Reported on ABC radio 702 this morning that local community
based groups were slow to respond to fire disasters in Tasmania.
The report also suggested that these groups be included in future
disaster planning. Some of the remarks expressed were unkind
and unfair to the groups concerned. It takes time for these groups
to get whatever action is necessary to provide whatever service
they can muster, usually at very short notice.
These groups consist of volunteers who give time and in some
cases personal funding, or revenue raised by raffles, cake stalls
and fetes. Volunteers are short on the ground and many move on
leaving a hard core of dedicated locals to carry out the excellent
work they do.
It is hard to visualise how these groups could be brought under
the umbrella of Govt. disaster plans. since they are unfunded.
Neville Gillmore