Junior Volunteer Development Program - Hattah

One of the brigades younger members was successful in being accepted to participate in the Junior Development Program held at Hattah recently. Teisha wrote about her experiences and presented a report to our recent brigade meeting. It is obvious to me the benefits to our younger members in participating in activities such as this.

Below is Teisha's dairy:


"Day 1: On the morning of the 20th of September 2010, 16 people from around the district 2 and from the surrounding districts. 6 of the 16 people caught the plane from Bendigo, there were 2 planes, 1 plane going to Echuca to pick 5 people up and the 2nd plane went to Maryborough to pick up another 3 people. Both planes then continued onto Mildura airport, we then got on a bus as a group of 14 people. We stopped at Redcliff to pick up 2 girls then we continued to Hattah Kulkyne national park, where Sextons home stead is, that is where we are staying for the 4days. When we got to Sextons Homestead we met the 4 leaders, Carol (who was our theory Leader), Michel (our practical Leader), Pam (who we called mum), Bernie (Our practical Leader), then there was Stan who did the cooking for us. Once we unpacked and every one had runners on we had to meet in the chuck house (where we ate), Michel then told us that we were playing a game called Chaos, then Spaceship stepping stones. Then we did some theory work and we were given a block of wood that we had to carry around with us until we wrote a submission letter to our leaders. The block of wood was our ‘baggage’, we had to write our burdens on it. After the theory work we had free time until 7 that is when we had tea. I made good friends with 3 others so we decided to go for a walk in the bush to see what is around. Then there was tea then we had a camp fire then free time again.


Day 2: We got woken up at 7.15, breakfast was at 7.30 then we were playing Chaos at 8.00 and spaceships at 8.30. Chaos and spaceships are our morning and afternoon game that we do every day. We then got right into rock climbing, then more theory until lunch time. After lunch we as a team decided to write the submission letter about our ‘Baggage’. It took us all afternoon to write it because we still had to do the other activities that they had planned for us. We then went outside and split into 2 groups, my group went over the where the giant swing and the other group went over to the rock climbing wall. Neither group had a any idea what we were doing, then Bernie brought over 15 milk creates while we were putting on our gear. My first shot I only got 2 because I couldn’t get my leg up high enough cause it was tapped, the second go I got to 10 creates then I calmed my creates and jumped. We then did more theory and then had free time till tea, so we finished off our submission then we handed it in. The submission past so we didn’t have to carry around our ‘baggage’ around with us anymore. Later that night after tea we had a ceremony for our ‘baggage’ then we had to go into the HAMS Integrity to get split into groups to do different activities, these included, 6 figure map points, map reading, compass work and radios.

We then had an early night because we knew that we were going to be doing the night mission thing. We got woken up at about 11.20 and we had to be in the integrity by 11.30pm to discuss what was going to happen. Right on midnight we set out to go for our roughly 6km round walk. The mission included, getting us to the T-intersection on the Murray River. From there we had to locate 2 packages, we found them, 1 bag was 10 life jackets and the other was 8 paddles for a canoe. We then split into 2 groups a walking group and a canoeing group. We had to get half way and locate a flashing device and that is where we had to swap but before that we had to make fire and take a picture of us. Then my group got into the canoe and paddled the rest of the way to camp. We then went into the Integrity to solve a puzzle with was in a shape of a T but it was in like 5 pieces and it isn't very easy at 4.40am Wednesday morning to do. But we managed to do it then we got to go to bed.

Day 3: We got to sleep in till 10am but I was already awake at 7. After bacon and egg for breakfast we played Chaos and spaceships, then we went in for a debrief about the night mission. Then we went and did the Flying Possum. That is where there is 4 off the line at once, 1 person is going up the wall and the other 3 are watching the other 12 of us are connected to a rope and we have to pull the person that is attached up the wall in how ever many bounces they want. My first go was 5 the second go it was 2 jumps. Then we did some more theory work. After the theory work of setting our goals we were allowed to go out and go on the giant swing, it was so fun. One person was out on a pontoon and they had to catch balls as we were throwing them from up in the air after we had pulled the pin. Then we had tea and did more theory work then we had "warm and fuzzy night" and watched a movie, then we all went to bed.

Day 4: We had to get up early so it was a 7.20 start, breaky was at 7.30 and our chaos game was at 8 and spaceships was at 8.30. We finally complete spaceships, took us all 4 days but we got there in the end. After we finished that we had another mission that we had to complete. The mission was, there are acid balls that have risen from out of the group and to prevent them from getting into the water way and contaminating Mildura's and Adelaide's water. We split ourselves up into 3 groups, group 1, group 2 and group 3. 1 person out of group one would be attached to 2 pulley systems, one rope that pulls you straight up and the other one that pulls you to the side. The goal was to get the acid balls out without touch the group otherwise you had 30secs to get the acid ball into the safe tube then you would be dead, no one died. After we completed that mission we had a debrief then we had lunch then it was time to go. We packed up the bus then boarded after saying good bye to the leaders.
On the way to Hattah the bus ride was soooo quite but on the way back we were really noisy, singing songs, talking loudly, mucking around. Thanks to all the participants and leaders.


Andy - Knowsley       Blair - Marong        Teisha - Goornong       Katelyn - Tongala     Dominic - Echuca    Matt - Echuca


Elliot - Stanhope        Amber - Stanhope   Cassy - Eaglehawk       Brett - Castlemaine    Brendan - Kyneton 

Seany - Woodend      Jayden - Maryborough   Krystin - Mt Cameron      Isabel - Red Cliffs     Avalon - Red Cliffs"

The Big Wet

And it started raining – and kept raining and now instead of drought we have floods. Here are a couple of pictures of the Russel’s Bridge river crossing. From my memory it has been about 10 to 12 years since we have seen water over this low level bridge on the Campaspe River. Looking around our patch at the water in Crab Hole creek and other areas I reckon its been a similar time since I have seen that. Its great to see and the flushing of the rivers and creeks will be a good thing. Many of the CFA volunteers have been assisting the SES and their communities in flood relief works.


As far as the brigade goes there have been only a couple of small incidents. We are now into September and we will be starting to get busy again with training and Fire Danger Period preparedness. The Whipstick group will be holding a group exercise in early October.

The brigade will also commence some fuel reduction burns around the town during October and November. Residents are advised that there will be smoke around the town as we commence these burns. Our immediate priorities will be to clear the large mounds of trees and debris in the recreation reserve. These will burn for days but present a serious hazard to the community in a fire situation. We need to complete these burns to ensure the safety of the town during the fire season.

We have also been advised the Goornong Fire Brigade and community are to receive a new Fire station. It is expected the new station will be completed around April/May 2011. Given the amount of development around the Goornong Assignment area this is welcome news and will be an asset for the community and an investment in the future.

Lastly congratulation to Teisha F on being accepted for the develpment and leadership development course.