Vollie News Thursday 22nd January 2015
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Volunteer Office Contacts and to
subscribe to Vollie News:
Phone: 08 8922 6234
08 8922 6205
On other pages this week:
Competition photos
NatCamp 2015 photos
Flea Market
Assessors Workshop
The Train of Life
“I Will Not Live In Vain”
More NatCamp photos
The Clyde Fenton Story
This week in history
Unique Student
Identification
2015 Volunteer Awards
Please send contributions to
Vollie News
before 4.00pm Thursday
Frank Dunstan, editor/compiler
0456 695 766
Back issues of Vollie News
http://www.territorystories.nt.gov
.au/handle/10070/179615
Australia Day 26th January
I would like to thank everyone who was involved in the cadet camp. It was a
tiring week that went off with a hitch. Thank you Kimberlee and Mick McKay for
setting up and being in charge of the competitions. Without the volunteer
support on that day we would not have had a fantastic competitions. We had
55 volunteers on the day of the competitions with 45 volunteers from Darwin
alone. Well done Darwin and congratulations to the competitors with national
champions in the team event.
Congratulations and sincere thanks to all those in the NT who worked so hard to
make this a great success for the cadets, the leaders and St John generally.
Professor Mark Compton AM KStJ Chairman Chancellor, Order of St John St John Ambulance Australia
Read the ABC News story about the Competitions:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-12/st-john-cadet-competion-nt-
winners/6012454
NT Competitors: Zoe Johnston, Individual; Sarah McLaughlin, Cadet Leader; Hayley McLaughlin
& Lauren Coghill, Team; Sarena Hyland, Manager – holding Gemma Gray, Team
Vollie News Thursday 22nd January 2015
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States attending and numbers:
NSW 7 members
NT 15
QLD 14
TAS 7
SA 13
VIC 14
Staff and National Guests 7
Cadets 44 Adults 31- including staff (total 77) Staff:
Camp Manager Mark Ferguson
Deputy Camp Manager Hailee Skinner
Territory Officer Cadets Kelly Raven
Medical Officer Mandy Paradise
Transport Officer Craig Garraway and Narelle McLaughlin
Administration Gwyn Balch, Debbie Garraway & Kathy Allen
Logistics Pat Murray
Competition Staff
Competition Manager Kimberlee McKay
Assistant Competition Manager Michael McKay
There were also 55 Volunteer helpers, which included 45 from Darwin. National Office Guests:
Paul Compton National EHS Manager (but here as SOC NSW)
James Chandler Chief Cadet Officer
Kieran Brown National Youth Projects Officer
Lakshmi Sunderasan Australian Youth Advisory Team Dates:
Cadets arrived: Wed 7th January
Official Welcome Thu 8th
Comps held: Sat 10th
Formal Dinner: Wed 14th
Cadets departed: Thu 15th Activities: The cadets all enjoyed these Darwin outings:
Wave Pool
Military Museum
Wildlife Park
NT Museum
Crocodylus Park
Darwin Mall
Casuarina Square
East Point
Vollie News Thursday 22nd January 2015
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Vollie News Thursday 22nd January 2015
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Vollie News Thursday 22nd January 2015
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7th February 2015
At the Palmerston Volunteer Centre
Contact Angie Butler for more information
Vollie News Thursday 22nd January 2015
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Thanks to Ros Jones for sending this to Vollie News:
At birth we board a train and meet our parents. We
believe they will always travel by our side. However,
at some station, our parents will step down from
the train, leaving us on this journey alone. As time
goes by, other people will board the train, and they
will be significant - siblings, friends, the love of
your life, children, and many others. Some will step
down and leave a permanent vacuum. Others will go
so unnoticed that we won't realize they vacated
their seats.
The train ride will be full of joy, sorrow, fantasy,
expectations, hellos, good-byes, and farewells. A
successful ride requires having a good relationship
with all passengers. We must give the best of
ourselves.
The mystery to everyone is, we do not know at
which station we ourselves will step down.
So we must live in the best way, love, forgive, and
offer the best of who we are. It is important to do
this because when the time comes for us to step
down and leave our seat empty we should leave
behind beautiful memories for those who will
continue to travel on the train of life.
I wish you a joyful journey on the train of life. Reap
success and give lots of love. More importantly,
thank your God for the journey.
Lastly, I thank you for being one of the passengers
on my train.
Vollie News Thursday 22nd January 2015
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by Rae Meadows
An excerpt from her forthcoming book
He stood in the middle of the front yard yelling at God.
That in itself is not so crazy, but then he started to have
a conversation with God. He was fighting back at God,
answering back as if he heard what God was saying. As
I sat on the front step, I started to seriously wonder if
there really was something wrong with him. That night
it was my job to talk him down. That night he directed
his anger at me.
When I had arrived, he was already angry with me.
