men.    It  was  a  lot  of  work  for  the  men  but  it  all  started  to  come  together  and  started  looking  like  a  shed  in  no  time  at  all.    We  were  proud  of  what  we  were  doing.     We  did  guard  work  at  night  (night  watch)   for  many  things.  The   ladies  went  with  the  men.    Allen  and  I  did  it  together  like  the  rest,  it  was  a  lot  of  fun,  but  it  was  also  a  lot  of  work,  but  it  did  bring  in  a  lot  of  money.     We  kept  up  our   training  as  most  of  us  were  very  new  at  most   things.    We  had  some  bad  storms  that  did  a  lot  of  damage  around  the  town.    I  will  tell  you  more  about  them  as  time  goes  on.     Our   team   started   to   grow,   we   finished  with   a   lovely   lot   of  members.    More  ladies  came  into  Welfare.    Gwen  dropped  out  and  Norma  took  over  as  leader  for  a  few  years  till  she  got  so  sick.    We  kept  her  as  our  leader  but  I  took  over   the   load   from   her   when   she   had   to   leave.     It   was   1992   or   93   that   I  became  leader.          

LAURA’S  REFLECTIONS     By  Laura  Fazey  

If  you  fail  to  plan,  you  plan  

to  fail.  

OLD  SAYING  

Mandurah’s  Mumblings   2012  –  Issue  2   Page  5  

 

 

ANZAC  DAY  2012     Photos  by  Trevor  and  Michael  Johnston  

Mandurah’s  Mumblings   2012  –  Issue  2   Page  6  

   

   

Mandurah’s  Mumblings   2012  –  Issue  2   Page  7  

On  the  weekend  of  14/15  April,  I  packed  my  bags,  grabbed  my  passport  and  headed   south   to   visit   the  Mexicans!   My   friends   at   Mandurah   SES   had   very  

generously  offered  me  the  chance  to  become  a  Trainer/Assessor  on   their  NURE   course  being  run  at  Murray  SES  unit.    After  a  very  stressful  week,   I  was   both   nervous   and   excited   for   the  course  to  begin.      As   NURE   is   one   of   my   favourite   courses,   I  couldn't   wait   to   share   the   experience   with  

some  people  who  would  be  learning  it  and  experiencing  it  for  the  first  time.    I  thought  back  to  when  I  qualified  under  the  same  instructors,  Ross,  Phil  B,  Phil  R  and  Bob,  and  remembered  what  a   fantastic  experience  it  was.    These  four  instructors   made   NURE   fun,   interesting   and   easy   to   understand   and   I   can  quite  easily  say  they  are  THE  best  instructors  I  have  had  on  any  of  the  many  courses   I  have  completed!    Hopefully   I  could  be  as  good  a  Trainer/Assessor  for  this  class.  Ross,  Phil  B,  Phil  R  and  Bob  made  me  very  welcome  once  I  had  arrived  and  I  have   to   thank   all   four   for   their   reassuring   comments   on  my   ability   and   the  boost  to  my  confidence  they  gave  me  prior  to  my  first  lesson.    Our  class,  made  up  of  3  ROSS  members  and  the  rest  Mandurah  SES  members  were  fantastic!    I  have  never  been  on  a  course  where  the  whole  class  worked  so  well  together  and   where   everyone   picked   up   the   new   concepts,   such   as   resections,   so  quickly.    They  were  an  absolute  pleasure  to  teach!      As  the  first  weekend  came  to  a  close,  I  was  excited  for  the  following  Sunday's  post  course  assessment  -­‐  the  walk  through  the  bush.      Everyone  successfully  completed   their   night   vehicle   navigations  mid-­‐week   and   the   morning   of   Sunday   22   April  arrived.     I   am  happy   to   report   there  was  not   a  hail   storm   in   sight!!     Everyone   was   excited   to  get   started   and   to   get   out   in   the   bush.  Thankfully  Trish  was  able  to  join  us  on  the  day.    She   had   undergone   knee   surgery   during   the  week  and  we  were  all  very  happy  to  hear  that  it  had  gone  very  well  and  that  she  was  not  in  too  much  pain  and  would  be   joining  us   in   the   field  as  Murray  Base,  plotting  the  team’s   routes  on   the  map  as  part  of  her  assessment.      My   team  consisted  of  Jess,  Alison,  Susan  (who  came  for  the  walk)  Ross  and  myself.    We  were  Team  2  -­‐  otherwise  known  as  girl  power!  (Ross  was  an  honorary  girl  that  day).    Not  long  after  commencing,  Jess  and  I  realised  we  shared  a  mutual  fear  -­‐  Spiders,  or  more  precisely,  walking   into   them  as   they  hung   in   their  webs  across   the  

SOUTH  OF  THE  BORDER     by  Karen  B  –  Cockburn  SES  

Mandurah’s  Mumblings   2012  –  Issue  2   Page  8  

trees  we  were  walking   through!   This  was   discovered   after   one   particularly  close   call   with   a   rather   large   spider   that   was   spotted   by   Susan   at   the   last  moment,  hanging  directly  in  our  path!  Happily  we  didn't  have  too  many  more  close  encounters  of  the  arachnid  kind.  By  the  start  of  our  third  leg  it  was  noted  we  had  over-­‐taken  Team  1.    This  was  not  their  fault,  after  all  they  were  trying  to  drag  Phil  B  with  them  and  we  had  girl  power!  

