Where are all the Aussie's and Kiwi's?

[aussiefiregirl]

Hello fellow Firies and Friends,

Just thought I would make an appearance in the Aussie and Kiwi section. It is really quiet here so we need some posts. I know there are other members out there from down here. Where you hiding?

I am from Sydney and work as a permo FF and yes I am as one of my fellow brothers calls me a Front bum Firie..I have 2 kidlets.

Where you all from????

If anyone even comes here to read these threads lets get some action going here. It is a little sad really. We are letting the side down.

:rolleyes:
Aussiefiregirl

[FlyingKiwi]

Shhhhhhhh, Firies asleep.:p

Kiwi looks around the room and shouts HALLOOOOOOOOO.

Geez its empty in here, oh well it must be time for a beer with the "Fireman with bumps" from Seedneey.

[aussiefiregirl]

Hiya Flying Kiwi,

Can be persuaded to have an occasional beer. :D Which is very unusual for a firie!

I have come across a few Aussies and Kiwi's here but they are all definitely asleep!!

Stay safe.
Aussiefiregirl

[fergus]

Hey Ian-
Check it out:
http://www.rescuetees.com/cgi-bin/ms2/rescuetees/search?s=0&i=2003050206475569578&m=138&q=Decals&c=Decals

Looks like we're left out... again...(although they do offer an Australian flag one)

Do you know where I can get a wee NZ flag sticker?

It's getting warmer up here.

Enjoy your cold weather.:)

[TheOldSchool]

Do they have Killians Red down under?

[TheOldSchool]

How big is the Sydney FD, I mean manpower and equipment wise? What is the population?

[FlyingKiwi]

TheOldSchool, Aussiefiregirl will answer the Sydney question, but it usually costs a beer:p .

For info on the New Zealand Fire Service, go to www.fire.org.nz

[TheOldSchool]

You come to Baltimore, Maryland USA and I'm buying!

[FlyingKiwi]

Hey Fergus.

Realising the Aussie flag does not have the red stripe inside the stars is an issue, but if you get an Aussie flag sticker and use a blue marker pen to mark out the extra star it should be OK.

I will keep my eyes open around here for you.

As a thought Fergus, if you visit http://www.ufba.org.nz/ That is the United Fire Brigades Asssociation web site, they have an online store with heaps of Kiwi FF goodies for you.

Hey I been doing some searching for you. look at these...

http://www.kiwifruitsnzshop.com/

Go to the Souviners page.

We do a few "Tiki Tours" down that way often for R & R, tell me which ones you like and we will stop in and get them for you.

Check out this.http://www.cdp.co.nz/sq/patchweb/collection/nz/fire/lg/nzfs_new.jpg

It is the proposed new patch we are going to get later this year.

Hows things going anyway Brother, long time no see.

To TheOldSchool, same applies to anyone wandering down this way. And we may take you up on that offer someday.

[pumper41]

Hi aussiefiregirl, like yourself I am a career firefighter in the NSWFB, you can figure out my station from "pumper41" obviously:D

[pumper41]

Hi "TheOldSchool", Sydney is within the state of New South Wales, which is covered by two statewide fire services, the New South Wales Fire Brigades and the New South Wales Rural Fire Service. The NSWFB has about 3200 career and 2800 retained (paid on call) firefighters statewide, and the NSWRFS has about 40,000 volunteer firefighters across rural fire districts. The greater Sydney area has about 100 NSWFB stations, 2500 career and 200 retained firefighters, and about 60 volunteer crewed NSWRFS stations.:)

[stillPSFB]

and then there is little old me down here in Melbourne:) Every summer though we get to go to Sydney and play with the big kids at least once:D Locally this has become known as our annual "Road Trip" - it just happens, we don't have to plan the trip. Usually when we are heading up the mighty Hume Highway on our 800 mile trip we start singing "We are all going on a Summer Holiday..." :D

[TheOldSchool]

Pumper 41,
Thank you for the information, I appreciate it. The next cold beer I have will be to your health. Like most Americans what I know about Australia and New Zealand comes from the Crocodile Hunter programs shown on TV and you don't get much information about the cities and suburbs there, just the outback. Ga'day.

