In early November brigades from four groups and two districts came together to familiarise themselves with the Doxa Youth Foundation Camp in Drummond.
Doxa is a youth camp designed to develop leadership and self-development skills in young people. It's situated on the Loddon River surrounded by Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park and the Upper Loddon State Forest.
The picturesque surroundings are a great setting for people to enjoy activities including high ropes courses, abseiling and a climbing tower. Although the camp has been operating for many decades, it is updating its emergency bushfire plans to ensure the staff and participants will be safe in a bushfire. Due to its proximity to bushland the risk of bushfire is very high.
Fryerstown Brigade Lieutenant Bill Burris coordinated members from seven brigades to visit the site. Brigade members were able to examine tanker access and egress, check tank fittings were compatible to their tankers and appraised the camps shelter in place building.
About 20 brigade members provided information to staff to further upgrade their facilities for the protection of participants, their staff and the brigade members who might have to attend an emergency. The staff was grateful for the valuable feedback given by the brigades.
The visit also allowed brigade members from the groups to meet each other, share ideas (and some cake). The brigades involved were:
Campbells Creek
Chewton
Fryerstown
Glenlyon
Guildford
Malmsbury
Taradale
Author: Jay Gardiner