HRH The Duke of Gloucester visits the iECC

(l-r): DSE Chief Officer Ewan Waller, HRH The Duke of Gloucester and CFA Chief Officer Russell Rees at the Integrated Emergency Coordination Centre (iECC)

Words by Helen Goddard, CFA Manager Government Relations

Photos by Keith Pakenham, CFA Public Affairs (Digital Media)

His Royal Highness (HRH) The Duke of Gloucester visited the Integrated Emergency Coordination Centre (iECC) on Thursday 15 January 2009. The visit provided an opportunity for HRH to observe and meet with staff and gain an operational overview of how we respond to emergencies. This was the first Royal visit to the iECC in Nicholson Street (HRH is 19th in line to the throne).

While his visit to Victoria was a semi-private one, HRH expressed a wish to meet with the state’s disaster management experts to obtain an overview and gather information about the manner in which agencies respond to natural disasters – be they floods, fire, or other events. In particular, HRH was keen to discuss community engagement.

Following the visit to the iECC, HRH was briefed by a range of agencies on 19 January. Those present included the Emergency Services Commissioner and representatives from CFA, Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE), MFB, VICSES, Victoria Police and the Department of Human Services (DHS). Chief Officer Russell Rees gave HRH an overview of CFA, with a particular focus on community partnerships. HRH was keen to hear about how CFA communicates with communities and the general public during an incident, and was impressed with our processes for incident information flow.

HRH is an architect by trade and sits on a number of Boards in the UK. He appreciated the opportunity to obtain firsthand knowledge to take home to share with those responsible for disaster management.

Photos below:

top left: (l-r) HRH The Duke of Gloucester, CFA Manager Government Relations Helen Goddard, DSE Chief Officer Ewan Waller and CFA Chief Officer Russell Rees.

top right: HRH The Duke of Gloucester gets a tour of the iECC.

bottom left: (l-r) HRH The Duke of Gloucester with CFA Deputy Chief Officer John Haynes, CFA State Duty Officer Tony Bearzatto, DSE Chief Officer Ewan Waller and the iECC Duty Aircraft Officer.

bottom right: DSE Chief Officer Ewan Waller briefs HRH The Duke of Gloucester at the iECC.