News & Updates from Vicki Avcin ~ AusCrafts · Page 61

We have lived here for over 12 years and know most of the wildlife around here. Many come to eat and drink daily but lately the wildlife scene is a bit out of kilter with the lack of rain that provides natural food and water.

About 3 weeks ago, we saw what we thought were finches in the Grevillia tree in the front garden.

Had never seen these finches before so I took photos and put them up on our local Bird Identification Facebook page where they were identified as Scarlet Honeyeaters. (Myzomela sanguinolenta) These gorgeous little (tiny) birds have the most gorgeous red head on them and they have come daily to get the nectar from the native tree flowers in the garden.

We were really surprised that we hadnt seen them before although their habitat is from North Queensland around Cooktown all the way down the east coast of Australia,(seen less regularly south of Sydney, but do go as far south to Melbourne), it is the first time weve seen them.

Scarlet Honeyeaters spend most of their time feeding high in the tree canopies when there is blossom. Despite their brilliant colour such dainty little birds can easily be overlooked but their distinctive little tinkling songs carry a surprisingly long distance and always betray their presence.

Duller plumaged females are not only less conspicuous they sing very little, if at all.I hope they keep coming to visit.

Binna Burra Lodge is one of SE Queenslands icons. It is heritage listed and in one of the most peaceful and beautiful parts of the world. Located in the Gold Coast Hinterland, it celebrated its 85th birthday last year.

Away from the maddening hustle and bustle of life, there is the main lodge and the recently opened Eco Sky Lodges along with other buildings/units.

Until a few days ago when a devastating fire took its life. All of it. This past week we have had over 100 fires of significance in Queensland and they are fires like we have never seen here before.

We are seeing fire behaviour that until recently has only been seen in the southern states and it has taken a heavy toll on resources and property.

The Canungra/Sarabah fires that have taken properties including Binna Burra have been burning for nearly a week and two days ago fires in the Peregian Beach area in the Sunshine Coast hinterland plus horrendous fires in the Stanthorpe area have been such that we have never had before and firefighters have had to pullout because it was too dangerous to actively fight them.

Thousands evacuated through all fires and which some residents still dont know if they have homes to go to because it is too dangerous still to go into some areas.

The loss of Binna Burra has hit hard by not only for the owners but anyone who had ever been there and those who know the area or live in the Scenic Rim.

The owners have vowed to rebuild but it will never replace the history that it is known for. Thankfully though, in all the fires in Queensland not one life has been lost to date.

Last night I was presented with my Emergency Services Volunteer Pin. These pins were released earlier in the year during National Volunteer Week, where the contribution by all Volunteers throughout the country is recognised.

It was suggest that Queensland Volunteers in Emergency Services should have their own pin and thousands of people across the State have been presented with them.

Fire and Rescue Service, Rural Fire Service, State Emergency Service, Emergency Services Cadets, Volunteer Marine Rescue, Australian Volunteer Coast Guard, Queensland Ambulance, Surf Life Saving Queensland.

Red Cross, Royal Life Saving Society Queensland, Local Ambulance Committee and Police Citizen Youth Club who have been in their respective service for more than 12 months are awarded this pin.

It is something that no matter what colour the uniform, all 86,000 volunteers will wear with pride. Mine will be worn with pride as one of those volunteers after 26 years in the Rural Fire Service.

Last week I showed you my shirts for the Real Firefighters Wear Pink. This weekI am proudly wearing my shirt and doing it for the firefighter friends and colleaguesthat are battling the Big C or have passed away from it.

The 12 cancers deemed to 100% have been caused by doing their job over the years have taken too many good people and the money raised from the sale of the shirts goes to help the Firefighter Foundation goes to support the firefighter and their families both during their battle and in the cases where weve lost people the support goes on after they have gone.

This shirt is the more dressy of the shirts, the other being the pink camo T shirt which is cotton so can be worn under PPE.

Not often I post photos of myself but happy to for this cause.

This is not only done in Australia but the US does the same thing and hopefully it will become a world wide thing in the years to come.

With the incidence of firefighters being exposed to all sorts of hazardous/toxic materials it comes as no surprise that cancer is a big problem among firefighters. 12 types of cancers have been identified as directly attributable to the job.

There may be more but so far 12 are now covered by presumptive legislation.Each year the Commissioner gives special permission to help raise awareness and raise funding by allowing firefighters to wear….

PINK. The campaign is called Real Firefighters Wear Pink.Firefighters Cancer Foundation runs a campaign where all firefighters, their families and those who support firefighters can purchase specially designed T shirts and polo shirts.

Firefighters are allowed to break rank with the uniform code and wear the pink shirts.

I have purchased both, the T shirt for work and the polo shirt for more formal/dress up occasions. It is fantastic to see whole stations with everyone in pink to raise the funds which supports firefighters that have been diagnosed and the families of those who have lost family to cancer.

I love this years camo T shirt and I just know it will get a lot of wear. Having lost 3 firefighting collegues and another 4 in the fight for their life, that I personally know, this year alone, I definitely support this initiative