Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source:

After the 2009 fires, the community surrounding Marysville significantly changed and brigade membership at Marysville, Narbethong and Buxton dropped.

But thanks to the launch of combined training and support for each other, this triangle in District 12 is now stronger than ever.  

The three brigades cover a large area that includes dry bushfire conditions and cool climate rain forest conditions.

“We haven’t been a team in the past,” Marysville Fire Brigade Captain Travis Gleeson said, “and it was time to change.  

“A Buxton brigade member asked me if the three brigades could work together a bit more, and I thought yes why can’t we?”  

Travis talked to Narbethong and Buxton brigades to try to improve their teamwork.

“Sometimes you need more than one brigade for a training session to work properly, so combining training between the three brigade works better,” Narbethong Fire Brigade 1st Lieutenant Stephen Schulz said.

Each brigade still has its own training sessions, but they also train together about once a month, with brigades taking it in turns to be the host.

“The dynamic has changed with our new training program,” Buxton Fire Brigade 3rd Lieutenant Brian Denham said. “We wanted to focus on combined training. There has definitely been a shift to working together more, which leads to a better understanding on the fireground. 

“The joint training has absolutely improved things. It creates better working relationships and a better understanding of each brigade’s issues.”

“The three captains are quite different and they share their knowledge,” Stephen said.

“Members from Marysville and Buxton have a lot of structural background and they can teach us things we don’t learn at our brigade.

“It’s good to have the support from surrounding brigades, especially as there isn’t a lot of experience at our brigade. It gives our members confidence.”  

“We turn out as one bigger brigade and that’s normal for us.”

District 12 Assistant Chief Fire Officer Steve Keating is full of praise for what these three brigades have achieved.

“These three brigades are isolated from their district office at Seymour. Being at the far end of the district, their nearest support is a long way away,” Steve said.  

“Narbethong’s existence today has a lot to do with the support they received from neighbouring brigades to re-engage their community and lift their profile,” Steve said.

“It really solidifies that community connection is so important. 

“The brigades have really shone in the community safety and training space and operationally. I’m proud of their efforts.”  

Submitted by	News and Media

Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

The City of Greater Bendigo is hosting a free Detox Your Home service from 9am to 1pm on the Bendigo Cup Day public holiday, Wednesday October 29 at the Bendigo Livestock Exchange, Wallenjoe Road, Huntly.

The Detox your Home service provides residents with an opportunity to safely dispose of common household chemicals without harming their health or the environment.

Residents can dispose of the following items – acids, alkalis, aerosol cans, anti-freeze, brake fluid, car body filler, car wax, ammonia-based cleaning products, cooking oil, coolant, detergents, disinfectants, drain cleaner, fertiliser, fire extinguishers, floor-care products, waxes, fuels such as petrol, diesel, kerosene and others, glues (water-based and solvents), herbicides/ weed killers, insect spray/pesticides, nail polish/ remover, oven cleaner, paint stripper, thinner/turps, pool chemicals, rat poison, solvents, transmission fluid, and wood preservatives and finishes (oils/varnish) at the Detox Your Home service.

This event will be drive through and contactless and those wishing to participate must register on the Sustainability Victoria website.

City of Greater Bendigo Acting Resource Recovery and Education Manager, Sam Johnston said Detox Your Home is the safest way for residents to dispose of unwanted household chemicals that may be stored around homes.

“Household chemicals can be dangerous, and Detox Your Home is a good opportunity to get rid of unwanted chemical products in a safe and environmentally friendly way,” Mr Johnston said.

“You must register to attend and those who fail to do this will be turned away at the gate. So please take a couple of minutes to register if you would like to participate.”

The collected material will be treated/recycled or disposed of safely by a specialist team.

Detox Your Home is administered by Sustainability Victoria in partnership with Local Government.