Before I had a chance to get in the door, he grabbed his
keys and threw them at me. The keys hit me in the
chest and he told me to get in his truck. Instinctively, I
bent down to pick the keys up from the front step as
he informed me that I would be driving him to get more
beer; he had been drinking and didn’t want to drive
himself. Silently obeying him, I followed him to the
truck and got in. Before I even had the chance to start
the vehicle he grabbed my hand to stop me turning the
key. Clutching my hand tightly, he screamed at me
about a perceived offence. I apologized for my minor
role in what had upset him – even though I had done
nothing wrong. He put his face as close as he could to
mine as he snarled at me, the sarcasm dripping, “Oh,
you’re sorry? You think that makes it alright?!” I
apologized repeatedly; I begged him to calm down and
told him I knew I was wrong. After what felt like several
minutes of berating me, he calmed enough to allow me
to drive us to the store. Once there, he commanded me
to stay in the vehicle to wait for him.
We arrived back at the house, but David did not want
to get out of the truck yet. He was no longer screaming,
but he was still upset. We sat in the driveway for
several minutes talking; he was not ready to be inside
around other people. That’s when the police showed
up.
The officer gestured for me to roll down the window.
He asked us where we had been and what route we
had taken. Then he asked us to get out of the car.
Supposedly there had been a hit and run involving a
vehicle just like the one we were in. David asked the
officer if he knew how many black pickup trucks were
in this neighbourhood, let alone Clarksville, TN.
The officer saw the beer on the floorboards and asked
if we’d been drinking. David was upfront and said “Yes
sir, I have been drinking – but she has not, and she was
driving the vehicle.” David knew how to switch on his
behaviour, even when he was drunk. He knew how to
be respectful and hide his inebriation, and he displayed
this talent for the police officer. I don’t think he was
ever too drunk to control his behaviour if he wanted to.
The officer alluded to the possibility that we had just
switched seats, to keep David from getting in trouble.
Personally, I found this ridiculous. If we had been trying
to hide a crime, we would have put the truck in the
garage and ran into the house instead of hanging out
in the driveway.
I think that possibly he could tell I was on edge and
perhaps under duress, so he took me aside while
another officer spoke to David and the others that had
come out of the house by this point. He said “Look, I
can see the officer decal on the truck. I know it’s not
yours. I know it’s his truck. You could get in a lot of
trouble for lying for your boyfriend…”
“He’s not my boyfriend. He’s just a friend,” I said as I
stared at the ground.
He didn’t look as though he believed me, but said
“Okay.” Then he continued on saying, as he glanced in
David’s direction, “If you need to come down to the
station to speak freely, we can arrange that. You don’t
have to talk about it with him around. We can protect
you.”
I scoffed at that. Yeah, right.
The officer told me that the witnesses heard a man and
woman arguing in the vehicle in question. David’s
window had been down when the officer arrived and
apparently he had heard the tone of how David was
talking to me. He asked me one more time if I had
anything I needed to report to him. I ignored what I
knew he was insinuating.
Vollie News Thursday 22nd January 2015
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“Seriously, Officer, I was driving. We didn’t see anyone
walking on the road, let alone hit them. I am sure I
would have realized if I had hit someone.”
The police started to inspect the vehicle; they were
looking for any sign that it may have been involved in
the incident. They pointed to some areas where the
finish was smudged – handprints mostly. It seemed to
me they were clutching at straws, and I made a mildly
sarcastic comment about if David had only kept his car
clean we wouldn’t be in this situation. He glared at me
and then responded through his clenched teeth fake
smile. He was obviously pissed at me and trying not to
react in front of the police.
By this point David had called his NCO to come help him
out. Even though David himself was an officer, he
apparently called the NCO because he didn’t want his
chain of command to know what was going on. I
wonder if this was the same NCO that had tried to call
my husband to smooth things over as well.
Eventually, they brought the girl that had been hit –
lucky for her she only had minor injuries – and her
friend that had been with her. They looked us over
from the police cruiser and then told the police officers
that it wasn’t us that had hit her. That was a relief, but
I had been more relieved that David had been yanked
out of his aggressive behaviour for the time being.
Your editor was once a volunteer telephone counsellor for Crisis Line, an NT predecessor of Life Line, in the early
1980s. One week that I will never forget was my part in a Domestic Violence phone-in for Dr Peter D’Abbs of the
Menzies School of Health Research. It wasn’t so much a counselling program, as gaining data for research conducted
by the good Doctor. I heard some very harrowing tales and one I clearly remember was told by a woman in such fear
of her abusive husband that she slept with a knife under her pillow.
Vollie News Thursday 22nd January 2015
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Northern Standard, Tuesday 26 June 1934
DARWIN POLICE COURT
At the Darwin Police Court on Friday morning, June
22nd, before Mr., Victor L. Lampe, special magistrate,
Doctor Clive Cornwall Fenton was charged with
having wilfully driven a motor car on the footpath
Smith Street, contrary to the law.
Defendant failed to put in an appearance when his
name was called.
Police Prosecutor Koop stated he had been given to
understand that a plea of guilty was to be entered in
connection with this charge and, in consequence, he
had endeavoured to save expense by not calling
witnesses. It was within the power of the Bench to
issue a warrant, should His Worship desire to do so.
