General Chat

[dennisd]

ummm...some interesting and constructive comments on what we should do as a club. I agree that it is not immediately obvious what the best thing is to do immediately. In my opinion we do need to have some recognition for whatever contribution we make as a club, particularly if it is of the scale of $10,000.

Maybe a smaller initial cash donation, say $1,000, but then wait a few more days or more till things settle down a bit to better assess where, what and how we as a club can best contribute. If there was something later like some sort of community assest rebuilding project, it would be a more direct contribution and probably allow direct recognition that the help, cash and/or labour, was coming from AMTRA.

Dennis Dorman

[Brad]

On Thurday night there will be a bush fire appeal Telethon on CH9. If the club wanted it known it was making a donation then a donation of that size may rate a mention.

[Ian Robinson]

I have discussed this subject briefly with others.
Any donation would not be rushed into and it must be discussed at committee and club level as to what is best to do with any possible donation. The subject was also discussed by email before it was decided to post on the web site to get peoples reactions.

AMTRA has plenty of assets and although we have worked hard to get what we have, it is just a recreation and thousands of people will have lost everthing so I think we should be generous but donate where it will be most needed.


As for labour helping out in fire affected areas this may not be possible due to liability and insurance issues, at least on a club level. I think that 4wd club members are covered by the 4wd Associations insurance, I dont know that any labour put in by AMTRA members would be covered.

It something that needs some thought and it may be weeks, if not months before any labour help is needed. There are many things that need to be sorted out, with insurance policies that cover fire, and police investigations before the public will be allowed to access the areas.

On another note - after talking with Bill Graham this morning it appears that he may have lost his house at Flowerdale. he had not been allowed to travel to the house but has been told the whole town is gone.



Ian

[Peter E]

i have just listened to the news where large organisations have agreed to donate funds to the bush fire appeal and interestingly enough there was no mention of provisos as to where their donation(s) would or how they were to be spent.
my question to those members who want to add provisos to amtras suggested donation, do you want to be the administrator of the funds? or. the person who assesses those who are seeking our financial assistance? i would think not.
the suggestion that there would be a deduction on the amount amtra contributed i would suggest is a fact of life. the bottom line as far as amtra is concerned would be that our contribution would be $10,000.00 if that is what is agreed to.
i would agree that our manual efforts should be to assist any members who have suffered hardship through these fires and communities. the question of insurance is an issue that could be sorted out between ourselves and any organisation that chose too use our assistance.
i would still support a donation to the bush fire appeal with no strings attached.
abbeyard is not under threat as the fires are to the north east of the property largely in the kiewa valley
peter ellard

[Keith Coota]

I know three familys that lost everythingand I am very sorry for them and others but i do think 10k is too much for a not for profit organisation like amtra

[Fred Flintstone]

Just to echo other sentiments how we should all be doing something.

Having come from the other side of the world (pomme bastard) 9 months ago it's all a bit shocking just how savage things can be here!

Especially sad that areas we had discovered & really started to enjoy have been so badly affected (Marysville,Kinglake,St Andrews)

Great that we all agree we should make a donation as a club.
One hundred percent agree we should give due thought about when,how & whom it should go to.
But please no shed scenario's.
This isn't a critisism,just an observation.

If anybody knows of a family wanting temporary accomodation we have room to accomodate maybe up to 6 people.

 

[sjkermode]

I agree with Fred Flintstone, I support the committee to make the right decision.  If it becomes a free for all it will never happen.

[Ian Robinson]

OK, the text below is from a 4wd forum and has specific information for those thinking of volunteering to help bush fire victims. The issue of the public volunteering is complex so please read below. I have highlighted in blue the most important sections.

Ian


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4WD Victoria Bushfire Rural Response Group : How you can help

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The entire Australian 4WD community is appalled by the Victorian bushfire catastrophe. We're all ready to jump into our cars and help. But how?

The authorities can't handle thousands of individual offers of assistance, so the best way is through the existing management structure. For some years now several Victorian 4WD clubs have formed RRGs, or Rural Response Groups. These are teams of club members who go out to communities after disasters like floods or fires (or both!) and help put things right. Typically a RRG will camp, entirely self-sufficiently, on local land and then get to work. Tasks include debris removal, cleaning, fencing, minor building, transportation and dam clearing. Anything that needs doing.

The way it's working now; there is one coordinator for all of 4WD Victoria. He's in constant contact with the authorities, and he's run RRGs for a while so he knows what they can do. He matches capability with requests from the authorities. There are a number of clubs waiting for work, and tasks will be given to each club who then goes off and completes it. In this way we can quickly and efficiently direct effort to where it's needed, which is much more effective than individuals all asking the same authorities the same questions.

