Friday, December 25, 2009

Xmas lunch done!

Darin Sullivan
President
FBEU

(sent from iPhone)

Posted via email from darinsullivan's posterous

BBQ seafood for Xmas day at the fire station

Darin Sullivan
President
FBEU

(sent from iPhone)

Posted via email from darinsullivan's posterous

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Firefighters demand action in Newcastle

Firefighters demand action in Newcastle. Meeting takes control of newcastle fire resources... Moving fire crew and truck.

Darin Sullivan
President
FBEU

(sent from iPhone)

Posted via email from darinsullivan's posterous

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Anger over Waratah fire station closure - Local News - News - General - The Herald

Anger over Waratah fire station closure - Local News - News - General - The Herald

THE asbestos-riddled Waratah fire station will not be replaced and neighbouring brigades are set to pick up the slack in a move that has angered the firefighters' union.

Fire chiefs will announce today that the 16 firefighters and their vehicles will remain working from Toronto after relocating from Waratah nearly 18 months ago because of concerns about the building's asbestos.

NSW Fire Brigades metropolitan operations director Assistant Commissioner Mark Brown said following consultation it was decided the Waratah area was covered sufficiently without having to replace the old station.

Mr Brown said data had shown response times would only be extended by up to 30 seconds and the workload could be covered by neighbouring stations at Mayfield West, Hamilton, Wallsend, Lambton and New Lambton.

NSW Fire Brigades figures released yesterday show significant increases in the number of call-outs in the 12 months prior to July by the nearest full-time stations at Mayfield West (618 to 815) and Hamilton (1017 to 1097) since the Waratah station was shut.

However, a spokeswoman said those increases were in line with an overall increase of 2 per cent in emergency incidents attended by the state's fire crews.

NSW Fire Brigade Employees Union state secretary Jim Casey said the firefighters lost to the Newcastle area should have been replaced.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Kate's graduation

My Kate before farewell dinner...

Darin Sullivan
President
FBEU

(sent from iPhone)

Posted via email from darinsullivan's posterous

Friday, December 11, 2009

FBEU xmas food drive for charity

FROM: http://fbeu.net/2009/12/fbeu-xmas-hamper-drive/

FBEU xmas hamper drive

With the ongoing global financial crisis, poorer Australians will be facing a particularly bleak festive season this year. These forgotten people include struggling families, veterans, pensioners and the homeless. The FBEU will again launch it’s Christmas Food Drive, but we need your help.

Who are we collecting for?

Members and stations are free to choose local charities or any with which they may have an affinity. To help, the Union has put together a list of charities and organisations that help the homeless and other less fortunate groups, whose resources are particularly stretched during the festive season:
• St Vincent de Paul – www.vinnies.org.au/donations-national
• The Salvation Army – www.salvos.org.au
• The Asylum Seekers Centre – www.asylumseekerscentre.org.au
• Cana Communities – www.cana.org.au/cat-template-normal.asp?CID=52
• House of Welcome – www.houseofwelcome.com.au

What are we collecting?

This year stations are encouraged to “think outside the box” in terms of items that would make Christmas a little bit nicer. For example, international phone cards or bus tickets could help some less fortunate get in touch with loved ones.

The Union also encourages stations can pass the hat around and purchase gift cards (e.g. $20 cards for Woolies or Coles) that are very useful to many different organisation. Rather than having to take cans of baked beans home, let’s give families a fresh Christmas this year!

Furthermore, the Union suggests that stations contact their organisations directly to find out what they are in most need of at Christmas, but to help you get started, here is a list of non-perishable basic food items and toiletries that many charities accept as donations:

• tinned food – soup, meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, baby food etc
• dry food – pasta, rice, breakfast cereal, biscuits
• drinks – tea, coffee, long-life milk, fruit juice
• toiletries – soap, toilet paper, tissues, toothpaste, nappies etc

When are we collecting?

We are collecting donations during December and passing them on to organisations for the homeless and needy around Christmas. There are no strict rules – some stations get members to bring donations, others even decide to democratically purchase the gift cards or goods out of syndo. Please set up a box in the mess room to collect the donations.

The “dropping off” of goods can be arranged directly by stations to their charity or through your Sub-branches. Any coordination questions should be directed to your Sub-branch Secretary (see www.fbeu.net for contact details).

Lets pitch in together to do our bit for those that really need our help and who without, will go hungry.

Posted via email from darinsullivan's posterous

Monday, December 7, 2009

Fbeu channel 7 news story- rfs

See this link for the Fbeu story on channel 7 regarding the boundaries being fortified by the NSW Rural fire service, to the detriment of nsw taxpayers. State secretary Jim Casey. Leads the charge.

http://public.me.com/timvollmer