For a full list of chemicals accepted, visit:

Source:

Geelong West Fire Brigade recently partnered with Hamlyn Views School, welcoming senior students Brandon and Joshua for a unique, hands-on introduction to community service and firefighting.

Geelong West Fire Brigade recently partnered with Hamlyn Views School, welcoming senior students Brandon and Joshua for a unique, hands-on introduction to community service and firefighting.

Hamlyn Views is a special developmental school, where students often experience the world differently to others. This partnership was about more than just extinguishers and hoses. It was about breaking down barriers and creating a safe, inclusive space where every individual could contribute and shine.

Brandon and Joshua were provided with wildfire clothing, giving them a sense of belonging as part of the brigade. They helped carry out station safety inspections, checked fire extinguishers, assisted with hose testing and rolling, and enjoyed learning what it means to be part of a firefighting team.

For the brigade, the program was a rewarding experience. Members quickly learned to adapt their verbal and expressive language to be clear, simple and supportive. This not only made the activities easy to understand, but also harnessed the strengths and abilities of the students, ensuring they were actively engaged, confident and having fun.

The final day of the program was a highlight. One of the student’s families attended the station to see what had been learned, while classmates proudly cheered them on as they walked out of school dressed as firefighters. The excitement and happiness on the students’ faces was shared by everyone involved.

The project was supported by Lieutenant Stephen Robertson, Ex-Captain Brendan Robertson, Secretary Bob Ackland and firefighters Keegan Casey, Harry Williams and Scott Tomlinson, along with classroom teacher Marty, who was a brilliant contributor in guiding and encouraging the students throughout the program.

This partnership is a reminder that community service is not just about responding to emergencies. It is about inclusion, connection, and building confidence.

Geelong West Fire Brigade looks forward to continuing these opportunities with Hamlyn Views and other local schools, strengthening both the brigade and the community it serves.

Submitted by	Stephen Robertson

Source:

More than two hundred CFA brigades hosted community-focused fire-readiness events over the weekend 4-5 October as the Get Fire Ready initiative officially kicked off.

Thousands of Victorians turned out to learn more about fire safety, engaging in conversations with their local firefighters at events that stretched from Kadnook in the west to Toongabbie in the east.

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan declared the weekend an overwhelming success and a great start to a month of activity encouraging Victorians to prepare for the fire season.

Jason visited events across the state, including Mooroolbark, Kinglake, Beveridge, Trentham, Wendouree and Stonehaven.

“The atmosphere was really positive. People were interested in how they could take practical action ahead of the Fire Danger Period,” Jason said.

“The new local area maps were particularly popular with both brigades and community members. They gave residents a chance to pinpoint their properties and talk about local fire risks.”

Brigades also reported strong interest from members of the public in joining CFA, with volunteer recruitment proving an added bonus to the weekend.

Spring Hill Fire Brigade Captain Scott Selle said the brigade had never run an event of this kind before and was pleased to give his small community, situated near the Wombat State Forest, the opportunity to ask questions about the season ahead.

The day also brought a welcome surprise, with local resident Jamie Clark signing up as a new recruit after stopping by to see the truck and tour the station.

Malmsbury Fire Brigade Captain Linda Krive said her brigade had also attracted a potential new volunteer.

“While we took part in Get Fire Ready to inform locals about their fire risk, gaining a new volunteer was of course an added positive,” Linda said.

Linda encouraged other brigades to get involved in the weeks ahead.

“The more brigades that take part, the more opportunities we have to help communities understand their risk and take simple steps to get ready.”

With another three weekends of events still to come, CFA is urging Victorians to look out for their nearest Get Fire Ready event by visiting the CFA website.

Submitted by	CFA media

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Over the weekend the Territory Road Policing Division seized several vehicles for hooning in Darwin.

On Saturday two motorcycles were sighted by police allegedly racing on the Stuart Highway from the Lambrick Avenue traffic lights to Coolalinga. The motorcycles were travelling 31-45km over the speed limit and were apprehended in Coolalinga where both motorcycles were seized and impounded.

