b'Dec 2022 Trackwatch.qxp_Trackwatch Layout 17/12/20229:50 pmPage 5 News from FWDVCEOAnother Annual Our Association club numbers have develop the area. We envisage thatGeneral meeting has fallen away slightly since 2019 but we we will start work on the developmentbeen conducted with have seen some gradual growth from of the facility in the very near future ina very good number other sources recently, now running at conjunction with those two authorities,of participants coming along to make 78 member clubs.We realise that who have given their blessing andthe night worthwhile, some 51 in things are getting dearer and the willingness to see it go ahead.attendance with another dozen tuning impact it has on whether people can We are still working with thein via the Zoom facility we had set up. afford to spend money on their Gunaikurnai Indigenous employees ofMany thanks to Rob Leversha for his recreational pursuits, but the upside is GLaWAC, in Kalimna East Gippslandexpertise in making this achievable getting out and about amongst like- and have also done training with theand to the LROCV for the use of their minded friends in things you enjoy Taungurung clan out of Alexandra,meeting Owl device, which enabled doing, does have a huge impact on which all goes well with the push fromthose people to view and hear the your well-being and positivity towards our end to gain alliance and under-event. life.We all need to help each other standing with the first nation clans.As was stated at the meeting, we understand the reason why we join Board member Gordon Porter and Ididnt receive the funding we have these clubs, for the camaraderie and had a meeting recently with Parksbeen used to getting for this year, but fun that is derived from being together Victorias Director Managing Landare looking forward to seeing what the and involved not for political or Country Together, which is the firstupcoming election brings forth and personal aspirations.step in engaging these groups fromwe will once again attempt to put our The income generated from the RTO an already established body.Wecase forward to the sitting Minister for has improved since last year and is firmly believe we need to be in on thethe coming years. showing no signs of abating due to ground floor with the First NationOn the bright side, we were able to the professionalism shown by all in people to hopefully cement ourstill forge ahead because we were still making this come about. This financial relationship and our ongoing ability toable to keep our training courses run- year to date with driver training, we be able to traverse the landscapening at a constant rate, which kept have trained 81 people in public without restriction due to an under-our balance sheet in a healthy state. proficiency courses, 71 in corporate standing of respect and concern forAlthough insurance premiums have proficiency courses, totaling 152 the land and its cultural meaning. risen across the board from between people in proficiency courses, with 25 The Office of the Conservation20 and 30% in the past year due to people in public accredited courses Regulator (OCR) held a seminarthe recent fires and then Covid19, we and 149 in corporate accredited recently involving all user groups inhave been able to keep our fees at courses, 174 in total. We have also both face to face and digital formats.the same level as previous years by trained 54 people in chainsaw train- We were the only keynote speaker onvirtue of rejoining with the National ing, plus subsidised 28 people in first both these occasions, and it gave usCouncil. This increased the numbers aid training. a chance to express to the otherfor the new policies which allowed this We can be very proud of the way we groups who we are and what weto occur and pushed our death cover conduct ourselves in all aspects of represent in terms of how we functionback to $100k rather than the previous this area from the initial contact with as an Association and why we have$50k. Other factors which brought our prospective clients to the dedica- the respect of the Ministers office andabout the rejoining was the ownership tion and delivery of the training itself. government Land Managers. We willof our logo and the fact that there We gained re-registration with ASQA pursue further discussion with allwould not be any persons still on the thankfully this year, but unfortunately other groups to try and establishcommittee from the former group lost Sheila Douglas shortly afterwards common threads to help keep ourwhich allowed the funds to disappear.as our Compliance Manager due to pastimes viable and available to allWe are seriously looking to purchase family commitments and other interested parties.our own building to own and occupy volunteer activities she is involved We are fortunate enough to have awhich will secure our tenure for the with.We thank her enormously for very strong Board at present with allfuture and give us somewhere to call her assistance over the three years members having incredibly stronghome.This building will not only she was with us, her efforts were business backgrounds and experi-house our offices but will allow us to invaluable to say the least.Moving ence, enabling us to conduct ouruse as a training facility with regards forward, Micah Spedding is now our affairs at a most professional level.to theory classes and other activities, RTO Compliance Manager, and he This certainly brings great confidencewhich we hope will also benefit comes to us with a wealth of knowl- to our future dealings and aspirations.potential sponsors and supporters. edge and experience in the Once again, I cant thank enough theWe envisage this to be also utilised compliance and training areas. He staff in our office and applaud themby our clubs for meetings and the like currently is employed full time as the for the excellent job they do for theon a very regular basis, acknowledging Lifesaving Victoria Training Manager Association and myself.Everyonethat it is owned by all member clubs and was previously the Western works together beautifully; we just getof the Association. We are looking to Region Manager for the SES Victoria.things done seamlessly with the leastkeep the proximity of these premises Gates have been made and have amount of angst or bother.It makes itclose to a main arterial access for the been installed at the Toolangi quarry a pleasure to come to work. sake of all, if possible.Be assured site after meetings had been held with Wayne Heveyyou will be kept up to date as things the Taungurung clan and DELWP Chief Executive Officerprogress into the near future. managers regarding the plans toTRACKWATCHDECEMBER 2022 3'