The Conference in Brief: A Summary of this Year’s Key Points
The Government...
acknowledged volunteers, thanking them for the time devoted to responding, training and for their civic service. Deputy Prime Minister, Bill English, opening the conference, said “you provide an insurance policy for the whole community”. Looking down on the mass of uniformed delegates he commented “on the eve of polling day for a General Election, it’s a very welcome sea of blue in front me!”
Guest Speaker Dr Judy Esmond...
presented a fresh perspective on volunteerism, presenting innovative views and suggestions for recruiting, motivating, and sustaining volunteers in Australia. Dr Esmond suggested specific targeting works best when searching for recruits, rather than spreading the nets, and ran through a list of some of the simplest and cheapest methods − mostly electronic − to connect with and attract new people, especially the younger generation. She said recognition of service − making personnel feel important in the work they do − is proven as one of the keys to sustainability.
National Commander and Chief Executive, Mike Hall, advised in his address...
- National Training Centre stage 2, costing $25m, will be open for business in the New Year.
- BA rollout continues nationwide, an $8m project.
- A joint fire and ambulance vehicle prototype is being developed again after a delay.
- Renewable fixed term tenures are being considered for volunteer CFOs.
- GPS systems are being fitted to appliances. 300 are already completed, and there are more to come.
As this was Mike Hall’s last conference before he leaves NZFS at the end of December, he reflected on his 10 years in the position. “It’s indeed a rare privilege to be given the task to lead a national fire and rescue service, and it’s also a big responsibility. Sometimes I have felt the burden but always there have been great people − and I must include the senior management team − to enable me to achieve most things I wanted for the Service. So I want to extend my thanks from the newest recruits in the small volunteer brigades to those in senior positions. I have great pride in what I have done during my tenure, and will take that with me when I go”.
UFBA President, Ian Lindsay, then presented Mike Hall with 2 silver bars to augment service recognised 4 years ago when a silver medal was awarded. This was followed by President Lindsay advising Mike that the rare distinction of Life Membership of the UFBA had been conferred.
Rachel de Haas...
in her address about the continuing volunteer sustainability programme, said the Fire Service accounts for some 88,000 years of total experience in volunteer service. She said the project has found that there are four key things that enhance volunteerism in the NZFS: role reputation belonging to the brand, fulfilment of serving the community, personal development opportunities and camaraderie. The project has suggested reviewing the role description for CFOs and developing one for DCFOs, coupled with additional training and induction packs for those taking up these positions.
Trevor Brown...
Director of Operational Efficiency, said it was no longer sufficient for brigades to do their best and that will do. There are all kinds of pressures bearing down on the organisation, including possible legal action and formal enquiries which follow incidents and that’s why the NZFS must be in a position, when the time comes, to defend itself saying that processes, procedures, training and OSM are all in place and are being carried out by everyone in the Service. Trevor Brown said compliance is essential Audits are held to check on this, in addition to independent audits of major events and when things go wrong.
Model Rules
UFBA’s Chief Executive Officer, George Verry, outlined the reasons for model rules, the project to date to review and rewrite them and the enthusiastic response with many submissions after the draft had been published. He said a number of brigades thought the response time too tight, particularly as they were considering effects of the NZFS’s restructure and realignment at the same time. Therefore, the deadline for submissions will be extended until March 31st.
Board member Ric Carlyon outlined how members had been invited to participate throughout the process and summarised the main thrust of submissions received, which would be taken into account when the next version of the document comes under discussion.
Project committee member Alan Kittelty reviewed progress to date, through the eyes of an operational volunteer Chief Fire Officer.
It was agreed a summary of submissions received to date would be added on the UFBA website, and all member brigades were encouraged to express their views.
Benevolent Fund Chairman, Emrys Evans...
said the year under review was the most momentous in the Fund’s 21 year history. The fund had received contributions from the New Zealand Fire Service Commission and members of the UFBA to assist firefighters and their families who themselves faced trauma and dislocation because of the Canterbury earthquakes. Trustee, Alan Cockburn, outlined some of the devastation that occurred in Christchurch, particularly as the result of the February ‘quake, and how thankful some personnel were for the assistance the Fund was able to give.
“Earthquake” Leave
Board member Ric Carlyon advised conference that it’s the Board’s intention in the New Year to suggest to members that the regulations be altered to give those Canterbury volunteer firefighters some breathing space re their ongoing and future membership of their local brigades. “This would be a humanitarian measure so that those who have moved away from Canterbury, who are thinking of it or who may be forced to leave, are not hung up about membership of their brigade. Special leave entitlement, for say 3 years, would enable them to return, retrain to become operational again and take up their position without loss of service towards awards. It may also mean we don’t lose experienced personnel... the way’s left open for these firefighters to return to duties when they feel ready.”
Challenges Committee and Technical Panel
Those organising and running various events had experienced a full-on year with two events, the National Waterway Challenge and International Road Rescue Challenges, deferred because of the earthquakes in Canterbury, and for the latter event, a change in venue. They were nonetheless successful − a credit to all involved.
Date of Conference
The relatively recent change of the date of conference from March to November each year has not met with universal approval. Several suggestions, and a motion in General Business at this year’s conference, indicate late November may not be the optimum. The Conference was brought forward to November in 2010 to enable the Board and management to report on the past year’s activities in a much more timely fashion than in previous years. But some say late November is too close to the busy period approaching Christmas and this maybe affecting attendance figures at conference. The UFBA’s Board says it will reconsider the November date.
Last Year’s Remits
TAPS and other training manuals will soon have a section on Large Animal Rescue, following up on Helensville VFB’s remit.
Extending the eligibility of UFBA service honours, as outlined in Laingholm VFB’s remit, has been given effect by a change in the Regulations with effect from July
2011 and, it was reported, applications are already being made for back-dated awards.
This Year’s Remits
Lyttelton VFB’s remit was passed calling for a formal medal to be struck to recognise all NZFS and USAR personnel who assisted in rescue or recovery operations after the earthquakes in Canterbury.
The remit from Orepuki VFB suggesting a new service award, a certificate signifying 40 years of service, was agreed to by Conference delegates
The Board of Directors commended to Conference a change in the regulations allowing a meritorious Service Certificate to be awarded posthumously to a deceased enrolled member who had served fewer than 15 years. Delegates agreed.
NZFS Q&A
As is customary, delegates had an opportunity to ask questions, to which responses were given during the New Zealand Fire Service Forum.
Responses by Paul McGill, Director of Operations and Training:
Industrial action, he said, would not hinder the roll-out of new BA equipment. Suitable personnel would be found, where necessary, to complete its introduction.
There are adequate funds in regional budgets, plus contingency reserves, for fleet maintenance and repairs and there have been no particular issues with IVECOs. The NZFS has nearly 200 in service.
NZFS is currently working with St John to renew and update the MOU regarding First Response and NZFS executives are well aware of the additional workload on some volunteer brigades who are First Responders.
Answered by Ian Pickard:
Vehicles for Operational Support personnel are usually brigade-owned vehicles and where vans have been seen on station, assumed assigned to Operational Support, are in fact used for other operations. He added that a review of the “white fleet” is about to begin.
Answered by Mike Hall:
16 Rural Fire Forces are being considered for transfer to Volunteer Fire Brigades even though there’s a push for government-promoted Enlarged Rural Fire Districts. He said not all 16 will change, and a risk and resource allocation model will have to be considered. In the meantime, two of them − Waitakere and Matakana − will move across on a trial basis.