Brigade magazine preview

The summer edition of Brigade magazine will be on the streets in February. Here's a taste of just some of the stories in this jam-packed edition.

Area in review: Midlands-Wimmera

Midlands-Wimmera has done it tough through many years of drought. Brigades in Regions 15, 16 and 17 are using innovative ways to deal with climate change and many of them will share in the benefits of the 8,800-km-long Wimmera-Mallee pipeline.

From the challenges of firefighting in the Big and Little Deserts to dealing with recovery and community preparedness in the Grampians, this area of contrasts makes for a great read.




Area in review: Yarra

The challenge in a prized tourist area like Yarra is the need to maintain what is beautiful and unique while ensuring there is also progress. The Yarra team is working at both operational and administrative level to meet its targets and support its people.

Read about a number of brigade-initiated programs finding success:

• with some duplication of service delivery and the difficulty in recruiting new members neighbouring brigades amalgamate
• daytime weekday training draws in new volunteers,
• brigades so visible in their communities that they have waiting lists to join

And which brigade had its previous station fall into a yabby hole?




Off the beaten track - brigade profiles

We've gone off the beaten track to profile four of the brigades protecting Victoria this summer in a special, extended OBT section of the magazine.

Connewirricoo brigade in the Midlands-Wimmera faces a unique fire threat - the area is home to the endangered South-eastern Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo. The main threat to its survival is the destruction of its habitat which includes the very specific nesting requirement of dead river red gums. These trees are, therefore, protected.

Did you know that the Katamatite Fire Brigade in North East Region 22 thrives on a number of family commitments with husbands and wives, parents and children and siblings all represented among the 22 active members?

In South West Region 4, on the doorstep of the Dorodong Fire Brigade, there’s been rapid environmental change. An area covered in pasture just 20 years ago is now forested with pine and blue gum due for harvest in 2009, with the fire risks changing as the trees grow.

Also in South West Region 4, Nelson has long been a popular spot for retirees and holiday makers. But now, more people including 'Seachangers', are making a permanent move to the area. The brigade sometimes shares the holiday spirit by holding its annual dinner on a river cruise.

Plus all the regular features including Incident Spotlight, In Brief, Smoko, Through the Ages and a special two-page photo spread of the National Championships in Lakes Entrance.


Read all about it in Brigade, out in February.