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National Staff visit to Darwin Cadet Division and Youth Council
On Friday 11 June 2010, the Darwin Cadet Division and Northern Territory
Youth Council were thrilled to receive a visit from the Chief Commissioner
Prof Paul Arbon, Deputy Chief Commissioner, Kieran Brown, National Youth
Manager, Belinda Ding and National First Aid Services Manager, Stephen
Carter.
The National team introduced themselves to the group and entertained them
with much banter and lots of questions.
The visit to the cadet division ended with an energetic rendition of "My Name
is Joe" by Kieran Brown and was followed by a lovely dinner with the Youth
Division overlooking the Darwin Harbour.
St John Ambulance Australia (NT)
Weekly Newsletter Thursday 17 June 2010
This week:
National Staff Visit
Humpty Doo
Finke 2010
St Johnnies
Triple Zero Kids’ Challenge
Coming events
Jobs
Bits & Pieces
Rural ramblings
Training
Contacts:
Gwyn Balch 08 8922 6205
Volunteer Coordinator
Frank Dunstan 0429 886751
Vollie News editor
Links:
St John Ambulance Australia (NT)
www.stjohnnt.org.au
St John Ambulance Australia
Members’ website
www.stjohn.org.au
Order of St John
www.orderofstjohn.org
Contact Gwyn to subscribe to an
email copy of this newsletter
Vollie News Thursday 17th June 2010
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Humpty Doo-ings - Greg Payne
Been a busy week again.
From Friday evening to Sunday evening Humpty Doo put
in 64 hours of duty to the public. This is not including
Karina at the Finke. Still have not heard about that one.
Between Glenti and the Adelaide River show / Camp
Draft / Polocrosse a lot of our resources were used and I
for one was very grateful for the sleep in on Monday. I
can see the same thing happening this weekend with the
V8's. The Greek hospitality at the Glenti is always great
and I enjoyed their display of culture and community
values.
The Adelaide River show has been a bit quiet of late but
it was still nice to help out and our services were needed
with a horse spill at the polocrosse. Camp draft also displays excellent Australian horsemanship. Also took the
opportunity to meet up with Bruce and Jan from Batchelor Division and Mitch who travelled all the way from
Katherine.
Sgt Klessa earned a nomination for the save a life award
during the week when taking samples of water at Mindil
beach. A snapping handbag was eyeing up a tourist and
our vigilant member used step one of DRABCD to avert a
messy situation. We all thought Barbara did such a good
job with the media as well and gave her the 2010 Bites
and Stings Award.
Congratulations Barbara.
Greg, Anna, Alan & Brett at Glenti
Pat Murray at Glenti
Bruce, Jan & Mitch at Adelaide River Show
Vollie News Thursday 17th June 2010
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Finke 2010 – Deidre White with photos by Russell Campbell
‘WOW’ was the consensus
from this year’s Finke
Desert Race, the other was
‘IT’S COLD’ especially for
our Darwin & Gove
counterparts…Thermals
were the required
insulation for the weekend
at minus 2.5 degrees
overnight.
Finke this year was
amazing even for us ‘Finke
Tragics’; overall leaving
Alice Springs bound for Finke some 240kms south,
were roughly 80 buggies and 502 motorbikes of all
shapes and sizes. Out of those 582 vehicles a record
number reached Finke and started out the next
day.We, SJA treated 118 patients of which 68 mostly
required some strapping tape for those beautiful
blister specimens! 10 were spectators from all over
the track…we had no fatalities and no extremely
serious injuries. We transported to Alice Springs
Hospital only 15 and 5 to the Clinic in Finke.
One of the best Finkes yet. One spectator, well, he
was just plain lucky…lucky he camped near
Bundooma, lucky there was a chopper handy and
lucky ICP Mark Ferguson was available to deliver the
drugs this man needed…all before the race even
started Sunday morning.
Our very own Caleb Auricht (Glen’s son) came into the
finish line 6th this year, after last year breaking down
just short of Mt Squires.
Well done Caleb you are
simply amazing.
We had some visitors from
interstate this year with
Kane Mortlock from
Woolongong Div NSW and
having a ball; I think we
blew him away with what
SJA is capable of in the NT.
We placed him at Deep
Well checkpoint and
apparently he was kept
busy. Also Steve Peers had a busy weekend hosting
the National Chief Commissioner, Prof Paul Arbon,
National First Aid Services Manager, Stephen Carter,
National Youth Manager, Belinda Ding and Deputy
Commissioner Kieran Brown. They all got to check out
the Start / Finish line here in Alice and hopefully they
didn’t get too covered in Central Aussie dirt n dust
and had a great time.