So if you do want to help, this is one way to do it.

1. Are you:
- willing to work hard all day for no remuneration
- a team player, willing to work under the direction of others in a team
- able to be entirely self-sufficient, camping with no facilities, not drawing on the community's limited resources
- wanting to do something truly useful with your life?

Skills don't matter, the groups find work for everyone.

If this sounds like you then:

2. Select a club from the list below.

3. Contact the club with:

- Your name
- Mobile/landline
- Email
- Vehicle make & model
- Brief description of what you can do
- Potentially useful equipment (fencing, trailers etc)
- Useful skills (track clearing, building, fencing, car removals etc)
- Dates available

4. If it all works out, the club will add you to its relief effort team. For insurance purposes it may require you become a temporary or full member. Please note no club is under no obligation to accept any offers.


The disaster isn't over yet. The real work won't be starting just yet and will take weeks, months and years to finish, so while we all want to get in our trucks and roar off to help we can't right now -- so donate some money in the meantime.

More details on a typical RRG:

http://www.pajeroclub.com.au/home/se...flyer v1.5.pdf

List of Victorian clubs with RRGs as of 10/02/09 morning:

3rd Rock 4x4 Club
Adventurer 4X4 Club
Albury-Wodonga 4WD Club
Ballarat 4WD Club
Bendigo 4Wd Club
Bellarine 4X4 Club
Central Highlands 4X4 Club
CFA 4wd Club
City West 4X4 Club
Dandenong Ranges Four Wheel Drive Club
Gippsland 4WD Club
Idlers Club
Kerang 4WD Club
Latrobe Valley 4WD club
Land Rovers Owners Club of Vic
Macalister 4WD Touring & Social Club
Melbourne Jeep Owners Club
Nissan Club
Pajero Club
Range Rover Club Vic
Suzuke Four Wheel Drive Club
Toyota Landcruiser Club
Toyota Hilux Club
Toyota 4WD Club of Victoria Inc
Werribee & District
Victorian Police Four Wheel Drive Club
Yarra Valley
Wesley 4X4 Club

Full contact details for each club are here:

http://www.fwdvictoria.org.au/viewclubs.asp

Images from previous RRG work can be seen here:

http://media.fwdvictoria.org.au/imag...ls.php?album=1--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last edited by rmp; 10th February 2009 at 11:05 AM.. Reason: updated a link or two
     

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  #2 (permalink)       10th February 2009, 11:13 AM 
 barney 
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Just adding to that Rob, the salvos and the red cross are doing fantastic work down there and they also need help, so if you can't get your body out there, maybe some cash will go to where it's needed.
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  #3 (permalink)       10th February 2009, 11:13 AM 
 incisor 
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my money has gone to the salvos.... bless them
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  #4 (permalink)       10th February 2009, 11:46 AM 
 Basil135 
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Great to see.

Do you know if these sorts of organizations exist in any other states as well?
     

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  #5 (permalink)       10th February 2009, 11:49 AM 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Basil135 
Great to see.

Do you know if these sorts of organizations exist in any other states as well?

Almost all 4WD clubs do community work. But as far as I know only some Victorian clubs have formed specific sub-groups for the express purpose of disaster relief. Note that there are also Landcare groups which do things like tree planting, pest control, weed work, field research and so on. There are several clubs in Victoria with Landcare sub-groups, and in fact one group in the Western suburbs is just starting up (next meeting this Thursday).
     

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  #6 (permalink)       10th February 2009, 02:07 PM 
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Thanks RMP for posting this information. I was trying to find out what I could do to help so I have followed through and contacted the LROCV (seemed like the right club to contact first ) and have received the following reply from the CERG coordinator.

Hi Tim,


Thank you for kind offer of help.

As many 4WD folk want to help which is great to see, they must be in a Vic Four Wheel Drive affiliated club for legal and personal safety reasons. Most of the affiliated clubs are now in full swing in relief work and are being managed by 1 of 6 coordinators - I am one of them.

In order to speedily process new members for for legal and personal safety, the All Wheel Drive of Vic (AWDC) club is accepting $20 six month special memberships. This fee just covers the legal liability insurance premium and workcare premium. Membership will expire on June 30th 2009.

If you are still keen in helping please complete the attached membership form and post with a cheque/money order. Upon receipt our m/ship officer or myself will be in touch with you.