On Sunday a Holden Commodore utility was allegedly conducting burnouts on Forrest Parade and surrounding streets in Palmerston. The driver was issued with a Traffic Infringement Notice for multiple offences and the vehicle was seized and impounded.

Acting Superintendent Devrim Kanyilmaz said, “The Territory Road Policing Division will continue to focus all efforts on keeping our roads safe. Hooning and dangerous driving will not be tolerated under any circumstances. 

“Although no one was injured during these incidents, it is behaviours like these can lead to serious injury or even death.

“Remember stay alive and avoid the Fatal Five – speeding, drink driving, failing to wear seatbelts and driving tired or distracted.”

Source: New South Wales – News

Emergency services were called to the intersection of Greenhill Road and Glynburn Road, Hazelwood Park about 5.15pm on Sunday 5 October after a truck crashed through the roundabout and into a large gum tree.

The truck clipped a car as it entered the roundabout then slammed into the tree, spilling its load and causing damage to shopfronts and four other parked vehicles.

Miraculously, no one was seriously injured during the incident.

The truck driver, a 28-year-old Elizabeth Vale man, sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene by paramedics.

The truck and three cars had to be towed from the scene.

Investigations into the crash are ongoing.

Anyone with information or dashcam or CCTV footage that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au

257056

Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

The City of Greater Bendigo acknowledges the recent media release regarding the closure of the Eaglehawk Recycle Shop (ERS).

The City has long supported ERS through a peppercorn lease arrangement, financial contributions to support their operations and collaborative efforts aimed at reducing landfill waste and promoting sustainability.

We understand this news is disappointing for many in our community, however we want to reassure our residents that the City remains committed to ensuring a similar level of service is provided from this site moving forward.

The City has reached out to the ERS board with an offer of a financial support package to support the continuation of the Eaglehawk Recycle Shop. The City looks forward to discussing this proposal with the Board at their earliest convenience.

We remain committed to working with community organisations that contribute to environmental outcomes and social enterprise.

We appreciate the contribution ERS has made to the community over the past 30 years and acknowledge the efforts of its staff and volunteers.

The Eaglehawk Landfill and other recycling centres across the municipality in Goornong, Heathcote and Strathfieldsaye are Council ran and there will be no changes to their operation.

The City will provide updates as they become available.

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Three charged with arson at Ashley Youth Detention Centre

Monday, 6 October 2025 – 12:30 pm.

Three youths are facing charges of arson, and destroy property, following an incident at Ashley Youth Detention Centre on Sunday.
Police and emergency services were called to the centre about 3pm yesterday following a report of a disturbance involving three armed youths.
While police were in attendance, the youths allegedly set fire to a building.
Three youths – two aged 16 and one aged 15 – were arrested at the scene and safely taken into police custody.
No one was injured during the incident.
A Tasmania Fire Service fire investigator, as well as Tasmania Police forensics officers, were on scene at Ashley Youth Detention Centre today as investigations continued.
Significant damage has been caused to an area of the facility.
The youths were taken to Launceston police headquarters on Sunday while investigations took place and, on completion of the charging process, were returned to the centre ahead of their scheduled appearance in youth court today.

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Search continues for missing man near Hollybank, north-east Tas

Monday, 6 October 2025 – 11:26 am.

Search efforts are continuing for a missing man in the Hollybank area in north east Tasmania.Peter Willoughby, 76, went missing on a walk in bushland about 2km from Hollybank yesterday afternoon.He was wearing a dark blue jumper, blue jeans and sneakers.Peter is being treated for a medical condition, which may result in him being disoriented.Police and State Emergency Services search and rescue crews, together with an Ambulance Tasmania wilderness paramedic, are currently searching the Excalibur Road area on foot and on ATVs.The Westpac Rescue Helicopter and drone capability are also being utilised to conduct search aerial searches.If you’ve seen Peter please call Police on 131444.

