West Pittwater RFS held its Annual General Meeting last month and it’s worth commending how the emphasis on the unique environment in which we live has become integral to the RFS philosophy and approach to fireground management.
This is an excerpt from retiring President, Wayne Lazarides’s introductory speech.
“In remote communities like ours, organisations like the RFS and WPCA help to foster, resiliency, tolerance and collaboration.
I often reflect on how fortunate we are to be here – living in what can only be described as paradise. It’s a paradise that the traditional custodians of this place – the Garigal people – understood well. Their place of worship, rather than being a building, is the very land on which we stand, their Country. I feel slowly we are beginning to be aware of the significance of what Country really means. When you live here – how can you not be aware of it? It affects everyone who lives here and moulds the fabric of who we are as a brigade.
A precis of the RFS vision is : To provide excellence in the provision of a volunteer-based community fire and emergency service. To protect the community and our environment.
Key to this statement are the words: Volunteer, community and environment – community based Volunteers working together to protect each other and the environment in which they live. All our group officers are volunteers like us. Even though they have already contributed at a high level they continue to do so because of this sense of service and the protection of Country. The significance of where we live influences us all – it affects the way we conduct our business and direct the efforts of our volunteer work.
The West Pittwater Brigade, is a product of the’Country’ we inhabit and we are influenced by its health.”
Wayne Lazarides – Retiring President West Pittwater Rural Fire Bridge