Thanks to Russell Campbell for the awesome photos
from the Deep Well section of track. Thanks also to
everyone who volunteered their time and any who
travelled, some a long way for a very cold but
fantastic weekend.
On Monday night once everyone got home and
cleaned the vehicles I didn’t hear many complaints at
all mostly just that it was cold and yes it was!
Vollie News Thursday 17th June 2010
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See you all next year and we will do it all again!
St Johnnies – Gwyn Balch
This photo is from my son, Craig who
lives in a small village in
Warwickshire, UK. The Ambulance
was the last vehicle in the parade to
go through the village for the start of
the village carnival.
Vollie News Thursday 17th June 2010
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Triple Zero Kids' Challenge Update
Welcome to the ‘Triple Zero Kids’ Challenge’ update.
We hope you saw some of the media releases and
Community Service Announcements for the launch of
this wonderful initiative on the 3rd of May – it has
been incredibly successful in its first month.
A huge increase in skills and knowledge in Australia’s
youth has already occurred, with 50,681 people
having entered the game itself and 31,830 completing
at least one scenario!
It must be a great game to play, because those 31,830
people appear to have completed a grand total of
120,180 scenarios (which is 4 per user). That’s a
remarkable 20 – 30 minutes of time per person, spent
interacting with the game!
Most respondents have entered their postcodes upon
playing the game, and we’ve been able to gather 2286
of them. The game is hugely successful and being
played in all states and territories - a great indicator
that the National and State launches were also
successful.
It appears that game traffic peaks on Saturday, and
that a lot of the traffic comes via the
www.triplezero.gov.au website. This would indicate
that the television advertisements are reaching their
audience, as these advertise the website. Search
engines are also being used to find the game online.
The Triple Zero Kids’ Challenge has now been
nominated for the 2010 Australian Safe Communities
Awards, while the Triple Zero Awareness Work Group
continues its efforts in ongoing improvement of the
game and working with the Education authorities
throughout the country to incorporate the tool into
curricula. This is very much a State and Territory ESO
responsibility, with NSW already successful in having
the Independent Schools Association Office
publicising the game as a resource for primary
schools. Catholic Education Office are in the process
of doing so also, and a meeting is scheduled with the
State Department of Education this Friday. All States
and Territories are encouraged to make similar
approaches to widen interest in, and exposure of this
valuable asset.
The Work Group has received some interesting
requests from other countries, wishing to use the
game for their purposes, with modification for
different emergency services numbers. Another query
from a State childcare association has led to the
development of downloadable versions of the game
(both English and multi-lingual), as a further resource
for users who do not have local internet access.
And a reminder – the launch by Australia Post of the
Triple Zero-themed postage stamps is scheduled for
13 July 2010, so ESOs may be approached for media
comment.
We are very proud of the Kids’ Challenge and thank all
of the ESOs for their contribution.
Paula Granelli
Project Manager
On behalf of the Triple Zero Awareness Work Group
Coming events
We have the following events coming up in the
Darwin area. Enquiries and names to the
volunteer office
June 18 – 20 V8 Supercars
25 – 27 NT Go Kart Titles
July 21 – 24 Darwin Show
August 2 Darwin Cup
8 Darwin Beercan Regatta
Contact Rosie Ballinger, phone: 8922 6234
Email: [email protected]
Vollie News Thursday 17th June 2010
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Jobs
FIRST AID KIT RESTOCKER (Darwin)
St John Ambulance Australia (NT) Inc is seeking an
enthusiastic and customer-oriented first aid kit
restocker / sales person to join our Sales Team at the
Winnellie office.
This full-time position will provide a First Aid Kit
restocking service and promote the St John
Ambulance First Aid product lines and components.
The ideal candidate will be able to communicate at all
levels with staff and customers and work well in a
small team environment. You will have great
organisation and time management skills, and a
demonstrated ability of meeting and exceeding sales
targets as part of team. The successful candidate will
provide a high level of commitment to customer
satisfaction. You will need an open, manual NT
driver’s license, and a clean driving record. You do not
need to have prior first aid / medical product
knowledge; however, it is highly desirable.
A very competitive salary and Not-for-Profit
organisation employee benefits apply.
You can obtain further information by emailing
[email protected] for a more detailed position
description and instructions on how to apply.
Applications close on Friday 25th June 2010 at
4.30pm
DATA ENTRY OFFICER
St John Ambulance Australia (NT) Inc (SJAANT) is the
Territory ambulance service, a major provider of first
aid training services, and the home of a large first aid
volunteer network. We are currently seeking an
enthusiastic and willing-to-learn Data Entry Officer
staff member for our Casuarina office.
We are looking for a person who is able to commence
immediately.
