Guest Speaker Darryl Wagstaff.....Chairman Rtn Shane Dellavedova

Shane imntroduced Darryl as a well known  long time resident of Maryborough .  He mentioned that  Darryl has been Captain of the Maryborough Brigade for 22 years, no mean feat  when considered that  it takes at least 15 hours of volunteer time per week. The major  subject will be The Royal Commission into the Black Saturday Bush fires and the Jones Report.

Darryl  has been in the CFA for 35 years, Captain of the Brigade for 22years and  on  the State Council  of the  volunteer firefighters  for 18 years.. There are 1211 brigades in Victoria s outer region and 840 career support staff , 454 career fire fighters and 50,000 volunteers.  So we are hearing about the largest  in the world..  75% of funds are from the Insurance levy  and the balance from the state Government.  As a result of the Royal Commission this will change with  the funding  (  $500 milion is the CFA Budget) coming from charges on property, since many  owners are uninsured.  There were 150 findings in the  report  all of which the Government has said it will implement. The result will be a total revamp of the Command and control system ,  new  personal fire fighting equipment for fighters ($2500 per man)  and  better vehicles  for  brigades, changes to training  to make CFA more professional and safer, better operational  support with a new board and probably a new Chairman .

This was a most interesting talk by a  very experienced local  man who has made a major committment to his community. Darryl was warmly thanked by all.