Volunteers

[Guest guest]

Greetings from Oz..............

As you may have heard over there, we in New South Wales and Sydney, have been

experiencing very severe bushfires since Xmas Eve, probably the worst since

1968.

I know a lot of us will probably fit into the following scenario, and this is a

current topic of discussion in a similar forum over here in NSW. That is the

person who,by nature, is the one that tirelessly gives of his time to volunteer

organisations, in particular in the emergency service area. The situation is

thus, you are a volunteer in the States Bushfire Service, rural fire protection,

which covers most non large populated areas of the State, as well as the urban

interface of large cities,ie Sydney. For those who have been fortunate to visit

this city, it is like a basin, surrounded by bush land, some of it not all that

far from the CBD. As the paid fire service of the State only cover large cities

and towns, the rest is covered by the NSW Rural Fire Service, RFS. As mentioned

before, a typical member is probably involved in many things and may even be a

paid member of another emergency service ie Police Service, either as uniformed

or support staff. Now they may have been a member of the volunteer service like

the RFS, prior to being employed full time in the Police or they may join after

they became a full time member of another emergency service, Are some of you

starting to know what the question will be?????????

What happens when it all goes pear shape, disaster strikes and all emergency

services are flat out trying to deal with the situation. What does that person

do with his time? Where should their valuable presence be put? In our state,

there is legislation protecting the bush fire fighter from adverse action by

their employer during times of emergency, when they are away from work. The NSW

Public Service have leave provisions in such situations where the person can be

absent from work, fighting fires and still be paid. But what happens when their

work is an emergency service?

I would be interested in hearing what others think of this situation. Are

there similar situations over in the US and how is it handled. I even know of

situations where an individual donates his time to more than one section within

an emergency service, ie a member of a local bushfire brigade and also of the

local bushfire communications brigade, who look after comms and control of the

service. What happens to that person in an emergency situation when both groups

need their help. Personally in that last scenario, despite their good

intentions, a person needs to really decide to choose their area of service and

stick to that being able to give 110% when the time requires.

I look forward to your replies and the discussion this may create, as I do with

all the topics on this forum. All the best for the New Year to everyone.

Jeff

ICQ # 25290077