Source: Australia’s climate in 2024: 2nd warmest and 8th wettest year on record

Anna Henderson, Journalist: Penny Wong thanks for joining SBS World News.

Penny Wong, Foreign Minister: Good to be with you.

Henderson: You met the Iranian Foreign Minister while you’ve been here at the UN. What were you trying to achieve by that face-to-face engagement?

Foreign Minister: We’ve had a diplomatic presence in Tehran since 1968 and obviously, as a consequence of the actions of the Iranian state, in particular the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, we made a decision to ask their Ambassador to leave Australia and to suspend our presence there. I thought it was important for me, face to face, to look him in the eye as my counterpart, and tell him why, and tell him very clearly that we believe that these actions crossed a line, and they were utterly unacceptable to Australia and to Australians.

Henderson: Can you demand any evidence from the Australian Government to support what ASIO has alleged?

Foreign Minister: What I made clear to him is that we have faith in the advice of our security agencies, and we act on that.

Henderson: You made a very significant move this week in terms of getting 100 countries on board with that humanitarian declaration. SBS has spoken to some, doctors in Gaza over the course of this week, and they told us they’re seeing the consequences of the F-35s in hospitals as saying they are, quote, “shredding people”. Australia is part of the F-35 program. Do you think that’s something that your government would review?

Foreign Minister: Well, first, can I just respond on the first point, which is the Declaration in Support of for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel, which, as you know, was one of the things we determined to do after the tragic death of Zomi Frankcom, an Australian who was killed by the Israeli Defense Force, along with her colleagues from the World Central Kitchen, and I said, I made a promise that we will try and do something to ensure that this did not happen again, to work for that world. And I am very pleased that as a result of all of our effort, over 100 countries have joined together to sign the statement and to pledge action to ensure this does not keep happening and countries from as far away as Sierra Leone, Switzerland, Jordan, Indonesia, as well as Australia and beyond, and that really was an example of the power of multilateralism. In relation to the F-35 you’ve heard me talk about this, we are an F-35 country. Why are we an F-35 country? It is for Australian capability. So we are part of that supply chain where we supply to Lockheed Martin so that we can get critical capability for Australia.

Henderson: When you hear that kind of first-person account from the hospitals, though, does it give you pause for thought, perhaps, about petitioning the US about its arms trade with Israel?

Foreign Minister: It affirms my commitment to work as I am, for a ceasefire, to engage with Arab countries and others, Indonesia, Türkiye , other countries on calling for a ceasefire, pressing here for a ceasefire, for the hostages to be released. And importantly, it affirms my commitment, our commitment to recognition of Palestine as a critical aspect, critical part of peace, longer term peace, in the region.

Henderson: The government has spoken about the potential to have a home for the Palestinian people rebuilding Gaza. France has been talking about potentially contributing to peacekeeping forces. Is that something you think Australia is open to?

Foreign Minister: Look, what we’ve learned here in our engagement with France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Jordan, the UAE, the Saudis, all of the engagement here is that we want to work with other countries to maximise the prospect of peace, and I’m really pleased that this week, President Trump not only reaffirmed his commitment to ceasefire and peace in the region, but has also met with Arab countries and other countries such as Indonesia and Türkiye , to try and forge a plan for peace in the region.

Henderson: Could you foresee ever Australian boots on the ground?

Foreign Minister: We will work with other countries to try and contribute to peace. That’s what we’re doing here.

Henderson: In saying that, do you mean that other countries would lead that effort?

Foreign Minister: Well, hang on, I think this is entirely hypothetical. What I can say is you have seen Australia being willing to work with others to help contribute to peace. That is what people here are working on. Countries here working on, President Trump is working on, and we should all be focused on.

Henderson: Why don’t you move to broader sanctions, like those on Russia, on Israel, beyond the two ministers currently being targeted?