To date we are currently assessing our situation and have been in touch with the Gippsland 4WD Club who have already activated their entire club into helping communities around Boolara, Labertouche & Bunyip districts. Being a small club they are stretched to the limit and may require our assistance fairly soon. They will advise as soon as possible when they reach breaking point. We have also made contact with Mitchell Shire (Kilmore / Wandong area) re delivery of fodder, water, food and medicine to stranded farmers in their district. We will be contacting Murrindindi Shire on Tuesday with the same offer of help.

In the meantime I will be looking into sources of equipment and farm supplies to help the rural community through the next few weeks. When the dust settles and the smoke clears we will be asking 4WD club members to pitch in with trailers for fodder and water transport to farms, food and supplies to burnt out rural communities and for the removal of fire debris.

Upon knowing further info I will be in touch with you to advise of our "battle" plans. If you have any queries or thoughts please feel free to phone/email me.


Evan Davidson
LROCV - CERG Coordinator
AWDC - President
Tel: (03) 9878 0311
Mobile: 0411 533 248 (24/7)




Don't have any idea why I can't turn the whole thing blue, it just doesn't seem to want to be blue.

Anyway I will be sending the membership application back and will await a response that will direct me to where I can go and help. At the moment I have the D3, a trailer, some tools and the time to go down and help. I just had no idea where to start or even if I could help if I turned up down there. I'm sure there are others out there who feel the same. If so fill out the form and send it off maybe with a note about where you got it from and if you want you can PM me and we will see if we can coordinate something from up here. I am sure any people going down could carry goods like clothes and toys if there is any need for them.

I don't seem to be able to put the membership attachment on two threads so look here for it - Victorian Fires and Queensland Floods

TimJ.



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  #7 (permalink)       10th February 2009, 02:23 PM 
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Thanks Tim, good work. Yes, clubs require you join, even temporarily -- I know some people don't like clubs but let's just put that aside and do the admin without complaining so we can get going. Good to see the AWD Club has a special on.

Let's hope it doesn't rain. I've worked on disaster relief in Licola where they had bushfires immediately followed by heavy rain, and there was nothing to stop massive erosion.

If people want to help I'd start by blocking out time in the next few weeks, servicing the chainsaw, repairing that flat on your trailer and getting some work boots and clothes ready.

I'm not looking forwards to the next time I see some of the areas I'm familiar with.
     

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  #8 (permalink)       10th February 2009, 04:07 PM 
 trobbo 
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Just a note that whilst there may be income and or loss of income insurance provided through the association it is not workcover insurance.

Under certain Acts, volunteers assisting Government Agencies are entitled to compensation in accordance with the Accident Compensation Act 1985 if injured while carrying out specified duties.
Volunteers are not covered unless deemed so and are not entitled to compensation unless specified in an Act of Parliament. The following acts provide that volunteers and other persons assisting government agencies are entitled to compensation if injured while carrying out relevant duties:
·Victoria State Emergency Services Act 1987 (applies to casual emergency workers)
·Juries Act 2000 (applies to jurors)
·Education Act 1958 (applies to volunteer school workers or volunteer student workers)
·Emergency Management Act 1986 (applies to registered and casual emergency workers)
·Police Assistance Compensation Act 1968 (PAC Act) (applies to volunteers assisting police officers)
·Country Fire Authority Act 1958 (CFA Act) (applies to casual fire fighters, volunteer auxiliary workers, volunteer officers and volunteer members)

As we will be working via the 4WD association and our individual 4WD clubs we will not fall under any of the above pieces of legislation.
cheers
Tony
State Manager of a Workers Comp business

Re compensation if injured

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Tony,

VFWD affiliated club members ARE COVERED despite the above. VFWD has their own workcare cover and public liability cover.

Please refrain in future from scare mongering people from joining up to help out those less fortunate.

As mentioned elsewhere the special $20 club fee offered by All Wheel Drive Club of Vic is for public liability insurance and personal safety insurance reasons.

So, unfortunately AULRO members who wish to physically help need to join a VFWD club otherwise they are on their own should anything happen in the way of litigation or personal injury. The AWD club is one of a few clubs that processes new members within 2-3 days without the usual 4-8 week process of other clubs. It is envisaged that each new Bushfire Relief Helper will receive an AWD club PC printed membership card to prove their bone fide club membership to shire and law enforcement agencies.

Kind regards,

Evan Davidson
LROCV - CERG Coordinator
AWDC - President
Special $20 club fee offered by All Wheel Drive Club of Vic = info@awdvic.org.au