[aussiefiregirl]

I have been away for the weekend and come back and find all these posts. Great!:)

Pumper41 I am stationed at 34. There is only one Female there so you can find out who I am pretty easily. I was in Comms for a few years so I do know where you are. lol

Just to add to your post. Of the 3200 odd permanent firies in the NSWFB there are nearly 100 women. When I joined the job there were only around 14 and that was 7 years ago.

The Old School, never had a Killian's Red but always willing to taste a different beer !!!

:D

Stay well guys.
Aussiefiregirl

[TheOldSchool]

Do the Fire Fighters in your part of the world do Emergency Medical calls? In Baltimore that is the largest part of our service. Difficulty breathing, shootings, auto accidents and chest pains etc. Our last trick was a good one though as far as fire service, though we did have 1 fatality.

[lutan1]

I too come from the land down under!

The best part of the world!!!

Up until recently a 12 year volunteer, now full time employed training and co-ordinating 2 industrial emergency response teams and all health and safety training for approx 2000 employees for a private pharmaceutical manufacturing company....
(Not Pan!!!:eek: )

[aussiefiregirl]

Hi Old School,

We don't do medical emergencies in the Fire Brigades here. We all are trained in Basic Life Support and the Ambulance service/Paramedics do the Medical part. I am not sure how long they will be a seperate service. I am sure they will go the way your Dept operates eventually. There is a weird system in place with the rescue part of operations too. Right now all 3 services have Rescue Depts. They have boundaries where one city will have ambulance Rescue (about 3 areas), one will have Police Rescue (Which is mainly only in the Business district of the City of Sydney) and the rest are Fire Brigades Rescue. There used to be alot of fighting between the services but since there were a few terrible rescue jobs (eg Thredbo landslide) where all services had to work as a team, they do seem to have gotten better.

When we respond to a MVA, House Alight, Bomb Threat etc etc. There is protocol in place where all services are responded. That is Police, Ambo's and us. Makes for a busy little scene.

Sorry for the garbled post. Wanted to do this last night when I had more time but couldnt get in to the reply screen. :eek:

Take care and if I am ever in Baltimore will take you up on the beer offer.

Aussiefiregirl

[TheOldSchool]

In Baltimore we only used to do BLS but the new people coming in have to learn ALS and sometimes ride the medic units to fill in for vacancies, vacation etc. It seems sometimes that the emphasis is off of fire fighting and on Emergency Medical Services. That wouldn't be bad if they didn't use the Medics like taxis.

[pumper41]

Further to aussiefiregirl's response we are fortunate in New South Wales, Australia to have a completely seperate statewide professional paramedic ambulance service. As aussiefiregirl said, we firefighters are trained to BLS/Oxygen Resusitation level so that we can commence treatment prior to ambulance arrival (at my station we usually arrive ahead of an ambulance). All our pumpers carry an extensive trauma kit and an Oxy-Viva III (O2 resusitation/therapy), AED's are also carried on our rescue apparatus.:)

[TheOldSchool]

Did you know that the Outback Steak House was one of the best restaurant chains in The United States?

Is Foster's the name for Beer in Australia?

[pumper41]

Yeah, but the Outback Steak House is not particulary authentic, I've been there on a previous trip to the US. Fosters is actually our recycled dishwater that we sell to unsuspecting foreigners :D , beer is good stuff like Tooheys/Hahn/Carlton or if you are from stillPSFB's patch, VB (Victoria Bitter) or Flying Kiwi's patch, Speights/Canterbury Draught/DB/Lion Brown.

[lutan1]

I did some recent confined space entry training at an Aussie beer manufacturer and asked them at the end of the session where the camels were that p#@ssed in their bottles before they sold it!:eek:

They didn't like me for that...!;) Not sure why.....:D

[TheOldSchool]

Pumper41, I really didn't think the Out Back was authentic because it looks too much like a caricature, but the food is good and the beer is cold.

Lutan1, I bet they liked you a lot, did they ask you back?

[lutan1]

Lutan1, I bet they liked you a lot, did they ask you back?

They did! Had a very good working relationship with them...;)

[TheOldSchool]

Good Man!

[firetruck32]

Greetings fellow Aussies and others,
I am a paid comms operator with the SA Country Fire Service (CFS) and also a volly fire fighter with CFS at Happy Valley.
We have just had a report released by the SA government that recommends a lot of fire & rescue services be combined mainly in the country areas due to duplication of resources , lack of people and low response numbers. It will be interesting to see what happens. My brigade does 300 calls a year and we don't do medical (none of us do) so I don't know what will happen with us, we are in an urban area as well with rural interface.

