Fire Board

10/02/2025 10# 1/2025

I trust you have all had an enjoyable Christmas/New Year. January has passed in a blur here between reunion matters and farm work, but I think I’m on the down hill run to the Hobart reunion now. Famous last words.

Just over 5 weeks until The Hobart Reunion. The major deposit is due mid next week, now is just about your last chance to book. If you haven’t done so already. One member even found accommodation close to Wrest Point today, 09/02/25. We would love to see all of you there.

One major change is we will be using Maxi Taxis to meet the Peppermint Bay Ferry as Wrest Point have now after 2 1⁄2 years told the Peppermint Bay people their pier is not available.

Web THE R.A.A.F FIRE SERVICE (georama.com.au) hosted by Chas Adlard. It is Chas’s site where you can find back issues of “Fire Board” and back issues of Pat’s Newsletters back to 2011. There’s a wealth of information there. Adelaide Reunion - 2022 Reunion - Adelaide (georama.com.au)

Info on the Hobart reunion and copies of all Fire Board issues are at raaffirereunion.com

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Defence newspapers | News & Events | Defence
Australian Defence Force (ADF) Firefighter Scheme | Department of Veterans' Affairs (dva.gov.au)

Advocacy Support — RSL Australia

Call Lifeline on 13 11 14
Beyond Blue | 24/7 Support for Anxiety, Depression and Suicide Prevention 1300 22 4636

Glen Anderson
0438635159
Po Box 185, Mole Creek, Tas. 7304 glen@raaffirereunion.com.au

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Fire Board

10/02/2025 10# 1/2025

DVA

I know I have posted this before, but we can all use a reminder from time to time.

Before everyone glazes over you can register your interest and gain acceptance to the scheme without needing to make a claim or having any condition. The advantage being you have proved your entitlement should the need ever arise. The same with applying for a “White Card” it’s not a lot of use without an endorsement for a condition, but it gets you in the system

Australin Defence Force (ADF) Firefighter Scheme

Background
The Government announce the ADF Firefighter Scheme on 11 May 2021 as part of the 2021–22 Budget,

The scheme provides better health and wellbeing support for Australian Defence Force (ADF) firefighters who participated in fire training at Royal Australian Air Force Base Point Cook between 1 January 1957 and 31 December 1986.

The scheme recognises the risks faced by these ADF firefighters who were potentially exposed to a wide range of hazardous substances during fire suppression training at a time when personal protective equipment was not of the same standard available today.

The scheme commenced on 20 September 2021. -
More information at the link below.
Australian Defence Force (ADF) Firefighter Scheme | Department of Veterans' Affairs (dva.gov.au) The form you need to register can be found at

D9387 - Application for the Australian Defence Force Firefighter Scheme

“Point Cook Fire Fighter “ is a good search to start with on the net.

Veteran White Card | Department of Veterans' Affairs

It may not be a magic wand but is one less thing to do should you ever need to make clam.

pg. 2

Fire Board

10/02/2025 10# 1/2025

Air Force Newspaper
The final 9 F-35 Lightning II aircraft arrived in Nov. and Dec. 2024 bring the total number to 72

From - February 6 2025 AirForce Vol. 67 No.1 February 6 2025

Above : Aviators from 3SQN with an F-35 Lightning II at Air Force Base Nellis, Nevada. USA.

pg. 3

Fire Board

10/02/2025 10# 1/2025

R.A.A.F Fire Fighter Reunion

20th to 23rd March 2025 Hobart, Tasmania
Members Attending so far, most with partners. If you think you have paid and are not on the list, please contact me ASAP.

Glen Trevor Reg Colin Lionel Keran Danny Lindsay Jim Simon Sandy Darren

Anderson Box Brady Buckby Carr Carsburg Clark Crouch Dent Doherty Eastcott Evans

Brett Dave Peter Gary Kevin Jarrad Steve Terry Noel Mark Andrew David

Franklin Gray Hayes Helman Hughes Jeffs Kenny Kinnane Lee Limana Mashall Pentland

Gordon Brian Shane Mal Brian Kim Wayne Grant Tony Bill Ian

Potter Roberts Shambrook Sims Thorburn Warr West Wilson Wood Woolrich Wright

TBC

Program

Thursday 20th March 2025

Welcome Drinks -1800 to 1930 – Boardwalk Gallery/ Green Room Bar
Cost is $40.00 per person. Food will be provided. Drinks will be available for purchase at the bar.

Friday 21st March 2025

Peppermint Bay Cruise - 10.30 from the Brooke Street Pier or Bellerrive Ferry Pier - $170.00 per person. We will have Maxi Taxis from Wrest Point to Brooke St & return.

Saturday 22nd March 2025

Reunion Dinner – 1800 to 2200 - Boardwalk Gallery.
This will be a buffet. – Cost $100.00 per person with a cash bar.
Dress is formal or neat casual. Tie and jacket optional. Medals encouraged.

Sunday 23 March 2025

Will be an informal lunch at the Boardwalk Bistro, for those still around.

pg. 4

Fire Board

10/02/2025 10# 1/2025

Tasman Bridge Collapse

21 27 Hr’s 5th January 1975 was the moment the Lake Illawarra struck the Tasmanian Bridge. Not only did it cost 12 lives, 7 crew and 5 people in 4 cars that fell 45m after driving off the bridge. Hobart was immediately cut in half until it was rebuilt, reopening on the 8th of October 1977.

The picture of the 2 cars hanging over the edge is the image that sticks in most people’s mind. Having a quiet fish in a “tinny” near the bridge and ending up sitting on dry land in the “tinny” having ridden the wave from the bridge section hitting the water, is the enduring memory for others.

A small ferry company that had started in 1972 commenced cross river services within an hour of the incident. This led to Incat Tasmania building high-speed catamaran’s that are in use worldwide today. One idea that Bob Clifford had for his ferry’s was to open a bar on board. It is said he made more money from the bar than the tickets.

At that time the eastern shore was reliant on the western shore for most services, with the bridge down people had a 40km road trip to those services. Crime rose 41% on the eastern shore, while falling on the western shore.

A temporary one lane “Bailey Bridge” was erected near the location of the present-day Bowen Bridge it was the longest Bailey Bridge ever built.

The Tasmanian economy had not fully recovered from the 1967 Hobart Bush Fires and was further set back by this event. It had a major effect on many aspects of people’s lives many of which were not understood for years.

Today all traffic is stopped while a vessel of size passes under the bridge. The new Australian Antarctic icebreaker the RSV Nuyina is not allowed to pass under the Tasman Bridge even with tug assistance as it is considered too directionally unstable given the currents/winds in the river. A slight problem given the re-

fuelling dock is up stream of the bridge.

pg. 5

The Lake Illawarra still sits on the riverbed under the bridge.

Fire Board

10/02/2025 10# 1/2025 Vale

It was with complete horror that I looked up my notes on who we had lost in the past 3 months only not to find any. A frantic search only to find nothing has slightly lowered the blood pressure. May I have many more panic attacks, not finding any notes.