WICEN NSW, as a support squad of the NSW Volunteer Rescue Association, has been active assisting in a number of multi-agency activities during the current bush-fire emergency.
During the week WICEN NSW and WICEN ACT partially refreshed the team at Bega. This was sent at the request of the NSW VRA, to assist in re-establishing radio communications services, disrupted by fire activity, for the local VRA squads and other local agencies. WICEN thanks CREST for their significant contribution of equipment and expertise to the effort.
WICEN, and other VRA squads, continue to support the RFS at various Fire Control Centes (FCCs) and the Bushfire Information Line, BFIL.
Other WICEN members remain active with the RFS and SES.
Members are encouraged to take advantage of the free courses offered by the Office of Emergency Management, at: https://www.emtraining.nsw.gov.au/
WICEN groups across Australia will be supporting Dementia Australia Memory Walk and Jog events. These short Sunday morning events run for several months from February, with NSW's first event at Penrith on April 5th.
WICEN will also be present at the Wyong Field Day on Sunday, February 23rd.
For Facebook users, there is an official WICEN NSW page; and an informal national WICEN group.
WICEN ACT is part of the Canberra Region Amateur Radio Club, and supports events in the "Capital Country" region, and on the South Coast. The BMSC "NatCap" Rally is March 21st and 22nd. For more info visit: http://www.crarc.ampr.org
WICEN Victoria will support a fun run between Dromana and Rosebud on January 26th. The Pajero Challenge is February 7th to 9th at Walhalla in northern Gippsland. This is outside the fire-impacted East Gippsland, as is Turra Bulga, where March's Duncan's Run 100 is planned, for the 21st. February 14th to 16th is the Oscar's 100 "Hut to Hut". Memory Walk and Jog events include Mildura on March 1st; and Ballarat at Wendouree on March 15th (support TBC). The weekly net is on each Tuesday at 8:30 pm, on 3.6 MHz. WICEN Victoria's website, which includes an updates on the Gippsland Fires, is: http://vic.wicen.org.au
Submitted by Julian Sortland VK2YJS, on behalf of the WICEN State Management Committee.