AFFILIATIONS
Affiliations for Brigade, Brigade Auxiliary, Junior Brigade and for the Urban Brigades’ Welfare Fund are now due and payable for the year 2006/2007.  The Association has been able to keep Brigade, Auxiliary and Junior Brigade affiliation fees at the same level as last year, however, due to a small deficit for the 2006/05 financial year, it has been necessary to increase the affiliation fee for the Welfare Fund by $10.00.

FEM
CFA is moving to centralise the payment of FEM accounts and brigades have been advised of information sessions being conducted by CFA throughout the State, to inform brigades of the process to be introduced.  The Association indicated to the CFA that it should ensure its current computerised system is operating correctly before embarking on this next step.  The CFA has advised the Association that improvements to the computer system have overcome the difficulties that brigades have experienced in the past, and that any errors are occurring on an infrequent basis.

BRIGADE AUXILIARY FUNDS
In view of the variety of ways brigades and their Auxiliaries operate, the Association sought clarification from the CFA on the correct method of treating Auxiliary funds and bank accounts.  The CFA had advised that Auxiliary funds are a part of the brigade's funds and, as such, the Auxiliary financial activity should be reported at brigade meetings and audited as part of the brigade's financial audit.  The Auxiliary bank account should be a “brigade special purpose account” and opened and operated in accordance with a resolution of the brigade as specified in Schedule 5, CFA Regulations 2004 – Brigade Model Rules.

INTEGRATED MUNICIPAL FIRE MANAGEMENT PLANNING (IMFMP)
This Project which is an outcome from the Victorian Bushfire Inquiry, will have an impact on how fire brigades and State Agencies or Instrumentalities etc. relate with the Municipalities on fire prevention activities.  In response to a Position Paper released by the Project Team which contained 22 recommendations, the Association has advised of its insistence on volunteer representation at the Municipal and Regional levels and also that the Program must be adequately resourced at no added cost to the CFA.

RELATIONSHIP AND DIVERSITY AWARENESS
The Association received a very interesting and topical presentation from CFA Manager Diversity, Angela Seach, on the feedback being received from the Relationship and Diversity Awareness Workshops which are being delivered within CFA.

There is a growing number of relationship and diversity issues arising within CFA and the Association encourages brigades to contact Angela and make arrangements for a Workshop to be conducted for their individual brigade.  These Workshops can assist brigades to take steps to stop issues arising and provide tools to assist in issue resolution at an early stage.  Angela can be contacted on 9262 8246.

Items Raised with the CFA on Behalf of Regional Councils etc.:
• provision of single fly ladders on all type 3 medium pumpers at CFA's expense;    
• CFA’s OH & S Department be resourced to an appropriate level as a matter of urgency;
• identification for Crew Leaders;  
• a yearly update Urban Growth Areas Maps in the new Centralised Map;
• inclusion under the Memberlink scheme of free admission to Victorian National Parks;
• a recognised standard notification of a day of Total Fire Ban by all types of media; 
• brigade and member information included on one data base;
• the amount of information that FIRS are requesting when submitting fire reports; a current updated pro forma be made available for all brigades; ability for supporting brigades to lodge reports prior to the primary brigade lodging its report; 
• appointment of a BASO to assist brigades in and around the Sunraysia district;
• litigation of members performing volunteer firefighting duties, and more specifically FEM servicing;
• charging for false alarms;   
• a possible breach of the current privacy legislation by the UFU;
• criteria to be used for the issue of the new structural protective clothing;    
• cheaper petrol for volunteer firefighters included in the Memberlink Program;   
• rust issues in the chassis rails of Hino tankers;
• provision of adequate supplies of cold drinking water during the Opening Ceremony at State Championships; wearing of Dress Tunics in hot weather;
• provision of pumpers for the pumper event at local competitions.

CFA has Responded to the Association in Respect of the Following Matters:
• lack of consultation raised by the Wangaratta brigade;
• correct method of structuring brigade auxiliary financial accounts;
• difficulties with the FEM computerised system;
• inconsistent system of integrated brigades supporting volunteer brigades;
• Regions to co-ordinate the completion of Observation Reports and follow up on responses;
• reinstatement of CFA Regulation 55;
• delays being experienced with processing of membership allocations;
• a system to advise volunteers when Skills Maintenance is required;
• inclusion of hygiene and catering issues on the fireground in the debrief process;
• consistent process in regard to the allocation of Structural Protective Clothing;
• Brigade Key Cabinets and security systems;
• life expectancy or testing regime for Structural and Wildfire Helmets;
• future use of current Structural Jackets;
• clarification of the issue of Structural Turnout Coats;
• clarification whether a BASO can assist at Integrated Brigades;
• modifications to the Heavy Mid-mounted Pumper; 
• purchase of uniform trousers at a lower cost and investigations of alternative suppliers and materials;
• use of the Uniform Peak Cap and investigations of alternatives;
• part-time nature of the Storeperson in Region 15;
• CFA Medical Forms/Restrictions;
• level of music at some locations for the Torchlight Procession, and provision of witches hats at the start of the Procession as a guide for the 10 paces between brigades;
• poor condition of Pumpers and service hydrants on arrival at the State Championships and the allocation of Pumpers for competitions.

CHAMPIONSHIP ITEMS:

NEW EVENT – PUMPER AND LADDER
The Association has forwarded to all brigades, a copy of the rules for this new event which will be introduced into the 2007 Senior State Championships.

BORROWING OF COMPETITORS
The use of a form to be used at the Senior State Championships when competitors are to be borrowed, is to be re-introduced for the 2007 Senior State Championships.  Details have been forwarded to brigades.
 

P E DAVIS, Secretary
Web Site:   www.vicnet.net.au/~vufba/ 
E-mail:   vufba@vfbv.com.au