{"id":7,"date":"2018-11-01T22:54:59","date_gmt":"2018-11-01T22:54:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bluemountainsrfsa.wordpress.com\/?p=3"},"modified":"2020-02-09T10:01:50","modified_gmt":"2020-02-08T23:01:50","slug":"the-jo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bluemountains.rfsa.org.au\/index.php\/2018\/11\/01\/the-jo\/","title":{"rendered":"Welcome to Blue Mountains Branch of the Rural Fire Service Association"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to Blue Mountains Branch, Division 4 of the NSW Rural Fire Service Association (RFSA). The RFSA is officially recognised (in the Rural Fires Act 1997) and respected as the representative association of the 70,000 volunteers and staff members of the Rural Fire Service (RFS) in NSW.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Blue Mountains Branch of the RFSA supports all 23 local RFS District Brigades through representation committees at both District & RFSA\u00a0Divisional\u00a0meetings.<\/span><\/p>\n

Our current\u00a0membership\u00a0consists of over 1,700 registered members ( June 2018 ).<\/span><\/p>\n

Quarterly Branch meetings are held to allow Brigade membership input\u00a0for discussion & escalation of local issues\u00a0through the District & more Service wide issues through the RFSA Division & State meeting.<\/span><\/p>\n

The branch executive represent the views of the District Brigades at the District Funding Committee\u00a0& The District RFSA & Council Liaison meetings.\u00ad<\/span><\/p>\n

The RFSA is structured to represent the views of all volunteer and staff members of the Rural Fire Service in NSW and provide the most effective means of directly influencing such things as legislation, fire service structure, brigade funding, training, health and safety, and equipment standards. It is a non-partisan organisation that works alongside the RFS and other emergency response agencies to support government in the development of the Rural Fire Service in NSW.<\/span><\/p>\n

Our mission is to support our Members in protecting the community. A considerable range of Member benefits and discounts are provided through the RFSA Grants program, Member Benefits Program, Retail Shop, sponsorships, scholarships, brigade web hosting,\u00a0fire fighters foundation, and other ‘giving’ programs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

NSW RFS Donations Update 24\/01\/2020<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n

Many members are talking about the large amounts of money collected by third parties for the NSW Rural Fire Service and Brigades Donations Fund (The Trust).<\/span><\/p>\n

As the recognised representative association of the volunteers and staff of the NSW RFS, the RFSA has a voice to convey the opinions of our members to the NSW RFS which administers The Trust on behalf of the Trustees, and to the Trustees themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are certain limitations under the Trust Deed, which are discussed further in the following Donations Update issued by RFS Commissioner, Shane Fitzsimmons AFSM.<\/span><\/p>\n

“The NSW RFS Brigades and Donations Trust has a specific purpose and people have donated for this intent \u2013 to support volunteer brigades with equipment, training and resources relating to their emergency service role. Funds must and will be used for this purpose.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019re establishing a $10 million fund for our volunteer brigade<\/em>s”<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I encourage you to engage with your local RFSA Branch or Division Representatives to put forward your ideas of where this money would provide the most benefit.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you are unable to attend your local RFSA meetings, we are also collating comments made to the RFSA Office via email to communications@rfsa.org.au<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Brian McDonough<\/span><\/p>\n

RFSA President<\/span><\/p>\n

New Operational Brief<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Update on RFS Emergency Vehicles U-turn<\/strong><\/p>\n

Correspondence received 06 February 2019 from Melinda Pavey<\/a><\/p>\n

Response from RFSA\u00a0 to The Hon Melinda Pavey MP<\/a><\/p>\n

40KM\/H SPEED ZONES <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

RFSA SUPPORTS NSW GOV COMPENSATION LAW FOR FIRIES October 2018<\/a><\/p>\n

Join the RFSA<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

To join the RFSA click on the following link, note you will need your RFS volunteer number but omit the first 3 numbers i.e, 560.<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0https:\/\/www.rfsa.org.au\/members\/become-a-registered-rfsa-member<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Member Benefits<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Your RFSA Member Advantage Program provides you with an extensive range of quality lifestyle and financial benefits through Member Advantage. Members can take advantage of value for money savings on benefits all year round, with unlimited access to a variety of quality brands well established in the marketplace. Benefits include discounts on dining, entertainment, accommodation, movie tickets, shopping, insurance, financial services and many more. For a list of participants Click Here<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You can download your Member Benefits digital card to your smart phone.<\/strong> \u00a0This provides\u00a0on the go\u00a0<\/em>access and replaces the need to have or carry a physical card.<\/p>\n

Features of the digital card include:<\/p>\n