Four men have been taken to hospital after a crash at Parawa.
Just before 5.30pm today (Monday 6 October), police and emergency services were called to Hay Flat Road after reports that a Toyota sedan had left the road and crashed into a tree.
The driver, a 19-year-old Plympton Park man was flown to hospital for treatment. His injuries are not considered to be life-threatening.
Three other men in the vehicle, aged 20, 23 and 24, suffered minor injuries and were taken to hospital by paramedics.
Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au
Search efforts are continuing today 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 on Sunday 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 and Tasmanian Mounted Search and Rescue volunteers on horseback, together with an Ambulance Tasmania wilderness paramedic, will today continue search efforts around the Excalibur Road area on foot and on ATVs.The Westpac Rescue Helicopter and Tasmania Police drone capability are again being utilised to conduct search aerial searches.If you’ve seen Peter please call Police on 131444.
Bree Kuffer preparing her property for the fire season
Having lived in and around Montrose for most of her life, Bree Kuffer is no stranger to preparing for fire season.
When a bushfire broke out in March this year, Bree said it reinforced the importance of staying alert.
“I remember it feeling quite surreal to begin with, and maybe not really understanding how big a deal it was,” Bree said.
“We could see and smell the smoke and could hear the sirens…you were acutely aware that it was in your township, but I think the severity of it took a while for us to really understand.”
Living around 2km from where the fire originated, Bree and her family were safely outside the impacted area, but aware that the situation could change rapidly.
“We have a very clear plan to go as a family. Ultimately, we decided as a family that a house is a house, and nothing is more important than the people inside that house.”
When fire hit Montrose this year, it was the location of fire that surprised Bree and many other community members.
“What was surprising during the fire was the amount of suburban homes that were at risk. I think the Montrose fire has shown that it can happen to anyone.”
In the wake of the fire, Bree and her family have placed a heavy focus on preparing their property ahead of the upcoming season, as well as making sure they know their plan.
“We’re so fortunate to have so many beautiful gum trees that drop a lot of sticks and branches around us, so my husband will clear them regularly so it’s not as big a job when you get closer to summer,” Bree said.
“There’s an important conversation that has to happen in families about being prepared and everybody having a role and listening and doing what we need to do if we need to evacuate.”
For Bree, the most important lesson that arose from the fire was the importance of keeping up to date and knowing your threshold to take action.
“We’re very fortunate now, to have real-time information provided to us in a way that perhaps wasn’t around 10 or 20 years ago. During the Montrose incident, we were very much keeping an eye on the VicEmergency app and watching CFA on Facebook,” Bree said.
“The reinforced part for me is that the decision to leave is mine, my husband’s and our families. Fire is so unpredictable and can move so quickly that you can’t wait to be told.
“I think that that was a big lesson for everybody, they need to really think about what their role is in making decisions that are best for them.
“One of the lessons out of Montrose’s fire was that when it is widespread and there’s multiple areas at risk, it’s probably not realistic to expect in an event like that that a fire truck will come to your house and make everything okay.
“I need to make decisions for myself, my children and my pets, the decisions that are right for us.
“Everybody that lives in an area like this has to be aware of what their risk is, what they have to take control of themselves, and ultimately when to leave.”
This October more than 530 CFA brigades across Victoria are hosting an event to help their communities Get Fire Ready. To find out more about preparing your property, creating a fire plan or to find an event near you visit our website.
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.”
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.
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.
Rolling up hose that had been up the tower
Brandon and Joshua helped Lieutenant Robertson with a radio check
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.
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.”
Police are investigating a truck crash at Hazelwood Park yesterday afternoon.
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
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.