New Training Drills Roster

Goornong has developed a drills roster with works along side the Sunday Tanker Run Roster. All active members are rostered to take the tankers out each 4 weeks or so. This shares the load amongst the team but also allows members the opportunity to maintain their skills.

Our brigade assignment area is divided into approx 50 different sectors or drills. Each Sunday, both our tankers and crews complete one of those drills. Crews are assigned tasks based on their skills and requested to follow the map instructions.

The drills sheets - one is posted - has a poorly detailed map, which allows crew to use the Spatial Vision maps to determine exactly where the route should be. Our focus with this is to provide situational awareness at all times. Specific points will be listed and crews are expected to provide GPS locations from our onboard Garmin GPS units. A benefit of these maps is to also encourage crews to travel roads/tracks usually not frequented and gain a better understanding of our total brigade assignment area.

Crews are also requested to provide information on the condition of roads/tracks, hazards and obstructions, water points, poor signage and wrong map road names, access concerns and hydrant testing. Using the log below the map, crews are requested to log details which also provides a written assessment of the task/concerns but also allows crews to maintain their log keeping skills - so when operating in anger (a job) crews will naturally keep a log - something all believe is vitally important.
Information is collated and passed onto the Brigade management team where it is dispersed to relevant government/private agencies for issues and concerns to be addressed. A log is kept to provide BMT access to what has and has not been completed.
We've been able to identify strengths and weaknesses within our crews and tailor training to suit those needs. Once drills are completed, details are entered into the CFA training departments online skills maintenance website, giving skills maintenance recognition to all involved. With this system, we will have approx 104 skills maintenance sessions a year.
Special thanks also needs to go to Donna P for Her tireless work in setting up and maintaining the drills system.