The  girls  did   an  amazing   job.    They  worked  well  together  and  communicated  really  well,  and   after   walking   over   2kms,   they   were  extremely   accurate,   leading   us   almost  directly   to   the   projected   target   point.     I  would  happily  have  either  in  a  team  with  me  any  day.  At   the   end   of   the   day,   the   final   paperwork  

was   completed   and   I   am   happy   to   report   that   everyone   was   deemed  competent,  including  myself  as  a  Trainer/Assessor.    I  had  a  fantastic  weekend  and  a  lot  of  fun  and  I  thank  everyone  for  that.    Each  and  every  person  on  that  course  contributed   to  making   it  as  good  as   it  was.     I  also  walk  away  having  learnt  new  things  and  with  some  very  good  advice  but  most  importantly  with  new   friendships   and   the   honour   of   becoming   an   honorary   citizen   of   the  south!    Hopefully  I  will  get  the  chance  to  see  you  all  again  soon!  I  would  just  like  to  end  by  thanking  all  the  people  who  made  the  weekend  so  great.     A   big   thank   you   to   Bob,   Margaret   and  Sandy  of  Murray  SES,  who  allowed  us  to  use  their  unit  for  the  course  and  who  spoiled  us  with  such  delicious  welfare.    Thank  you   to  Ross   and  Phil  R  for   inviting  me,  having  faith   in  me  and  giving  me  the   chance   to   become   a   Trainer/Assessor   under  you.   Both   gave  me   some   very   useful   advice   and  knowledge   and   were   great   senior   assessors.     A  BIG   thank   you   to   Phil   B   for   his   encouragement,  laughter   and   ability   to   always   take   a   joke   and  lastly   thank   you   to   all   the   participants,   what   an  awesome   bunch   you  were!    We   all   need   to   have  those  Margaritas  and  Coronas  soon!              

Mandurah’s  Mumblings   2012  –  Issue  2   Page  9  

 On  a  recent  trip  to  Victoria,  Julie’s  brother  (Kim),  had  sent  his  mother  an  SES  (New   South  Wales)   mascot.     Their   mascot   is   ‘Paddy   Platypus’.     Below   is   a  photo  of  Paddy  and  Mandurah’s  mascot,  ‘Sniffer’.    While  Paddy  can  be  held  in  one  hand,  you  may  have  trouble  holding  Sniffer  in  one  hand  (maybe  ‘by’  the  hand).                              

                   

 

SES  MASCOTS     by  Trevor  Johnston  

FESA  WEB  SITE      

Want  to  find  out  more  about  FESA  and  SES?    Check  out  the  web  site  at:  

www.fesa.wa.gov.au    Find:  

• Training  manuals  • Course  synopsis  • Alerts  • Links  to  other  units  • Plus  heaps  more  

Sign  in  using  your  ID  number.  See  Paul  Dwyer  for  more  details  

Mandurah’s  Mumblings   2012  –  Issue  2   Page  10  

 Date  of  Issue:  2nd  May,  2012.  

Read  the  label  first!      Some  actual  product  warning  labels:    On  the  bottle-­‐top  of  a  (UK)  flavoured  milk  drink  -­‐  AFTER  OPENING,  KEEP  UPRIGHT.  (duh!)    On  a  New  Zealand  insect  spray  -­‐  THIS  PRODUCT  NOT  TESTED  ON  ANIMALS.    In  some  countries  (like  W.  Virginia:),  on  the  bottom    of  Coke  bottles  -­‐  OPEN  OTHER  END.    On  a  Sears  hairdryer  -­‐  DO  NOT  USE  WHILE  SLEEPING.  (  Now  THAT  I'd  like  to  see!  )    On  a  bag  of  Fritos  -­‐  YOU  COULD  BE  A  WINNER!  NO  PURCHASE    NECESSARY.  DETAILS  INSIDE.  (The  shoplifter  special!)    On  Tesco's  Tiramisu  dessert  (printed  on  BOTTOM  of  the  box)  *  DO  NOT  TURN  UPSIDE  DOWN.  (oops...Too  late!  You  lose!)    On  Marks  &  Spencer  Bread  Pudding  -­‐  PRODUCT  WILL  BE  HOT  AFTER  HEATING.  (Are  you  sure?  Let's  experiment.)    On  a  Korean  kitchen  knife  -­‐  WARNING  KEEP  OUT  OF  CHILDREN.  (Dammit!  Who  are  they  to  tell  me  what  to  do  with  my  kids?)    On  a  string  of  Chinese-­‐made  Christmas  lights  -­‐  FOR  INDOOR  OR  OUTDOOR  USE  ONLY.  (As  opposed  to  what...use  in  outer  space?)    On  an  American  Airlines  packet  of  nuts  -­‐  INSTRUCTIONS  -­‐  OPEN  PACKET,  EAT  NUTS.  (I'm  sure  glad  they  cleared  that  up.)    On  a  Swedish  chainsaw  -­‐  DO  NOT  ATTEMPT  TO  STOP  CHAIN  WITH  YOUR  HANDS  OR  GENITALS.  (What  kind  of  consumer  phone-­‐call  led  to  this  warning?)    On  a  child's  superman  costume  -­‐  WEARING  OF  THIS  GARMENT  DOES  NOT  ENABLE  YOU  TO  FLY.  That's  right,  destroy  a  universal  childhood  fantasy!)    

MANDURAH  STATE  EMERGENCY  SERVICE  

 93  Park  Road,  P.O.  Box  274,  Mandurah,  WA  6210.    Ph:   9581  1966  Fax:   9581  4199  Email:  mandurahses@hotmail.com    

Ordinary  People  Doing  Extraordinary  Things  

 We’re  on  the  web!  

www.mandurahses.org.au  

Do  you  have  something  you  wish  to  contribute  to  your  newsletter?    Then  please  email  it  to  Trevor  at:  

tjoh1401@bigpond.net.au  

He  has  half  the  deed  done  who  has  made  a  beginning.  

HORACE