Our ideal candidate will be a team player who is
prepared to provide a high level of customer support
and services; demonstrate a capacity for maintaining
discretion and confidentiality combined with a strong
ethical base that reflects the traditions and values of
the Order of St John.
Previous experience in data entry and phone system
management is essential and successful applicant will
be paid a competitive hourly rate. Hours of work are
8am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday.
To Apply
You can obtain further information by contacting
Nicky Trikilis, Human Resource Officer on
[email protected] for a detailed position
description and instructions for applicants.
Applications close at 4.30 pm on Friday 25th June
2010
Bits & Pieces
The Doctor outside the Tardis
Hayley Cockman’s Quiz
Last week’s answers:
1. Canberra
2. They both have numbers on each side of them
3. Knowledge of the Order and Family Care
4. 1925
5. 1933
Vollie News Thursday 17th June 2010
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Rural ramblings – Frank Dunstan
Sorry about last week’s newsletter being a bit late,
but I do have a sort of an excuse. Last Sunday week I
got up in the dim, dark hours to fly down to Alice
Springs for a 5 hour stopover at the airport before
catching another jet to Ayers Rock. It was heavily
overcast at the Rock and quite cold to our tropical
bodies.
The reason for this trip in the middle of winter was to
conduct a 2 day Bushfires training course for the
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and Docker River
Rangers.
We were provided a Ranger vehicle for transport and
placed in pretty good accommodation between the
Mutijulu Community and the Rangers’ village. This is
on the opposite side of the Rock to Yulara. Training
was held in a room at Park HQ.
I could only get a very weak mobile broadband signal
that kept dropping out at our accommodation and
none at all at the Training area.
The sun actually came out on the Monday and
Tuesday, but it was still very cold in the desert winds.
Heavy cloud cover returned on the Wednesday.
The last time I had been to the Rock was in 1982 or 83
and it sure has changed a lot. Yulara was still in the
future and there were half a dozen or so motels
around the Rock. All my trips here have been on
business, mostly passing through to Docker River or
Giles weather station over the border in WA. The last
time it had been raining heavily and I was privileged
to see water cascading down the Rock.
We had another course planned for the Wednesday,
but it was cancelled due to lack of participants. This
gave us the opportunity to play tourist until our
afternoon flight back to Darwin via Cairns, finally
getting back home at 2230 hrs.
The Rangers booked us into a cultural walk and talk
with an Anangu guide and I got a chance to try my
hand at spear throwing.
Not too bad for an old bloke, either. They were just
children’s smaller practice spears and woomera, but
fun to have a go with.
The walk finished at the base of the Rock climb which
was closed due to strong winds, but I wouldn’t have
attempted the climb, anyway. Anangu (the people)
are opposed to the climb for cultural reasons and I
respect their beliefs.
Afterwards we drove out to Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) for
my first ever visit.
They have a lot more character than the Rock with
considerably more green vegetation and a lot of
desert wildflowers, brought on by the recent rains.
I tried to get out of this trip due to the cold weather,
but am now glad I went. It’s a very unique place and a
worthwhile experience.
http://sites.google.com/site/bfntvolunteers/fire-
fighters/training/training-pix-2010/ayers-rock
Vollie News Thursday 17th June 2010
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2010 Training
Clinical Practice Guidelines (Medication
Accreditation)
When : 7th and 8th July, 2010
Where : Palmerston Volunteer Centre
Time : 1830 - 2130
All Participants will need a copy of the Clinical Practice
Guidelines 2009 (if you do not have one see your
Superintendent).
Final nominations and TA17 due by Tuesday 2nd July,
2010.
All Nominations must go through your
Superintendent.
For Further Information Contact…
Course Coordinator,
Christine Turner
Ph 0429670469 (A/H)
Apply advanced first aid
When: 31st July, 1st & 2nd August
Where: Parap Centre
Time: Sat, Sun & Monday 0830-1630
Pre-requisites – Current Apply first aid or Senior First
Aid certificate.
Nominations and TA17 due by 16th July. Workbooks
will need to be picked up from the Volunteer Office
and completed prior to course.
All Nominations must go through your
Superintendent.
ALL ENQUIRIES TO:
Volunteer Office
Ph 89226205 or 89226234
Apply advanced first aid
When: Wednesday Evenings
21st,28th July and 4th,11th,18th and 25th August
Where: Palmerston Volunteer Centre
Time: 1800 - 2200
Pre-requisites – Current Apply first aid or Senior First Aid certificate.
Nominations and TA17 due by 2nd July. Workbooks will need to be picked up from the Volunteer Office and
completed prior to course.
All Nominations must go through your Superintendent.
ALL ENQUIRIES TO:
Volunteer Office
Ph 89226205 or 89226234