A fire awareness and preparation program on Raymond Island in East Gippsland has been awarded the major prize in the 2010 Fire Awareness Awards.
Presented by Environment and Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings and Emergency Services Minister Bob Cameron tonight, the 2010 Fire Awareness Awards recognise the work of communities in understanding and dealing with fire.
“The Brumby Labor Government understands how important it is for community groups to help others in preparing for fires or recovering in the aftermath of fire,” Mr Jennings said.
“These awards are about saying thank you to all those people from right across Victoria who have put in time and effort.
“In particular I would like to thank and congratulate the overall winner of the RACV Insurance Award for Excellence – the Raymond Island Bushfire Preparation Committee – which set a new standard in fire preparation with their Bushfire Awareness Program.
“The committee established a six-month program of activities and publicity to make locals aware of their bushfire risk and help prepare the community and visitors for fire.”
Other winners included the Kinglake Youth Group who received a $10,000 grant from RACV Insurance to run programs such as art therapy and music workshops to help young people who have been affected by fires.
Grants of $2000 were also awarded to Benalla College for a project involving students travelling to fire affected areas to fix damaged fences and the Rotary Club of Moorabbin for making and sending new picnic tables to fire affected towns across Victoria.
The Education Award went to Yarraville West Primary School for a clay-mation short film about the recovery of children in a fire-affected community and the Bendigo Urban Bushfire Rehabilitation Project received a Community Award in the Recovery category.
Mr Cameron said the list of finalists this year showed the community was very engaged in making Victoria as fire-ready as possible.
“These Awards have shown a clear willingness for individuals and groups to take responsibility for their own safety. It is the collective efforts of fire agencies, government, industry and communities that ultimately support individual decisions at critical times,” Mr Cameron said.
“I thank all of this year’s finalists – who come from right across Victoria and represent all levels of the community from youth groups and schools through to local Councils, charities and local environment groups – for doing their bit to make Victoria as fire ready as possible.”
2010 Fire Awareness Awards Winners
AWARDS
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Media Award
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Project
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The Colac Herald
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Fire Action Week Coverage
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Industry Award
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Community Enterprise Foundation
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Black Saturday Bushfire Appeal
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New and Emerging Technologies Award
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Red Cross Australia
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‘After the Emergency’ (MP3 and online resources for young people)
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Government and Municipal Award
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Shire of Campaspe, CFA and DSE
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Rushworth Community Fire Plan
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Office of Housing, Swinburne University, CFA and DSE
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Peer Training Program – Fire Safety
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Community Preparedness Award
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Raymond Island Bushfire Preparation Committee
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Raymond Island Bushfire Awareness Program
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Community Aged/Disability Award
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Yarra Ranges Council
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Bushfire Awareness & Preparedness – Vulnerable Residents in Yarra Ranges
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Community Recovery Award
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DSE, Community Enterprise Foundation, North Central CMA, VBRRA, Conservation Volunteers Australia & Amicus
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Bendigo Urban Bushfire Rehabilitation project
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Community Volunteer Award
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Kinglake Youth Group
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Kinglake Youth Group team
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Community Youth Award
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Benalla College
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Fire Recovery project
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The Salvation Army
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Salvation Army Youth & Music program
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Education Award
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Yarraville West Primary School
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‘Anna’s Doll’ animation
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Fire Services Award
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CFA
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Program for Diverse Populations
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CFA
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Household Preparedness – Online Assessment Tool
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RACV Award for Excellence Award (overall winner)
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Raymond Island Bushfire Preparation Committee
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Raymond Island Bushfire Awareness Program
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GRANTS
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$10,000 RACV Insurance Fire Safety Grant
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The Kinglake Youth Group team for their youth recovery projects
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$2,000 Special Incentive Grant
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Rotary Club of Bentleigh Moorabbin Central for their Picnic Tables for Community Groups Project.
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$2,000 Special Incentive Grant
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Benalla College for their Fire Recovery Fencing Project.
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