A RECENT flood recovery event at Munari Wines gave Eppalock Group volunteer firefighters a chance to share their stories from last year\u2019s floods.<\/p>\n
CFA co-ordinator peer support Loddon Mallee region Gloria Turner said it was an opportunity to check in and see how those members were coping in the aftermath.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe wanted to thank them for their fantastic efforts as well,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The Captain and Lieutenant from the Rochester Fire Brigade also gave a presentation.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the boys from Rochester to be able to tell their story to the people who actually assisted them at the time, that was quite emotional,\u201d Ms Turner said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe flooding happened on both sides of the river, but the on other side where people don’t drive through there was only one firey with one small fire truck.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo he, with one other civilian, had to battle to save many lives that night.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Turner went to both Rochester and Echuca last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeer support are deployed with CFA strike teams sent into situations like the New South Wales and Gippsland fires, or this flooding event,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter the black summer fires, where having have peers imbedded in strike teams was so successful, we now go to any incident.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were sent in, me and one other peer, to Echuca. But first we’d been at Rochester that Saturday morning after it all happened.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen we spent seven days up in Echuca, and then we had rotating teams of peers going through until they weren’t needed anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
A CFA peer support officer\u2019s role is centred around well-being.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe make sure we go round and are in contact with crews during the day,\u201d Ms Turner said. \u201cFor example, we might take food to them, or we might be ferrying them to medical assistance.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn some instances, we were having to go through flood waters.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe would see what was going on with the army, the police and everybody so that we could be on top of what was happening with our crews.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we’re also cross agency, in those kinds of disasters we work with whoever needs us.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’re trained in psychological first aid, so it’s all about keeping our members safe and getting the services for them that they need at the time or after the event.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A RECENT flood recovery event at Munari Wines gave Eppalock Group volunteer firefighters a chance to share their stories from last year\u2019s floods. CFA co-ordinator peer support Loddon Mallee region Gloria Turner said it was an opportunity to check in and see how those members were coping in the aftermath. \u201cWe wanted to thank them […]<\/p>\n