By JESSE GRAHAM
AN AWARD-winning firefighter has her sights on the Yarra Valley for the fire season, and is calling for volunteers to help care for animals on high fire risk days.
Panton Hill firefighter, Jenna Kelly, is the organiser of the Walking Forward Disaster Relief Team, a team of volunteers who connect with animal owners and co-ordinate evacuations on high fire risk days.
The Mail reported in January that the group would be run at a grassroots level, and connect people to share resources, whether it be horse floats, animal cages or transport.
On high risk days, or ‘trigger days’ of agreed conditions, those connected through WFDRT can co-ordinate animal evacuations until any danger has passed.
“If someone has an animal stuck on a property and can’t leave, we can have someone with a float pick them up,” Ms Kelley said earlier this year.
She has since been awarded with the Institute of Public Administration of Australia’s Faces of our Public Sector Award, which recognises the work of exemplary public sector employees or volunteers, for her work with WFDRT.
Emergency Management Victoria’s Deputy Commissioner, Tony Murphy, complimented Ms Kelley on the award, saying she “epitomises the vision of Victorian emergency management to build safer and more resilient communities.”
Ms Kelley said the team was now trying to get more people signed up, particularly from the Yarra Valley and surrounds, before the fire season began.
“We’ve got about 30 (volunteers), so we’re trying to get a lot of people to start thinking about the season at the moment, and to come on board so we’re ready to go,” she said.
“The hardest thing is people aren’t thinking about these kind of things when disasters aren’t happening – it’s a bit tricky with the community when it’s quiet.”
The group also helps to co-ordinate first-aid and food donations, to help build better resilience in communities, as well as preparation through evacuations.
WFDRT’s Facebook page, which has 1114 likes, regularly posts emergency updates and tips for residents Australia-wide.
For more information, or to sign up, visit www.facebook.com/WFDRT.
