Leeton Fire Station

In The Chair: President Carmel
 
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Vocational Visit – Leeton Fire Station
 
 
We assembled at the Fire Station at 6pm for a 6.15pm start.  We were met by Leeton Fire Captain Emma Tyrrell and Deputy Captain Kirk Walker. Emma explained that the Leeton Station can have a staff of 18 and they currently have 17. There are no permanent staff, but all are paid to be on call. All have permanent employment elsewhere, but each recruit must be available to be on call for at least 24 hours in a week.  There must be at least 4 on-call all the time or they must call in replacements from other stations, as it takes 4 to man the pump unit.  Leeton prides itself that they have never fallen below the minimum but have been called to go to other stations at times. Staff all have a pager and must respond immediately.  They have a fantastic record, with the average time from call out to leaving the station at 10 minutes (this includes getting dressed at the station).
 
They have two main tankers – a pump tanker that only carries about 1800 L.  This is the main unit for structural fires, but they also have a unit with greater storage.  Leeton is a prime HAZMAT station for the region and havetrained HAZMAT staff and trailer loaded with all the HAZMAT requirements.  The Leeton station serves the town and Yano area, but the RFS have prime responsibility for the out-of-town areas.  All emergency services work together, however, and the Leeton fire team respond to help other agencies in any emergency and vice versa.
 
The first fire team was formed in Leeton in 1913 – with a hand-drawn fire fighting unit.  This was under the control of the Water Commission.  A town fir brigade was formed in 1928 and the present station opened in 1938.
 
We were treated to a walk around the pump unit and were introduced to the impressive amount of equipment that was carried within the unit.
 
The session concluded all too quickly because we had to adjourn to the Hydro for a meal.
 
Emma and Kirk were thanked on behalf of the club by Matt Rhodes for this very worthwhile visit.
 
 
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The Brain Teaser
 
How many squares you see in the picture?
 
 
 
 
 
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Director’s Roundup
 
 
  • President Carmel:
    • Shirts should be available next week
  • Secretary Brian
    • AGM on 21 November.  Information has been sent by email.  Please give some thought to volunteering to be a part of the Board for 2025/2026.
  • George
    • Nominations now open for RYLA to be held in the first week in January.  Give some thought to likely candidates.
  • Jennifer
    • The meeting on the 14th November will be a mini-assembly to talk about 2025/2026.
  • Geoff
    • Water sampling for biodiversity is on again at Berembed Weir.  Looks like it will be on 19th November.
  • A:
    • The total is 17 squares, including 6 small, 6 medium, 3 large, and 2 very large ones.
  • Matt
    • Next week’s meeting is at the Yanco Institute to talk about the Rice work by Rice Breeding Australia.  Meet at the Glasshouse for a 5.30pm start.  Dinner will be at the Yanco Club. We still need numbers, so Let Brian know via the usual way.  Directions follow:
 
The visit will be to the glasshouse at Yanco Agric. Institute (ie Tocal campus and NOT Yanco High School).
 
Go up the main drive.  Cross the Main Canal.  Continue straight through the roundabout.  Keep the swimming pool on the right. Thake the first right past the main (old) administration building and go past the library.  You should then see the glasshouse.
 
 
 
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Sergeants Session – Bill Aliendi
 
 
Bill started by fining all those who last week ignored the fact that it is rude to wear a hat at the dinner table. He also took aim at the Mayor for his love of food.  This was highlighted by the fact that the said Mayor had seconds at the meeting and THEN had dessert.
 
 Thanks for a great session, Bill. Clearly, you were ‘fired up’ by the visit to the Fire Station.
 
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Market Day – 2nd November
 
The Market Day Committee presented Leeton Can Assist with a cheque at this Market Day
 
 
 
 
 
 
Is this - Quality Control or ’Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil?’
 
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Crocodile Tears
 
Once there was a billionaire, who collected live crocodiles. He kept them in the pool behind his mansion. The billionaire also had a beautiful daughter who was single.
 
One day, the billionaire decided to throw a huge party, and during the party he announced, “My dear guests, I have a proposition to every man here. I will give one million dollars, or my daughter, to the man who can swim across this pool full of crocodiles and emerge unharmed!” As soon as he finished his last word, there was the sound of a large splash in the pool. The guy in the pool was swimming with all his might, and the crowd began to cheer him on. Finally, he made it to the other side of the pool unharmed.
The billionaire was impressed. He said, “That was incredible! Fantastic! I didn’t think it could be done! Well, I must keep my end of the bargain. Do you want my daughter or the one million dollars?”
 
The guy caught his breath, then said, “Listen, I don’t want your money! And I don’t want your daughter! I want the idiot who pushed me into the pool!”
 
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