The S.M. stated that he would certainly cause
a warrant to be issued if defendant did not put in an
appearance after two other cases before the
court had been dealt with.
Other cases were then heard …
Doctor Clive Cornwall Fenton, then in court, was
charged with having driven a motor car on
the footpath in Smith Street, and pleaded guilty.
Police Prosecutor Koop stated that defendant drove a
motor-car at about 8.20 p.m., on the night of Monday,
June 11th, along the footpath from the Victoria Hotel
to the Commercial Bank corner, then crossed Smith
Street and drove the car along the footpath on the
opposite side of the street as far as the Star Picture
Theatre. Fortunately the pictures were showing and
there were few people about. The offence carries a
maximum penalty of £20, no minimum being stated.
Fined £5 with costs.
Northern Standard, Friday 23 January 1942, p. 1
ARP FIRST AID HEAD RESIGNS
Lawyer A. Brough Newell has resigned the post of
A.R.P. Director of First Aid.
He has done so because of the poor public response
to appeals for volunteers for first-aid and stretcher-
bearer squads.
This apathy will have tragic consequences when
Darwin is raided, says Mr. Newell.
His letter of resignation, sent to Chief Air Raid Warden
Miller yesterday, is:
"I hereby tender my resignation from the position of
Director of First Aid in the A.R.P organization, to take
effect as from noon tomorrow Friday. I am willing to
serve in any other capacity for which you
may consider I am fit.
"The reason for this is the absolute apathy of the men
of Darwin. A handful have been working hard to train
themselves as first aid men and stretcher bearers but
the numbers are absolutely inadequate to deal with
the civilian casualties which are likely to occur in the
smallest of attacks.
"While I am deeply appreciative of the efforts of the
small band of willing workers, I can see that we will be
quite inadequate and if the wounded are not
attended promptly we will be blamed.
"I therefore recommend that the purchased
equipment be transferred to the Chief Medical Officer
(Civil) and the equipment generously made available
by A.D.M.S. of 7th Military District be returned to him
and the public of Darwin advised through the press
that in the event of their being wounded in an air (or
other) attack, they must either walk to the New Civil
Hospital or die on the spot.
"I am sending a copy of this resignation to the
Northern Standard."
Darwin was bombed on 19th February, just 27 days later.
Vollie News Thursday 22nd January 2015
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A USI is a reference number made up of numbers and
letters which will allow all of an individual’s training
records, entered in the national vocational education
and training (VET) data collection, to be linked.
All volunteers (14+) will need to have one before
1/1/2015, if members do not have a USI they will not
be issued with nationally recognised certificates (ie
Provide First Aid or Advanced First Aid Certificates)
The USI will make it easier for students to find, collate
and authenticate their VET achievements into a single
transcript. It will also ensure that students’ VET
records are not lost.
The USI is available online and at no cost to the
student. This USI will stay with the student for life and
be recorded for any nationally recognised VET course
that is undertaken from when the USI comes into
effect.
Once you have received your USI please email the
details to the Volunteer Office so we can record your
number onto the database and advise Training
Branch.
The following steps show you how to create
your Unique Student Identifier (USI):
Go to
https://portal.usi.gov.au/student/TermsAndCond
itions?ReturnUrl=%252fstudent%252f
Step 1 Get at least one form of ID from the list
below ready:
Driver’s Licence
Medicare Card (this includes a current family
Medicare card where your name is included)
Australian Passport
Visa (with Non-Australian Passport) for
international students
Birth Certificate (Australian) *please note a
Birth Certificate extract is not sufficient
Certificate Of Registration By Descent
Citizenship Certificate
IMPORTANT: The details you enter when you create
your USI must match exactly with those shown on the
form of ID used.
More information on proof of ID and different types.
Step 2 Click on ‘Create your USI’.
Step 3 Agree to the terms and conditions.
Step 4 Fill in your personal and contact details.
Step 5 Enter the requested details as shown on your
form of ID (see list above).
Step 6 Set your USI account password and questions
for security.
Step 7 Your USI will now be displayed on the screen.
Step 8 You should write down your USI somewhere
safe or enter it into your phone for safe keeping.
Step 9 Your USI will also be sent to you by either your
email, phone or by mailing address (which ever you
choose as your preferred contact method when
creating your USI).
Step 10 Be sure to email or call the volunteer office
with your USI number.
Duplicate USI
When you create your USI the system will check
existing accounts and advise if there is a USI account
already established. If you or your training
organisation become aware of the possibility of you
having two USIs, either party should report the issue
to the USI Office. The USI Office will work with the
relevant parties to resolve the issue and advise you of
the outcome.
Forgotten USI
If you forget or lose your USI you can retrieve it
online. You will need to enter a few details to verify
who you are to display your USI. The details must be
the same as those you entered when you applied for a
USI or, if you did so, when you last updated your USI
account.
Vollie News Thursday 22nd January 2015
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