Foreign Minister: You ask me this quite often, and I would make the point to you that sanctions work when they are done in concert with other countries, and that is why Russia, the sanctions on Russia, have been broad based, and they have been international. You would know that the sanctions we have placed on Israel have been with other countries, and we have sanctioned two Israeli ministers, as well as other entities. Now the reality is, there are, no other country has issued the sorts of sanctions that you refer to. What we need to do is work with others to have impact. We can’t end this war alone, but we can do what we are doing, sanctioning together, recognising Palestine, calling for cease fire and release of hostages.

Henderson: Given what the UN has now found, what we are hearing from human rights groups, academic scholars, is this now a genocide in Gaza?

Foreign Minister: Well, Israel will be accountable to the world and to history, before international courts for its actions. What I would say now is that what is happening in Gaza is unacceptable. The deaths of children are unacceptable. The blockading of aid is unacceptable.

Henderson: In terms of the agreements that have yet to be signed in our own region, you’ve been criss-crossing the Pacific trying to get some deal in Vanuatu and PNG, do you have to shoulder some responsibility that we haven’t got there with those two nations?

Foreign Minister: I think the first thing we should be aware of is that we lost the opportunity to be the only partner of choice in the Pacific under a Coalition government which neglected the Pacific and had its position on climate. And the fact is, action on climate is an entry ticket to engagement with the Pacific. That’s the first point. Second, I think I’ve been very honest with the Australian people. I’ve said there is permanent contest in the region, and it is that permanent contest which is ongoing. What we have to do is be a partner that is respectful, that listens, that is patient and keeps engaging and will do.

Henderson: Are we going to see the COP31 in Adelaide?

Foreign Minister: I hope, I hope we can get an outcome with Türkiye that reflects what we want and what we want most is to make sure the Pacific has its voice heard. That was the really, the imprimatur and the impetus behind our commitment was to do what we have been doing internationally, which is to work with the Pacific to elevate their voices. Obviously, it’s a tough negotiation. We’ve made some progress. I hope we can make more.

Henderson: You were in the room for Donald Trump’s address to the UN General Assembly. He spoke about mass migration. He said countries are going to hell. Are you worried about that kind of rhetoric being repeated in Australia and affecting the multicultural nation that we have?

Foreign Minister: There two points. First, as I’ve already said publicly, and these are issues that President Trump has campaigned on. These are issues that President Trump has spoken about, both before his election and since with the American people. In terms of Australia’s position, our multiculturalism is one of our great strengths. The fact that we have one-in-two of us born overseas or have a parent born overseas, that we bring to who we are all of this common ground with so much of the world, that we are able to be a unified and harmonious country is an enormous strength, and we will always hold on to that.

Henderson: What needs to come out of a Trump meeting in Washington, D.C., in terms of assurances?

Foreign Minister: Well, I’m sure that you and your colleagues will talk about this, but we’re looking forward to the meeting. The Prime Minister is looking forward to the meeting. Obviously, he’s had a number of warm conversations with the President. Obviously, it’s very important for us that we have a conversation about what is happening in our region and the world that well, how our alliance can ensure that the sovereignty of our country and the sovereignty of the countries of the region can be assured and will continue to work on our interoperability and our defence capability.

Henderson: The President just had a 180 on Ukraine. Are you worried about that ability for him to really change his mind quite quickly on issues that will affect Australia?

Foreign Minister: I think the President, I welcome the President’s comments on Ukraine, just as I welcome his commitment to trying to bring about peace in the Middle East and we look forward to the meeting.

Henderson: Do you think Donald Trump deserves the Nobel Peace Prize?

Foreign Minister: Well, what I can say is no one has been able to end this war in Gaza, and he is uniquely placed to be able to end the war in Gaza and to set the region on a path to peace and I hope he is able to do that.

Henderson: Foreign Minister, thanks for joining us.

Foreign Minister: Good to speak with you.