Be Ready Warrandyte
‘Be Ready Warrandyte – Living with Bushfire Risk’ was established by the Warrandyte Community Association after the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. The aim of the campaign is to ensure that every household in the ‘Greater Warrandyte’ area has an effective bushfire plan.
16°CA light-hearted video on bushfire planning with a serious message has been praised by emergency services representatives.
The video “Do you have a fire plan,” was produced by the Warrandyte Community Association and the Warrandyte Theatre Company, as part of a ‘Toolkit’ of six activities designed to raise awareness and understanding of the problem.
Steve Warrington, Deputy Chief Officer of the CFA, said it was “A great video with a powerful message. An excellent example of an empowered brigade connecting with their community.”
The CFA has distributed it throughout the State.
Many people who say they have a survival plan have no idea what to do if something unexpected happens when they are threatened by bushfire”, WCA President, Dick Davies, said today.
“And the conventional message from the CFA through meetings, Community Fire Guard and literature is not cutting through.
“Rather than continue preaching to the converted, we decided to try something different.”
Well known local identities from the Follies and other shows parody the half-baked plans many of us have without having really thought them through. Their humour is followed by a very serious message from Greg Kennedy, a local CFA Captain.
“We are hoping that humour will cut through where other messages have failed,” Dick Davies said.
View the video on this page
A sample fire plan tailored for Warrandyte is also available on the Be Ready Warrandyte ‘Fire’ page – www.warrandyte.org.au/bushfire-plans
Warrandyte Fire Watch, an online app combining local fire warnings from CFA, BoM and VicRoads sites has also been developed as part of the Be Ready Warrandyte project and is available on the Be Ready Warrandyte ‘Fire’ page.
The ‘Be Ready Warrandyte’ project is funded by a Victorian Government’s Fire Ready Communities Grants Program. Manningham City Council, Nillumbik Shire Council, the Warrandyte Community Bank and the Community Market Committee have also provided funding support.
Dick Davies
President
Warrandyte Community Association Inc.
0413 753 622 or 03 9844 4686
Be Ready Warrandyte’s “Do you have a fire plan?” video was featured at the 2013 CFA Community Engagement & Fire Awareness Forum in Bendigo. Lisa Keedle facilitated an interview with Jodi Clark (Be Ready Warrandyte Project Manager) and Greg Kennedy (South Warrandyte CFA Captain) in front of an audience of over 300 delegates. The interview prompted commentary on both Facebook and Twitter.
WCA Membership
The Warrandyte Community Association Inc. (WCA) is an active residents group of the Warrandyte community. Formed in 2001 the WCA has an active membership and committee drawn from both sides of the river—Manningham and Nillumbik. The committee meets regularly with local government and residents to address planning and environmental matters as well as any community concerns