By the way COOPERS PALE ALE is the only beer that is worth drinking.
If any of you Americans have any new pumpers or rescues that you want to send our way feel free, must be better than the jap crap we drive, grandma's diesel Gemini would pass it going down hill!!

[FlyingKiwi]

Hey there 32 and welcome.

If it is done correctly, amalgamation works. Here in NZ we had dozens of different fire authorities up until the late 70's, by 1980 they had been amalgamated into the New Zealand Fire Service with one controlling body.

A couple of benefits from this.

Standardised training, it does not matter where you are in the country, you will be able to get to work with a crew.

Standardised equipment, makes it a lot easier to work with your neighbours when you use the same gear off the truck.

Larger knowledge pool. Helps with assesing new equipment as well as developing SOP's and training.

Some of the things that occur will be muttered about and the Dinosaurs will disagree with, but most of that is the standard human response to change.

Mt station fits in the same category as yours, and from what I have been told there were only benefits for the station as a result.

One of the biggest was that the Fire Service had to bring PPE up to the same standard for everybody, no more hand me down old style gear at the Voli stations. That also applies now to equipment.

In a strange way, even though we bitch about it OSH has had a positive impact as well. Due to the employers responsibilities and ours as Firefighters, gear is maintained to a higher standard, is fixed quickly, and has a longer life span due to its maintenance.

And I agree on the dinky toy Rice Burner trucks, how the heck do you fit four FF's (average height 6') in the back of a truck designed for four 5' 4" people, answer is "Not very well".

PS. I am 6' 2" and driving some of these things calls for major contortion acts to be be performed when changing gears.

[aussiefiregirl]

Hi Kiwi,

Do you guys do the medical calls as well or only firefighting stuff.

We do not do the med calls here yet. Think it may happen some day though. We have a seperate ambulance/paramedic service. We mostly beat them to calls though so have Basic Life Support training as well as Advanced Resucitation.

See ya
AFG:D

[FlyingKiwi]

NZ is the same as Australie we have seperate services thankfully.

A lot of Brigades do First Response work, fortunately we have a seperate First Response team in my town.

[firetruck32]

Thanks for the info flying kiwi, I have looked at the New Zealand fire service and it looks very good. I can only hope we head the same way. I believe it will improve the service we provide and cut duplication. For example 1 town has 4 sets of heavy rescue and have a combined call total of about 80! things like that will be sorted out.
I guess we will see over time.

[TheOldSchool]

Firetruck32,
The problem with American apparatus is the cost. Here it Baltimore we have mostly Pierce Pumpers and Seagrave Trucks and it is very fine equipment, but it is also very expensive.

If I come across Coopers Ale I'll definitely give it a try.

Y'all be safe now heay!

[CommDiva]

Will any of you lot be participating in the 2007 World Police and Fire Games in Adelaide? I am hoping to get back down under for a major vacation and participation in the games (or go as a cheerleader for our soccer team!)

I'll gladly raise a glass or two of Coopers, Toohey or maybe a bottle of your best red plonk with any of you!

Cheers

Pat

[aussiefiregirl]

Hi Pat,

You can always twist my arm for a nice red or a tooheys!!! Haven't thought as far ahead as 2007 yet but will let you know;) You can't go wrong coming Down Under. We are always hard to talk into going for a drink......NOT!

Always love to make new friends. You can never get enough of them can you.

Stay safe
AFG

[ROBSTAR]

Hey,

I have noticed it is very hard to find Aussie firies on line where ever i go.

I am a volunteer fire fighter, currently in Tassie, but previously in Victoria. I am keen to chat to other both permo and vol ff from around Aus just to keep up to date with what is happening around the place, things are pretty quiet down here.

Any how love to hear from you all,

Cheers Robyn
email. therobstar@hotmail.com

[pumper41]

Welcome Robyn, I was am also a former Victorian vollie, but I headed north to NSW to become a career FF with the NSWFB. It's just a little bit warmer than Tassie. :D

[ROBSTAR]

Hi Pumper,

So where abouts in Vic did you use to be?? and where in NSW are you now??

You are probably right tassie is quite cold at the moment... did think of moving up higher but i hear it is cold all over OZ at the moment. So how long have you been a career ff??

