Volunteer fire fighters left out of pocket
Of late we hear well deserved accolades for our courageous volunteer fire fighters.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
These 'guys' volunteer their time, effort and expertise to protect people and property in the most dangerous situations. Imagine the impact of bushfires without them!
As a Rural Fire Service volunteer, it is a mandatory requirement to undertake and complete a host of various training courses. There are also additional courses for those aspiring to leadership positions.
What many in our community may be unaware of, is that our volunteers have to sacrifice income or leave entitlements in order to attend these training courses.
I believe this to be not only unfair, but wrong. Our fire fighters volunteer to protect the public. They fulfill a vital role. They do not get paid. They should not suffer loss of income in order to do so.
I believe it is incumbent upon the NSW Government to compensate volunteer fire fighters for loss of income/leave entitlements due to attending training courses.
And no, training courses should not be consigned to weekends, thereby infringing on family time of volunteers.
Our volunteer fire fighters are invaluable. Its time to value their input, by ensuring their training is not an out of pocket expense.
Patricia Gardiner,
Deua River Valley
Forestry Corporation asked to clean up its act
I was extremely concerned to read the letter by Mr John Perkins, Convenor, Friends of Durras, on 29 November 2019, highlighting the residue left behind after recent logging operations in Benandarah State Forest along the Princes Highway just north of Batemans Bay.
Subsequently, I wrote to the Deputy Premier, Minister for Regional NSW and Minister for Industry and Trade, John Barilaro MP, requesting that given the high temperatures and risk of catastrophic bush fires across NSW this summer season, he seek a comprehensive explanation from Forestry Corporation as to the reasons why so much residue was left behind in this section of the Benandarah State Forest.
This explanation should include what action Forestry Corporation has undertaken to remove this high volume of residue. In addition, Forestry Corporation should be in a position to provide an assurance that all other logging operations in other parts of NSW have also been cleared of residue.
I hope this is not the standard that is set for a private owner should the Berejiklian Government pursue its sale of Forestry Corporation.
I will keep the local community updated once I have been provided with further information.
Paul Scully,
NSW Shadow Minister for Natural Resources
Query on meeting protocols
Our Eurobodalla Shire Council meetings are clearly not being conducted in the spirit of meeting protocols. When points of order are called for, they take precedence over what's going on.
The Chairperson in our Councils case, Councillor Innes should know that by now. Refusing to hear a Point of Order is just plain rude and arrogant.
The other councillors would also be aware of the correct meeting procedures and protocols. If they don't they should attend a course to learn about correct meeting procedures and protocols, or pack up and get out of the business of being a community Council representative.
That applies to them all, including Councillor Innes.
Council Business is the business of the areas Residents and Ratepayers. Not just that of arrogant Mayors and Councillors the peoples council delegates.