Stay in touch i would very much like to hear what your upto... i feel like things are alot slower over here than Vic and i missin out.

Cheers. Robyn

[Twomoon]

Hi Gang!

I came across this site yesterday and just had to sign up. I'm almost a firey. Just missed out on MFB and CFA selection earlier this year (that's Victorian metro and country fireys) however CFA have got me in a development program to get me in next time.

If anyone has got any suggestions on training, either physical or mental that will help me get in, that would be great. I have a bit of an idea but coming from an experience person would be a lot better.

Hope to hear from you all soon.

Josh:D

[CommDiva]

I'll definitely look you up when I get to OZ for the WPFG. I have family in Seeednee (did I say that right Kiwi?), a couple of firey friends in Melbourne, and an old buddy in Adelaide (who's a travel agent, so he'll be the one I call to arrange my stay there)

I cannot wait to get down under again....I'm hoping I can combine all my holidays and see if I can get some extra time in my OT bank so I can stay for at least 6 weeks (of course, my bank manager might have a thing or two to say about that!!)

And of course, I'll have to visit the family winery, Tyrrell's. Maybe I can find a long lost rich relative or two who might persuade me to stay!! (I wish):D

Cheers

Pat

[hazsmurf]

Hey everyone. I'm new here and just wanted to say hello. I am a fire fighter, haz mat tech, CBRN from Toronto Fire Services. My wife and I are really looking forward to our trip to NZ in 18 months..with one day hopes of moving there.

:) Take care all..

:cool: Smurf

[Dave1105]

Not sure if anyone is still reading this thread (as it's getting a bit old now)... But just thought I might shove my head in and say Hi to anyone who is still listening. I'm a CFA Volunteer firefighter from the S.E. Suburbs of melb, Region 8, you know you love us....

Anyway just thought i'd say hi.

[Tooanfrom]

Me and her indoors--Both "Tooanfroms" =Poms living in the Land of the Long White Cloud-me ex LFB--the boss was the first female to achieve Senior Station Officer rank in Noo Zelund if not the world-Comms Officer at Pitt Street Auckland-Red Watch 1977 to 1985--we both miss the job but most of all the camaraderie, there is nothing on Earth that can replace the buzz of being in the Fire Brigade family.One of my best mates "Lushshersh" Leslie Ludgrove and his missus a watchmate from the old days visits us over here on a regular basis. His claim to fame? One of the few firemen to hold a Bo'suns ticket on the Fireboat working out of Lambeth on the River Thames, London--he reckoned being paid to drive a boat on one of the busiest rivers in the world was majic. You can leave the job, the job never leaves you.Anyway wherever you are on this planet--take care --wanna talk to ya-not about ya!

[pumper41]

Hi Dave, I drop into the forums now and then, I'm an ex Region 14 CFA type, in more recent years career firefighter(NSWFB) in western Sydney and vollie (Dep Captain, NSW RFS) were I live. :)

[lutan1]

I'm a CFA Volunteer firefighter from the S.E. Suburbs of melb, Region 8

What brigade Dave?

[Aussiefirey]

G'day fellow fires from Australia and NZ, I was posted in NSW for about 3 years when i heard the call of warmer weather. Now station on Groote Eylandt in the NT working as wait for in a fire/rescue role for the Eylandt and the airport.
How is things going down that way ??....

[NSWRFS10106]

pumper41,where are you rfs not londonderry by any chance

[aussiefiregirl]

[QUOTE=CommDiva]I'll definitely look you up when I get to OZ for the WPFG. I have family in Seeednee (did I say that right Kiwi?), a couple of firey friends in Melbourne, and an old buddy in Adelaide (who's a travel agent, so he'll be the one I call to arrange my stay there)

Hi Pat,

This post was from a few years ago. I am actually going to the games. Will have to meet up for a beer if you are still coming down under. I am going for mixed netball and indoor rowing.

cheers
Aussiefiregirl

[pumper41]

NSWRFS10106 wrote:

'pumper41,where are you rfs not londonderry by any chance'

Yes, just a support member these days, I make myself available when I can weekdays to drive the tanker.

And you are from Llandilo?

'Pumper 41'

who is actually career 'Pumper 73' these days.

[Ladder8]

http://www.beccycole.com/albums/videos/poster_girl.shtml

To all of the Diggers and Kiwis out there who have served...

Thank you!